Humour

A time and place for humour

Ecclesiastes 3:1–4

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

Touches of humour in Scripture

Things people found funny

Genesis 18:12 See also Genesis 17:17

So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

Humour at others' expense

Job 12:4

I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

OT writers found wordplay humorous

Micah 1:10–11

Do not tell it in Gath; do not weep at all. Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah. Depart in shameful nakedness, O dwellers of Shaphir. The dwellers of Zaanan will not come out. Beth-ezel is in mourning; its support is taken from you.

Some passages seem to have a humorous intent

See also 1 Kings 18:27MAT 1 Kings 19:24; Luke 6:42 Acts 12:13–16