Greek word · G1702

ἐμπαίζω

empaizō

to mock

To make fun of, ridicule, or play a game at someone's expense (from paizō, 'to play like a child'). It can also mean to deceive or trick (Matt 2:16, where Herod is 'tricked' by the magi).

Appears 13 times in 13 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 01, 2026

What it means

ἐμ-παίζω

[in LXX for עָלַל hithp., שָׂחַק, etc. ;]

= Attic προσ-, καταπαίζω,

to mock at, mock (Hdt.): with dative, Matthew 27:29, 31, Mark 15:20, Luke 14:29 22:63 23:36; pass., Matthew 2:16, Luke 18:32; absol., Matthew 20:19 27:41, Mark 10:34 15:31, Luke 23:11.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 20:19

Range of meaning: To make fun of, ridicule, or play a game at someone's expense (from paizō, 'to play like a child'). It can also mean to deceive or trick (Matt 2:16, where Herod is 'tricked' by the magi).
Against the English: 'Mock' is accurate, but modern English 'mock' can mean mere verbal teasing. The Greek implies a cruel game, staged humiliation played out on a helpless victim.
Used elsewhere in the period: 2 Maccabees 7:7 and 7:10 use the related noun (empaigmos) for the torture-mockery of the Jewish martyrs under Antiochus. Hebrews 11:36 pairs 'mockings and scourgings' (empaigmōn kai mastigōn) as the standard suffering of the faithful. In Matthew it recurs at 27:29, 31 (soldiers) and 27:41 (chief priests at the cross).

From the study of Matthew 2:16

Range of meaning: To play a game with someone, toy with, ridicule or mock. It also means to trick, deceive or make a fool of someone (BDAG gives both 'ridicule' and 'deceive, trick'). The word comes from paizō, 'to play like a child'. At its core it means treating someone as a plaything.
Against the English: KJV and WEB: 'mocked'; YLT: 'deceived'; BSB and NIV: 'outwitted'; ESV and NASB: 'tricked'. To a modern ear 'mocked' suggests jeering or taunting, which did not happen here. 'Outwitted' and 'tricked' get the deception but lose the sting of shame: Herod feels he has been made a fool of.
How it drifted: The KJV followed the Latin Vulgate's 'inlusus' ('played with, made sport of'). In 1611 'mocked' could still mean 'deceived, fooled'. Today it means only verbal ridicule.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Greek Old Testament: God says he 'made sport of' the Egyptians through the plagues (Exod 10:2). Balaam tells his donkey 'you have made a fool of me' (Num 22:29). Balaam is the eastern seer who foretold a 'star out of Jacob' (Num 24:17), and many commentators connect the Magi with him. In Matthew the word is used next for the mocking of Jesus at his Passion (20:19; 27:29, 31, 41).

From the study of Luke 23:11

Range of meaning: To make sport of, mock, ridicule, play a trick on. The root is paizō, 'to play' (as children do). The word is used for jeering, staged humiliation, and occasionally deception.
Against the English: Nearly all versions render it 'mocked', which is accurate. The English can lose the sense of a game or performance: the victim becomes entertainment.
Used elsewhere in the period: In Luke 18:32 Jesus predicts that the Son of Man 'will be mocked' (empaichthēsetai). The verb then recurs at each stage of the passion: the guards (22:63), Herod (23:11), the soldiers at the cross (23:36). The Septuagint uses it for the Egyptians being 'made sport of' (Exod 10:2) and in Wisdom 12:25–26 for childish mockery as a punishment.

Where it appears

Matthew · 5

Matthew 2:16 ἐνεπαίχθη he had been outwitted

When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.

Here: 'He had been made a fool of.' The verb is passive and the stress falls on Herod's humiliation. To him the Magi's quiet exit (which they made because of a divine dream, 2:12) is a deliberate affront to his honour. Matthew uses the same verb later for the soldiers and leaders mocking Jesus (20:19; 27:29, 31, 41).
Matthew 20:19 ἐμπαῖξαι to mock

and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. And on the third day He will be raised to life.”

Here: Literally 'to play at' or 'to make a game of' someone. This points ahead to the soldiers' mock coronation (27:29, 31) and the taunts at the cross (27:41).
Matthew 27:29 ἐνέπαιξαν they mocked

And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Here: Built on the verb for 'to play like a child.' It means to make a game of someone and treat them as a toy. It covers the whole charade, not only the words. Jesus had predicted exactly this verb in 20:19.
Matthew 27:31 ἐνέπαιξαν they had mocked

After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.

Here: "They made sport of" him. This is the same verb as v. 29, where it described the whole acted-out game of kneeling to a fake king. The past tense presents that game as a finished whole, so English "had mocked" fits.
Matthew 27:41 ἐμπαίζοντες mocking

In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying,

Here: A present participle, which describes ongoing mockery that went with their speech. It is the same verb Jesus used when he foretold his death (20:19) and the one used of the soldiers' mock coronation (27:29, 31). There is no object in the Greek, so "Him" is supplied in English.

Mark · 3

Mark 10:34 ἐμπαίξουσιν they will mock

who will mock Him and spit on Him and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days He will rise again.”

Here: Future tense: 'they will make sport of'. It covers both jeering and acted-out humiliation, treating a person as a toy. In Mark this happens when the soldiers stage a mock coronation (15:20) and when the chief priests taunt him at the cross (15:31).
Mark 15:20 ἐνέπαιξαν they had mocked

After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.
Mark 15:31 ἐμπαίζοντες mocking

In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself!

Here: 'Mocking' as an ongoing action alongside their speaking. It is the verb Jesus used when he predicted his death, 'they will mock him' (10:34), and the one used of the soldiers' mock coronation (15:20). The prediction is coming true word for word.

Luke · 5

Luke 14:29 ἐμπαίζειν to mock

Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,
Luke 18:32 ἐμπαιχθήσεται will be mocked

He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.

Here: "He will be mocked." The verb comes from the word for 'play': he will be made into a game, a joke for his captors. Luke later uses the same verb for the soldiers and Herod mocking him (22:63; 23:11, 36).
Luke 22:63 ἐνέπαιζον were mocking

The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him.

Here: The imperfect tense describes ongoing action that went on through the night: they kept treating him as a plaything. The root is "play", so this is cruel sport, and v. 64 spells out the game.
Luke 23:11 ἐμπαίξας, having mocked

And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

Here: Literally 'to play at' someone, to make a game of him. Luke uses this exact verb for what Jesus predicted would happen to him (18:32) and for the mocking by the guards (22:63) and by the Roman soldiers (23:36).
Luke 23:36 ἐνέπαιξαν Mocked

The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine.

Here: The main verb, placed first for weight: they made a game of him. Everything else in the sentence describes how they did it. The past-tense form reports the mocking as a whole, without dwelling on its duration.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.