Table of Contents
What is the definition of scorn?
Scorn definition: Scorn means to mock or treat with contempt or dishonor. When it comes to God, He should be treated with honor and fear, not with disdain and scorn. In the Bible, being scornful with regards to God and His Word is a sin and a scorner is an abomination according to Proverbs 24.
Other Definitions Of The Word Scorn
- Scorn means Prideful dishonor of God and His people
- Scorn means To Lack Knowledge of the Things of God through willful disobedience
- Scorn means To find joy in the dishonor of the righteous
- The word scorn means To Deride
- To Mock God and His people is to scorn them
- Scorn means to treat the righteous with contempt.
- Scorn means to be purposefully wicked
- Scorn can mean intense dislike
- Scorn is extreme contempt
- Scorn is disdain For Just And Right People and things
- Scorn is angry Mockery of The Upright
- Scorn means to denigrate
- Scorn also means to treat with disrespect
- Scorn means To be irreverent with the holy.
- Scorn means to refuse advice or an offer because you are too proud
- Scorn can mean to show that you think (someone or something) is not worthy of respect or approval
- Scorn means Open disrespect for someone or something
- Scorn can also mean to refuse to do something, as beneath oneself
- Scorn is to feel or display contempt or disdain for something or someone, most notably, for God.
Brief History of The Word Scorn
Scorn is a Middle English word, from the Anglo-Old French escharne, escar. The word scorn is also of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German scern jest
Church Fathers on Scorn / Contempt
Church Father Quotation or Summary Context / Notes John Chrysostom
(c. 347–407 AD)
Source: Homilies on Matthew Warns against judging and despising others: “Do not despise your brother, nor let your heart be lifted up in pride. He who scorns another scorns God Himself.” Scorn is a manifestation of pride; Christians must practice humility and compassion. Augustine of Hippo
(354–430 AD)
Source: City of God, On Christian Doctrine “We must hate the sin but not the sinner; to scorn one’s neighbor is to fall into self-righteous pride.” Distinguishes righteous judgment from contempt; scorn is spiritually dangerous. Gregory the Great (Pope Gregory I)
(c. 540–604 AD)
Source: Morals on Job, Pastoral Rule “Do not deride or scorn your brother in error; rebuke with love, lest you wound his soul.” Emphasizes pastoral responsibility; scorn is harmful to both community and individual soul. Clement of Alexandria
(c. 150–215 AD)
Source: Stromata “The proud man despises others and looks down with contempt; let the Christian guard against all such arrogance.” Scorn arises from pride; humility is the antidote. Basil the Great
(c. 329–379 AD)
Source: Letters and Ascetic Treatises Advises monastics: “Do not treat a brother with contempt over small faults; correction must be gentle.” In monastic communities, scorn damages relationships and spiritual life. Pseudo-Macarius / Macarius the Egyptian
(4th century AD)
Source: Sayings of the Desert Fathers “Do not think anything bad in your heart toward anyone; do not scorn the man who does evil.” Ascetics are urged to avoid contempt; cultivate internal restraint and humility. Origen of Alexandria
(c. 185–253 AD)
Source: Commentary on Matthew Origen warns that contempt for others reveals spiritual immaturity; humility requires mercy and patience. Scorn interferes with spiritual growth and Christian charity. John Cassian
(c. 360–435 AD)
Source: Conferences, Book V “The monk who despises his brother in thought or word has already fallen into the snares of pride; humility must govern all interactions.” In monastic life, scorn is an inner sin leading to other vices. Ambrose of Milan
(c. 340–397 AD)
Source: Letters and Sermons “Despising a brother in any matter is incompatible with Christian charity; let correction be done with love.” Treats scorn as a spiritual vice, particularly in pastoral care. Jerome
(c. 347–420 AD)
Source: Letters “Contempt for one’s neighbor arises from pride; humility and charity must govern speech and thought.” Focuses on moderation and guarding the heart against arrogance. Ephrem the Syrian
(c. 306–373 AD)
Source: Hymns and Commentaries “Those who scorn others are like thieves of the soul; judgment must be tempered with love.” Literary and poetic treatment of contempt as spiritually destructive. Theophilus of Antioch
(c. 181–185 AD)
Source: To Autolycus “He who scorns another has forgotten that all men are made by God; scorn blinds the heart to divine image.” Early Greek patristic reflection on scorn as spiritual blindness. Cyril of Alexandria
(c. 376–444 AD)
Source: Commentaries on the Gospel “Contempt for another’s failings is pride; meekness and patience must prevail.” Emphasizes humility in theological and pastoral teaching. Hilary of Poitiers
(c. 310–367 AD)
Source: On the Trinity, Letters Warns that deriding others stems from pride and leads away from God’s grace. Scorn is an obstacle to proper spiritual life. Leo the Great (Pope Leo I)
(c. 400–461 AD)
Source: Letters, Sermons “Let no bishop scorn the faithful; correction must be gentle, lest pride corrupt the soul of the overseer.” Scorn in leadership is condemned; charity must accompany authority.
Scriptures That Define Scorn
Proverbs 1:22 “How long will you gullible people love being so gullible? How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?”
Proverbs 29:8-9 “Scornful people inflame a city, but those who are wise turn away wrath. If a wise person goes to court with a foolish person, there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs. Bloodthirsty people hate someone with integrity; as for the upright, they seek his life.”
- Proverbs 21:10-11 “The appetite of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor is shown no favor in his eyes. When a scorner is punished, the naive becomes wise; when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.”
More Scorn Bible Verses That Share The Meaning
- Proverbs 24:8-9 “The one who plans to do evil will be called a scheming person. A foolish scheme is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to people.”
- Proverbs 3:33-34 “The LORD’s curse is on the household of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. Although he is scornful to arrogant scoffers, yet he shows favor to the humble.”
- Proverbs 19:28-29 “An evil witness makes fun of fairness, and wicked people love what is evil. People who make fun of wisdom will be punished, and the backs of foolish people will be beaten.”
What Else Does The Bible Say About Scorn and How To Definite It?
Romans 2:8-9 “But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
Proverbs 13:1 “A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.”
- Psalm 44:13-16 “You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us. You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us. I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.”
- Job 16:10-11 “People have opened their mouths against me, they have struck my cheek in scorn; they unite together against me. God abandons me to evil men, and throws me into the hands of wicked men.”
We hope that you enjoyed this article on the meaning of scorn and put scorn and its cousins of pride and unrighteous anger out of your life in Jesus' Name.
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