What does χλευάζω (chleuázō) mean in the Bible?
χλευάζω (chleuázō): Mocking with contemptuous jesting, expressing scorn through ridicule rather than reasoned objection
Greek · G5512
χλευάζω
To sneer
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
χλευάζω G5512
Pronunciation chleuázō
What does χλευάζω (chleuázō) mean in the Bible?
χλευάζω (chleuázō): Mocking with contemptuous jesting, expressing scorn through ridicule rather than reasoned objection
Full entry for χλευάζω (G5512) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G5512?
The BSB source-word alignment has 2 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include began to mock [him] (1), mocked [them] (1).
Where does χλευάζω (chleuázō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Acts 2:13. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It began to mock [him] 1× Acts 17:32
mocked [them] 1× Acts 2:13
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Acts 2:13
Aligned rows 2
Books represented 1
Acts 2
Source forms
διαχλευάζοντες 1x diachleuazontes Acts 2:13
ἐχλεύαζον 1x echleuazon Acts 17:32
Parsing patterns
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural 1x Acts 17:32
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural 1x Acts 2:13
Evidence Summary
Revelation
Greek word. Mocking with contemptuous jesting, expressing scorn through ridicule rather than reasoned objection
Strong's G5512
Lexical occurrences 1 verse Greek text appearances 2 times Word forms 1 form 1 reference Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Acts 17:32-34 Source Gloss
to sneer
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Mocking with contemptuous jesting, expressing scorn through ridicule rather than reasoned objection
(χλεύη, a jest), [in LXX: Wis.11:14, 2Ma.7:7, 4Ma.5:22 * ;] to jest, mock, jeer: Act.17:32.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
2 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Acts 2:13 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
χλευάζοντες cleuazontev
I mock, scoff
Read verse Acts 17:32 Verb Third Person Plural Imperfect Active Indicative
ἐχλεύαζον· ecleuazon
I mock, scoff
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 1 Aligned forms 1 Tenses Imperfect Voices Active
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 1×
Imperfect Active Acts 17:32 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 2 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 1 imperfect 1
Voice
active 2
Mood
participle 1 indicative 1
NT Occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Where It Appears in Scripture
Where this word appears in Scripture: passage, original form, and sense in context.
New Testament Witnesses
To ridicule or scoff.
Word Origins
χλευάζω is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Represents rejection of resurrection truth. Acts 17:32-34
Canonical Themes
Revelation
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain