Some witty remarks on laughing and humor

Psalms 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. [kjv]

ο κατοικων εν ουρανοις εκγελασεται αυτους και ο κυριος εκμυκτηριει αυτους [lxx]

Do those in heaven (angels, etc.) laugh at human attempts to take over the world?

Who else might be talking? How would we view robots attempting to take over?

The Greek word translated as "sitteth" is that of "inhabit/dwell".

More: Psalms 2: 1-12 Self-reference of robots and humans rebelling

Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. [kjv]

και αισχροτης και μωρολογια η ευτραπελια τα α ουκ ανηκοντα ανηκεν αλλα μαλλον ευχαριστια [gnt]

This content is about laughing and humor in general and witty humor in particular.
Paul makes an interesting remark on "witty humor" in Ephesians 5:4. In context, the intended meaning is not clear as it depends on the (ambiguous) way in which the sentence is parsed.

Ephesians 5:4

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KJV: Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Greek: και αισχροτης και μωρολογια η ευτραπελια τα α ουκ ανηκοντα ανηκεν αλλα μαλλον ευχαριστια

A network TV comedy show from 1968 until 1973 was Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in. It featured Dan Rowan and Dick Martin.
The one-time 1967 show was so popular, it was brought back and replaced "The man from U.N.C.L.E." on Monday night at 8 PM.

In suffix "-in" was a play on the hippie and counter culture movements at the time with terms such as "sit-in", "be-in", "love-in", etc.

The Christmas song "Jingle bells", written for Thanksgiving, has a line about "laughing".

Dashing through the snow,
in a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go,
laughing all the way

[West Point, laughing all the way]

More: Song: Jingle Bells

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer had to deal with laughing. The popular animated feature (55 minutes) is from 1964.

What was the name of the other reindeer that laughed and called Rudolph names?

Olive, the other reindeer.

Hermey (who wants to be a dentist): "This won't hurt a bit".

More: Matthew 25:38 Hosting strange and hostile guests and ghosts

More: The doctrine of Santa Claus

An example of a reflexive rule is the following.

It is good to be able to laugh at oneself.

Have you heard that being able to laugh at yourself may help lengthen your life?

Here, the "laugh at" relation is applied reflexively to itself. That is, relating "laugh at" from "you" to "you".

Have you heard that laughing at your spouse may help shorten your life?

Here, the "laugh at" relation is not applied reflexively.

More: Reflexive property

A "belly laugh" can make one's entire body shake.

January 24 is "Belly laugh day".

More: Expanding on the belly and the womb

The ancient Greek word "κλαυσίγελως" ≈ "laughing to tears" as in "smiles mingled with tears". The word comes from two Greek words.

The ancient Greek word "κλαῦσις" ≈ "tears".
The ancient Greek word "γέλως" ≈ "laugh".

Interestingly, this word is defined on the Greek Wiktionary but not in the English Wiktionary. The word is used in the some ancient Greek texts.

The combined word is not in the GNT (Greek New Testament) nor LXX (Septuagint) but the separate word are used in both.

Here is a line from Xenophon, Hell. 7.2,9, which has an allusion to the Iliad (vi., 484). The time period is 369 B.C.

English: Then one might have beheld the men congratulating one another with handclasps on their preservation, and the women bringing them drink and at the same time crying for joy. Indeed, “laughter mingled with tears” did on that occasion really possess all who were present.

Greek: ἔνθα δὴ θεάσασθαι παρῆν ἐπὶ τῆς σωτηρίας τοὺς μὲν ἄνδρας δεξιουμένους ἀλλήλους, τὰς δὲ γυναῖκας πιεῖν τε φερούσας καὶ ἅμα χαρᾷ δακρυούσας· πάντας δὲ τοὺς παρόντας τότε γε τῷ ὄντι κλαυσίγελως εἶχεν.

https://anastrophe.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/perseus/citequery3.pl?dbname=GreekNov21&query=Xen.%20Hell.%207.2.9 (as of 2023-02-21)

More: Philippians: Epaphroditus

The Bible has numerous references about laughing.

When the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue became dead, Jesus brings here to life. She is referred to as "Talitha" meaning "Damsel". The people there laugh at what he claims to have done. The story is recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke. That is, the Synoptic Gospels.

Matthew 9:24 … for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. [kjv]

λεγει αυτοις ελεγεν αναχωρειτε ου γαρ απεθανεν το κορασιον αλλα καθευδει και κατεγελων αυτου [gnt]

Mark 5:40 And they laughed him to scorn. … [kjv]

και κατεγελων αυτου ο αυτος δε εκβαλων απαντας παντας παραλαμβανει τον πατερα του παιδιου και την μητερα και τους μετ αυτου και εισπορευεται οπου ην το παιδιον ανακειμενον [gnt]

Luke 8:53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. [kjv]

και κατεγελων αυτου ειδοτες οτι απεθανεν [gnt]

The modern Greek word "κοιμητήρια" (kee-mee-TEE-ree-a) ≈ "cemetery" but the ancient Greek word meant "sleep".

Note that Jesus refers to dead Lazarus as "sleeping". A place where the dead sleep is called a "cemetery"

John 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. [kjv]

ταυτα ειπεν και μετα τουτο λεγει αυτοις λαζαρος ο φιλος ημων κεκοιμηται αλλα πορευομαι ινα εξυπνισω αυτον [gnt]

… somno exsuscitem … [v]

Jesus uses the "euphemism" (or code word) of "sleep" meaning "dead". The KJV (King James Version) adds "out of sleep" which is implied in the Greek but not actually there. The Latin word "somno" ≈ "sleep".

The ancient Greek word "κοιμητήριον " ≈ "sleeping place" and the source, through Latin, of "cemetery".

More: Speaking evil in a famous way

John 11:11

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KJV: These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Greek: ταυτα ειπεν και μετα τουτο λεγει αυτοις λαζαρος ο φιλος ημων κεκοιμηται αλλα πορευομαι ινα εξυπνισω αυτον

Latin: haec ait et post hoc dicit eis Lazarus amicus noster dormit sed vado ut a somno exsuscitem eum

Matthew 9:24

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KJV: He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Greek: λεγει αυτοις ελεγεν αναχωρειτε ου γαρ απεθανεν το κορασιον αλλα καθευδει και κατεγελων αυτου

Mark 5:40

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KJV: And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

Greek: και κατεγελων αυτου ο αυτος δε εκβαλων απαντας παντας παραλαμβανει τον πατερα του παιδιου και την μητερα και τους μετ αυτου και εισπορευεται οπου ην το παιδιον ανακειμενον

Luke 8:53

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KJV: And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

Greek: και κατεγελων αυτου ειδοτες οτι απεθανεν

*G2606 *3 καταγελάω (kat-ag-el-ah'-o) : to laugh down, i.e. deride:--laugh to scorn.

Words: κατεγελων=3

The ancient Greek word "καταγελάω" ≈ "laugh to scorn".

*G2606 *3 καταγελάω (kat-ag-el-ah'-o) : to laugh down, i.e. deride:--laugh to scorn.

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κατεγελων *3

Matthew 9:24 ... sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Mark 5:40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them ...

Luke 8:53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

*G2606 *3 καταγελάω (kat-ag-el-ah'-o) : to laugh down, i.e. deride:--laugh to scorn.

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κατεγελων *3

Matthew 9:24 ... sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Mark 5:40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them ...

Luke 8:53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

Words: κατεγελων=3

*G1070 *2 γελάω (ghel-ah'-o) : of uncertain affinity; to laugh (as a sign of joy or satisfaction):--laugh.

*G1071 *1 γέλως (ghel'-os) : from G1070 γελάω; laughter (as a mark of gratification):--laughter.

Words: γελασετε γελωντες γελως

*G1070 *2 γελάω (ghel-ah'-o) : of uncertain affinity; to laugh (as a sign of joy or satisfaction):--laugh.

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γελασετε

Luke 6:21 ... are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

γελωντες

Luke 6:25 ... ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn ...

*G1071 *1 γέλως (ghel'-os) : from G1070 γελάω; laughter (as a mark of gratification):--laughter.

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γελως

James 4:9 ... weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, ...

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. [kjv]

μακαριοι οι ελεημονες οτι αυτοι ελεηθησονται [gnt]

The fifth Beatitude in Matthew about "mercy" has a Greek word that relates to making sounds which could be "weeping" or "laughing" or some other sound. The following Beatitude in Luke is not in Matthew.

Luke 6:21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. [kjv]

μακαριοι οι πεινωντες νυν οτι χορτασθησεσθε μακαριοι οι κλαιοντες νυν οτι γελασετε [gnt]

Is it a different Beatitude?
Is it a re-stating of a Beatitude in Matthew but not as precise or as remembered and written down?

More: Matthew 5:7 B5 Mercy me, full of mercy, mercy me

Ecclesiastes 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; [kjv]

καιρος του κλαυσαι και καιρος του γελασαι καιρος του κοψασθαι και καιρος του ορχησασθαι [lxx]

The ancient Greek word "γέλως" ≈ "laugh". The modern Greek word "γέλως" (Y-los) ≈ "laughing".

The Greek word used here for "dance" is the source of the English word "orchestra".

There is a time to weep.
There is a time to laugh.

More: Song: Turn! turn! turn!

Proverbs 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; [kjv]

τοιγαρουν καγω τη υμετερα απωλεια επιγελασομαι καταχαρουμαι δε ηνικα αν ερχηται υμιν ολεθρος [lxx]

therefore I also will laugh at your destruction; and I will rejoice against you when ruin comes upon you: [bs3]

The Greek word translated as "ruin" is that of "not" "victory" as in opposite of "victory".

More: Victory and strife: bema seat

More: Proverbs 1:1-33 knowledge and understanding

Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. [kjv]

και αισχροτης και μωρολογια η ευτραπελια τα α ουκ ανηκοντα ανηκεν αλλα μαλλον ευχαριστια [gnt]

What type of "jesting" does Paul frown on? One could guess. What does the Greek mean in general? What might the Greek mean in this context?

The ancient Greek word "εὐτραπελία" ≈ "witty humor" as in being jovial and lively. A rare meaning is that of using profanity. Does the context of Paul's statements support this meaning?

The ancient Greek word "εὐτράπελος" ≈ "witty humor" and comes from two Greek words.

The ancient Greek word "εὖ" ≈ "good".
The ancient Greek word "τρέπω" ≈ "turn, divert" and, in conversation, to "change someone's mind".

Somehow these words were combined to get "witty humor". The word in modern Greek has narrowed to this less negative meaning. There are other words for "crude humor" (below).

Somehow, the KJV translates the word as "jesting" and Strongs defines it as "crude joking".

*G2160 *1 εὐτραπελία (yoo-trap-el-ee'-ah) : from a compound of G2095 and a derivative of the base of G5157 (meaning well-turned, i.e. ready at repartee, jocose); witticism, i.e. (in a vulgar sense) ribaldry:--jesting.

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ευτραπελια

Ephesians 5:4 ... nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not ...

This word is used 1 time in the GNT, by Paul in Philippians 5:4.

Words: ευτραπελια

Jeremiah 48:39 They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down ! how hath Moab turned the back with shame ! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him. [kjv]

πως κατηλλαξεν πως εστρεψεν νωτον μωαβ ησχυνθη και εγενετο μωαβ εις γελωτα και εγκοτημα πασιν τοις κυκλω αυτης [lxx]

The ancient Greek word "γέλωτα" ≈ "laugh" (accusative singular) and comes from "γέλως" ≈ "laughter" (noun) and is related to "γελάω" ≈ "laugh" (verb).

More: The weeping and the gnashing of the teeth