English · KJV
H3944

לָצוֹן

lâtsôwn /law-tsone'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom לוּץ
Meaningderision
KJV usagescornful(-ning).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of lâtsôwn — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word lâtsôwn, represented by H3944, is a term for derision and scornful(-ning). It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from the root לוּץ H3887, it describes an attitude of mockery and contempt that is fundamentally opposed to wisdom.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H3944 consistently appears in contexts of warning and rebuke. It is an activity delighted in by those who also hate knowledge Proverbs 1:22. The term describes men whose attitude can bring ruin upon an entire community, as scornful men "bring a city into a snare" Proverbs 29:8. It is also used to characterize the leaders of Jerusalem who are being called to account by the word of the Lord for their contemptuous rule Isaiah 28:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the character and consequences of scorn:

  • H3887 lûwts (to scoff... mocker, scorner): As the primitive root of lâtsôwn, this word identifies the person who embodies scorn. Scripture warns against sitting "in the seat of the scornful" Psalms 1:1.
  • H3684 kᵉçîyl (stupid or silly; fool(-ish)): This term is often used alongside the scorner. Those who engage in scorning are grouped with fools who "hate knowledge" Proverbs 1:22.
  • H2450 châkâm (wise): The wise man stands in direct opposition to the scornful man. While scornful men cause chaos, "wise men turn away wrath" Proverbs 29:8.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H3944 centers on its destructive nature and its opposition to divine wisdom.

  • Rejection of Wisdom: Scorn is presented as an active choice that places a person in opposition to knowledge. Those who "delight in their scorning" are grouped with fools who "hate knowledge" Proverbs 1:22.
  • Threat to Community: The impact of scorn extends beyond the individual. "Scornful men" are shown to be a destructive force capable of undermining an entire city, contrasting sharply with the stabilizing influence of the wise Proverbs 29:8.
  • Object of Divine Rebuke: The term is used to identify leaders who are subject to God's judgment. In Isaiah, the "scornful men" who rule Jerusalem are directly addressed with a "word of the LORD," indicating that this attitude is a serious offense against God Isaiah 28:14.

Summary

In summary, H3944 defines more than a simple act of mockery; it represents a dangerous spiritual disposition. Lâtsôwn is the scorning that characterizes fools, threatens social stability, and sets a person or a people in opposition to God's wisdom and authority. Though rare in scripture, its occurrences serve as a potent warning against the destructive power of contempt and derision.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • לָצוֹן

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3887 לוּץ a primitive root; properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to H3684 כְּסִיל from כָּסַל; properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly; fool(-ish). H2450 חָכָם from חָכַם; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful); cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

2
Proverbs
1
Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.