Contempt

An attitude of scorn and derision. Examples are given of the way in which a rebellious and fallen world treats its creator with contempt.

Contempt of some people for others

Eliab for David

1 Samuel 17:28

Nabal for David

1 Samuel 25:10–11, 1 Samuel 25:14

King Hanun for David's men

2 Samuel 10:4–5

Sanballat, Geshem and Tobiah for Nehemiah's men

Nehemiah 2:19, Nehemiah 4:3

Contempt for parents

Proverbs 15:5, Proverbs 15:20, Proverbs 23:22

Contempt from the godless

Job 16:10; Psalm 31:18 See also Job 19:18, Job 30:1; Psalm 35:21, Psalm 42:10, Psalm 69:19–20, Psalm 119:22; Isaiah 28:9–10, Isaiah 28:14; Jeremiah 20:7

They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.

May lying lips be silenced — lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt.

God's contempt for the godless

Psalm 2:4 See also Job 12:21; Proverbs 1:26; Nahum 3:6

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them.

God will bring contempt on his people

Jeremiah 18:16 See also Jeremiah 25:9, Jeremiah 25:18; Ezekiel 22:4; Daniel 9:16; Micah 6:16

They have made their land a desolation, a perpetual object of scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and shake their heads.

Human contempt for God

For God himself

Numbers 14:11 See also Numbers 14:23, Numbers 16:30; Psalm 14:1, Psalm 73:11

And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them?

For his law

Psalm 78:10 See also Leviticus 22:9; Isaiah 30:9; Hosea 4:6; Mark 7:9 parallel Matthew 15:3; Hebrews 10:28

They failed to keep God’s covenant and refused to live by His law.

For his prophets

2 Chronicles 36:16 See also Amos 7:12–13; Matthew 5:12

But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

For his works

Zechariah 4:10 See also Habakkuk 1:5; Acts 13:41

For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”

For his day

Nehemiah 13:15–21; Amos 8:5

For his worship and service

Malachi 1:6–8, Malachi 1:12–13, Malachi 2:11, Malachi 3:8–9, Malachi 3:14

For his gospel

Matthew 7:6

For his kindness

Romans 2:4

For his authority

2 Peter 2:10

For his patience

2 Peter 3:3–4, 2 Peter 3:9

Jesus Christ as the object of contempt

Anticipated in prophecy

Psalm 22:6–8 See also Matthew 27:43Psalm 69:19–21 See also Isaiah 53:3

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”

You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You. Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one. They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

During his earthly ministry

Matthew 13:54–57 parallel Mark 6:1–4 See also Matthew 9:24; Luke 16:14; John 9:34

Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

While on the cross

Matthew 27:39 parallel Mark 15:29 See also Mark 15:32; Luke 23:39

And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads

Contempt will be punished

Proverbs 1:26 See also Proverbs 3:34, Proverbs 19:29, Proverbs 22:10; Ezekiel 25:3–7, Ezekiel 36:2–5

in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,

Final punishment is contempt

Daniel 12:2