Sarcasm

How Nave’s arranged it

• INSTANCES OF
• Cain' s self-justifying argument when God asked him where Abel wasGenesis 4:9
• Israelites reproaching MosesExodus 14:11
• God reproaching IsraelNumbers 11:20Judges 10:14
• Balak reproaching BalaamNumbers 24:11
• Joshua to the descendants of JosephJoshua 17:15
• By JothamJudges 9:7–19
• By SamsonJudges 14:18
• The men of Jabesh to Nahash1 Samuel 11:10
• Eliab to David1 Samuel 17:28
• Elijah to the priests of Baal1 Kings 18:27
• David' s reply to Michal' s irony2 Samuel 6:21

The passages, in Bible order (34)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 4:9

   And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Exodus 14:11

   They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?

   ›Commentary on Exodus 14:111 voice

   “No graves in Egypt - This bitter taunt was probably suggested by the vast extent of cemeteries in Egypt, which might not improperly be called the land of tombs.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 14:11→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Numbers 11:20

   but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and makes you nauseous—because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have cried out before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’”

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Numbers 24:11

   Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”

   ›Commentary on Numbers 24:111 voice

   Lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor - A bitter and impious sarcasm. “Hadst thou cursed this people, I would have promoted thee to great honor; but thou hast chosen to follow the directions of Jehovah rather than mine, and what will he do for thee?”

   Everything gathered on Numbers 24:11→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Joshua 17:15

   Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.”

   ›Commentary on Joshua 17:151 voice

   “Joshua was himself of the tribe of Ephraim, but far from supporting the demands of his kinsmen he reproves them, and calls upon them to make good their great words by corresponding deeds of valor. He bids them clear the country of its woods and thus make room for settling their people. The “wood country” means probably the range which runs along the northern border of Manasseh, and which connects the mountains of Gilboa with Carmel.

   Everything gathered on Joshua 17:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Judges 9:7–19

   When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Judges 10:14

   Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.”

   ›Commentary on Judges 10:141 voice

   “Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen,.... For they were their choice, and not what they were obliged to serve through persecution, and by compulsion of others, and whom they needed not, having the Lord Jehovah to be their God; and they are bid not seriously, but in an ironical or sarcastic way, to call upon them for help in this their time of distress, in whose power it was not to relieve them: let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation; if they can, whom you have served in your prosperity.

   Everything gathered on Judges 10:14→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Judges 14:18

   Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” So he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!”

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 1 Samuel 11:10

   Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.”

   Verse page →Original language →

10. 1 Samuel 17:28

    Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!”

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:281 voice

    “Why camest thou down? - From the heights of Bethlehem to the valley of Elah. Thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart - See the similar expression, Jer. 49. Compare the envy of Jacob’s sons toward Joseph, and of the slanders heaped upon the Son of David in the days of His flesh.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 17:28→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. 2 Samuel 6:21

    But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD,

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 6:212 voices

    “But the things which viewed corporeally are unseemly, when viewed in regard to holy religion become venerable, so that they who blame such things will involve their own souls in the net of blame. Thus Michal reproves David for his dancing and says to him, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of his handmaids!

    “Play - See 2Sa 6:5 note. The speech might be paraphrased, Before the Lord which chose me, etc., yea, before the Lord have I danced. He humbles Michal’s pride by the allusion to her father’s rejection, and shows by Saul’s example how little pride contributes to the stability of greatness. Therefore, for his part, he will not think anything done for the glory of God too mean for him; and if he cannot have honor from Saul’s daughter, he will be content to be honored by the maid-servants.

    Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 6:21→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. 1 Kings 18:27

    At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 18:271 voice

    “The object of Elijah’s irony was two-fold; (1) to stimulate the priests to greater exertions, and so to make their failure more complete, and (2) to suggest to the people that such failure would prove absolutely that Baal was no God.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 18:27→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. 1 Kings 20:11

    And the king of Israel replied, “Tell him: ‘The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.’”

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 20:111 voice

    “Let not him that girdeth on - This was no doubt a proverbial mode of expression. Jonathan translates, “Tell him, Let not him who girds himself and goes down to the battle, boast as he who has conquered and returned from it.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 20:11→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. 2 Kings 14:9

    But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.

    ›Commentary on 2 Kings 14:92 voices

    “The thorn bush [mentioned here] is a tiny plant and herb and is not the blackberry bush, [whose fruits] we eat. "Since, if ever," he says, "the thorn bush were sent to a cedar, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife,' it …

    “The Oriental use of apologues on the most solemn and serious occasions is well known to all, and scarcely needs illustration (compare marginal reference). It is a common feature of such apologues that they are not exact parallels to the case whereto they are applied, but only general or partial resemblances. Hence, there is need of caution in applying the several points of the illustration.

    Everything gathered on 2 Kings 14:9→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. 2 Kings 14:10

    You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

    ›Commentary on 2 Kings 14:101 voice

    “Glory of this, and tarry at home - There is a vast deal of insolent dignity in this remonstrance of Jehoash: but it has nothing conciliatory; no proposal of making amends for the injury his army had done to the unoffending inhabitants of Judah. The ravages committed by the army of Jehoash were totally unprovoked, and they were base and cowardly; they fell upon women, old men, and children, and butchered them in cold blood, for all the effective men were gone off with their king against the Edomites.

    Everything gathered on 2 Kings 14:10→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. 2 Kings 18:23

    Now, therefore, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them!

    ›Commentary on 2 Kings 18:232 voices

    “As I have already said, Sennacherib is a type of the devil, and this hypothesis is perfectly confirmed by the words that in this passage the Rabshakeh boastfully speaks against God when he makes false promises to the people, trying to take away from [God] …

    “The phrase translated “give pledges,” or “hostages” (margin) may perhaps be best understood as meaning “make an agreement.” If you will “bind yourself to find the riders” (i. e., trained horsemen), we will “bind ourselves to furnish the horses.” The suggestion implied that in all Judaea there were not 2000 men accustomed to serve as cavalry.

    Everything gathered on 2 Kings 18:23→

    Verse page →Original language →