What Does The Bible Say About Laughter

What does the Bible say about laughter? I went through a season where I was under attack and had to do some research on laughter in the Bible. Sounds odd, but it's true. Over the course of about 3 months, I had 8 separate attacks on my joy and laughter. I was a Church Secretary at the time.

BE SURE TO PIN ME FOR LATER!

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My Laughter Was Condemned

I was told that laughing with the Church members during office hours was disruptive and inappropriate. That I should not laugh in the sanctuary, not even BETWEEN services.

They sent someone out from the kitchen at a small breakfast diner to tell me that my laugh was annoying the cook.

My favorite though is when I was cussed out for laughing in a movie theater. Now, if you're not familiar with Star Trek, (which I can only assume these ladies weren't) then when the new series came out, the original movie remade to launch this new mirror universe, the scenes my family found funniest weren't particularly funny as a standalone. However, being Trekkies, certain scenes were hysterical!!

By now you are probably wondering 2 things.

1. What's wrong with my laugh? Nothing. It's a little louder than some, but not out of the realm of normal. I've heard it described as “contagious” if that's bad, I'm (not) sorry.
2. What kind of church do you belong to? At the time, I was part of an approximately 1000 member Southern Baptist Church. The Contemporary service had higher attendance, and the people as a whole were fairly normal.

I sought Godly counsel, prayed a lot, cried, but never stopped laughing.

For years, every laugh was accompanied by a knot in my stomach, and a peek over my shoulder to see who was going to be offended now, but I kept laughing anyway.

(Think I need to work on choosing Faith over Fear?)

That said, I would like to share my research with you. So let's get down to laughter in the Bible!

What does the Bible say about Laughter?

Laughter in the Bible is a tough subject.

• There's Sarah laughing in a ‘yeah, right. I'M going to have a Baby NOW?' kind of way.
• Babylonians laughing at every attempt to make a defense against them.
• People laughing at Jesus
• Stop laughing and repent
• Your repentance and weeping will become laughter and joy

Can we categorize that a bit? I see sarcasm, arrogance, and pride in these examples.

None of them fit with what I was experiencing, but good lessons of what not to do none the less.

 

Laughter in the Bible: The Laughter Proverb

I believe most people have Proverbs 17:22 in mind when thinking of “The Laughter Proverb” but as you can see, laughter is implied {or inferred} but not explicitly stated.

Proverbs 17:22

NIV: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

NASB: A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

MSG: A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.

I would say that it's really hard to express cheer and joy without laughing though! What do you think?

 

What does the Bible have to say about laughter? Here are some of the many verses that talk about laughter in the Bible! #biblestudy #laughter Click To Tweet

 

How Many Times is Laughter Mentioned in the Bible?

How many times is laughter mentioned in the Bible anyway? Depending on the translation, the Bible mentions laughter somewhere between 20-40 times.

Some of my favorites (NASB) are:

 Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” {Genesis 21:6}

“You will laugh at violence and famine, And you will not be afraid of wild beasts. {Job 5:22} 

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting. {Job 8:21} 

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” {Psalm 126:2} 

“A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.” {Ecclesiastes 3:4} 

“Blessed [are] you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed [are] you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” {Luke 6:21} 

Not all of these are positive though! Laughing at Jesus? God Laughing at calamity?

But You, O LORD, laugh at them; You scoff at all the nations.” {Psalm 59:8}

I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes.” {Proverbs 1:26}

Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, And the end of joy may be grief.” {Proverbs 14:13}

He said, “Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.” And they [began] laughing at Him.” {Matthew 9:24}

They [began] laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child's father and mother and His own companions, and entered [the room] where the child was.” {Mark 5:40}

And they [began] laughing at Him, knowing that she had died.” {Luke 8:53} 

 

Bible Verses about Laughing at Others

These Bible verses about laughing at others reflect a heart of arrogance and not compassion!

You make us an object of contention to our neighbors, And our enemies laugh among themselves.” {Psalm 80:6}

I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you.” {Proverbs 1:26}

They mock at kings And rulers are a laughing matter to them. They laugh at every fortress And heap up rubble to capture it.” {Habakkuk 1:10}

When it involves humiliation, it does not sound like something we should be doing!

But I can't find anything against joyful laughing in the Bible.

In fact, Psalm 100 implies the opposite

A Psalm for Thanksgiving.

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the LORD fnHimself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

 

Prayers for Joy and Laughter

Prayer is an awesome gift from God.  He wants to hear from us, and prayers for Joy and laughter are no exception.

In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” {John 16:23-24 NASB} 

This passage from Psalm 86 is another great example of God desiring our joy. (Vs 4 in particular, but I couldn't stop there!)

A Prayer of David.

Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me;
For I am afflicted and needy.
Preserve my soul, for I am a godly man;
O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You.
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
For to You I cry all day long.
Make glad the soul of Your servant,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
And give heed to the voice of my supplications!
In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You,
For You will answer me.
There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord,
Nor are there any works like Yours

P.S. Looking for a Bible study that will make you laugh out loud? Try one of these devotionals for women who Love Christian fiction!

 

What Does the Bible Say About Laughter?

It looks to me as though Laughter in the Bible falls under the ‘one another‘ category.

• Be kind to one another
• Encourage one another
• Build one another up
• Love one another

So, while I do try to be sensitive to the atmosphere of a place when the pastor is reading from 1 Corinthians, I have been known to burst into laughter.

— and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” {1 Corinthians 3:20 NIV}  

Again, It's a Star Trek thing. I wasn't expecting the word futile in church, and he knew exactly why I laughed. Wouldn't look at me the rest of the service (Kind of difficult to avoid me on the front pew, but he managed).

He came right to me afterward, still trying not to laugh himself. That hadn't stood out to him in his study, but the second I laughed, he connected it and wanted to laugh too. But the Sunday night crowd is pretty traditional, and would not have understood!

Needless to say, we both managed to contain ourselves a couple months later when we reached chapter 15:

— And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” {1 Corinthians 15:17 NIV}

Do you have any stories of laughter to share? Either as an attack or as medicine for the soul?? Comment below and share with us some of your own stories of laughter (good or bad)!

Be sure to also read:

• What Does the Bible Say About Abortion?
• What Does the Bible Say About True Manhood?
• What Does the Bible Say About Drinking Simple Living?