Strong's G1070: γελάω (geláō) Meaning

Quick Definition

γελάω v. I laugh

Strong's Definition

to laugh (as a sign of joy or satisfaction)

Derivation: of uncertain affinity;

KJV Usage: laugh

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

γελάω (G1070)

verb | γέλως · καταγελάω

25.135 · Attitudes and Emotions · Laugh, Cry, Groan

to laugh A number of languages distinguish clearly between various types of laughter: (1) laughter directed against some person as a form of ridicule; (2) laughter resulting from seeing some humorous event or as the result of listening to a humorous account; and (3) laughter which reflects happiness and joy. In LUK 6:21 and JAS 4:9 it is this third type of laughter which is relevant to the contexts.

LUK 6:21 · LUK 6:25

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

γελάω, -ὦ ; fut. γελάσω (in Grk. writ. more com. γελάσοpat[ B. 53 (46); W.84 (80) ]); [fr. Hom. down]; to laugh: Lk. vi. 21 (opp. to κλαίω), 25. [Comp.: κατα-γελάω.}

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

γελάω gelaō 2x

to laugh, smile; by impl. to be merry, happy, to rejoice, Lk. 6:21, 25*

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

γελάω, -ῶ,

[in LXX chiefly for צחק, שׂחק ;]

to laugh: Lk 6:25; fut., γελάσω) (M, Pr., 154), ib. 21 (cf. κατα-γελάω).†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

γελάω [page 122] Syll 802 .70 (iii/B.C.) τὸν δὲ θεὸν γελάσαντα φά [μ ]εν νιν παυσεῖν (τᾶς νόσου ), P Oxy III. 471 .88 (ii/A.D.) γέλωτα πολὺν καὶ ἀνειμένον . . . γελᾶν , laughed long and freely (Edd.) If we desiderate proof that the ancients laughed with the same articulation as ourselves, we may refer to P Leid W xi. 30 (ii/iii A.D.) εἰπὼν ἐκρότησε γ̄ , κ (αὶ )ἐγέλασεν ὁ θεὸς ἑπιτάκις , χα , χα , χα , χα , χα , χα , χα . γελάσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν θεοὶ ζ̄ , οἵτινες τὰ πάντα περιέχουσιν . A Lycian epitaph may be quoted from Ormerod and Robinson s inscrr. in JHS xxxiv. p. 1 ff. : no. 26 .20 παῖζε γέλα παροδεῖτα , βλέπων ὅτι καὶ σὲ θανεῖν δεῖ it is the analogue of the commonplace quoted in 1Co_15:32 . For the fut. act., as in Luk_6:21 (cf. Job_29:24 , 4Ma_5:28 ), see Proleg. p. 154. MGr has γελῶ .

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

γελάω (gelaō) — to laugh. γελάω, Epic dialect γελόω [Refs 8th c.BC+], Aeolic dialect γέλαιμι [Refs]; Epic dialect participle γελόωντες [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Epic dialect imperfect γελώων or -οίων[Refs]; Doric dialect participle γελᾶσα, 3rd.pers. plural γελᾶντι, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; Aeolic dialect γελαίσας [Refs 7th c.BC+]: Attic dialect future γελάσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἐγέλᾰσα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Epic dialect ἐγέλασσα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Doric dialect ἐγέλαξα [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. plural γέλαν for ἐγέλασαν poetical cited in [Refs]:—passive, future -ασθήσομαι[Refs 2nd c.AD+]: aorist ἐγελάσθην [Refs 5th c.BC+]perfect γεγέλασται [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

I. absolutely, laugh, ἁπαλὸν γελάσαι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἡ δ᾽ ἐγέλασσε χείλεσιν, of feigned laughter, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐγέλασσε δέ οἱ φίλον ἦτορ his heart laughed within him,[Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, εἵνεκα τοῦ γελασθῆι αι for the sake of a laugh being raised, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

I.2. of things, γέλασσε δὲ πᾶσα περὶ χθών [Refs 8th c.BC+]

II. laugh at, ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; γελᾷ δὲ δαίμων ἐπ᾽ ἀνδρὶ θερμῷ laughs scornfully at.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐπί τινι at a thing, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐγέλασα ψολοκομπίαις was amused at them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.2. with accusative, deride, τινά [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τί δὲ τοῦτ᾽ ἐγέλασας ἐτεόν; what is this you are laughing at? [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be derided, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon

γελάω, -ῶ, [in LXX chiefly for צחק, שׂחק ;] to laugh: Luk.6:25; fut., γελάσω) (M, Pr., 154), ib. 21 (cf. κατα-γελάω).† (AS)

Bible Occurrences (2)

6:21 6:25

G1070 γελάω (geláō)