Original Word: קֶלֶס
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: qelec
Pronunciation: keh-les
Phonetic Spelling: (keh'-les)
KJV: derision
NASB: derision
Word Origin: [from H7046 (קָלַס - mock)]

1. a laughing-stock

derision

From qalac; a laughing-stock -- derision.

see HEBREW qalac

Word Origin
from qalas
Definition
derision
NASB Translation
derision (3).

קֶ֫לֶס noun [masculine] derision, i.e., object of it, "" חֶרְמָּה; — Jeremiah 20:8, + לַעַג Psalm 44:14; Psalm 79:4.

Semantic Scope of קֶלֶס

The noun conveys scorn, ridicule, or contemptuous taunting. It is not casual teasing but a public, hurtful derision that seeks to dishonor the covenant people and, by extension, their God. It is often paired with terms like “reproach” or “shame,” emphasizing both emotional pain and social stigma.

Occurrences in Scripture

• Psalm 44:13 – National lament after military defeat: “You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision (קֶלֶס) to those around us.”
• Psalm 79:4 – Post-exilic devastation: “We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a mocking and derision (קֶלֶס) to those around us.”
• Jeremiah 20:8 – Personal lament of the prophet: “For whenever I speak, I cry out, ‘Violence and destruction!’ For the word of the LORD has become to me a reproach and derision (קֶלֶס) all day long.”

Covenantal Setting

In each text קֶלֶס emerges when Israel’s relationship with the LORD appears ruptured. The nations’ jeers are possible only because God’s people, chosen to display His glory, seem abandoned. Thus ridicule functions as a barometer of covenantal disfavor. The psalmists plead for restoration; Jeremiah protests the cost of his mission. In both corporate and personal settings, קֶלֶס highlights the tension between divine promise and present humiliation.

Theology of Mockery and Shame

1. Divine Ownership of Honor: Ridicule aimed at Israel ultimately challenges God’s reputation (Psalm 79:9–10). The LORD’s intervention is sought not merely for relief but to vindicate His name.
2. Redemptive Purpose: Scripture often turns derision into a stage for deliverance (e.g., 2 Kings 19:21–28; Isaiah 37:22). קֶלֶס invites faith that God will reverse shame and magnify His glory.
3. Prophetic Participation: Jeremiah’s experience shows that proclaiming God’s word may provoke קֶלֶס even from fellow Israelites. Faithful ministry must be prepared to endure scorn while trusting in eventual vindication (Jeremiah 20:11–13).

Christological Trajectory

The motif of unjust mockery reaches its climax in Jesus Christ: “They twisted together a crown of thorns… and mocked Him” (Matthew 27:29). The Gospels portray the Messiah absorbing ultimate קֶלֶס, transforming shame into triumph through resurrection. Thus the Old Testament lexeme anticipates the suffering-glory pattern fulfilled in Christ and promised to His followers (Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 4:14).

Pastoral and Missional Implications

• Expectation of Ridicule: Believers should not be surprised when faith is treated with contempt (2 Timothy 3:12).
• Response of Faith: Laments modeled in the Psalms permit honest complaint while affirming God’s steadfast love.
• Witness through Integrity: Enduring קֶלֶס with humility can become a powerful testimony, echoing Jeremiah’s perseverance and Jesus’ silence before His accusers (1 Peter 2:23).
• Hope of Vindication: The biblical pattern assures that shame is temporary; “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11).

Summary

קֶלֶס encapsulates the pain of being mocked for one’s covenant identity or prophetic obedience. It exposes the tension between present humiliation and future honor, driving God’s people to trust His vindicating power. Ultimately, the term points beyond itself to the Cross, where scorn was borne and forever overturned, securing hope for all who may yet face derision for the sake of the gospel.

וָ֝קֶ֗לֶס וּלְקֶ֖לֶס ולקלס וקלס ū·lə·qe·les uleKeles ūləqeles vaKeles wā·qe·les wāqelesInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts