What does the Bible say about laughter?
Quick answer
The Bible takes laughter seriously — as a gift of God in good times, a sign of joy in the right things, and even, in heaven’s perspective, a final defiance of every evil.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine," says Proverbs 17:22. "There is a time to weep and a time to laugh," and "the joy of the LORD is your strength."
God himself "laughs" at the boasts of evildoers in the psalms — a poetic image of his utter sovereignty over them. Laughter belongs in worship and in family life.
When Sarah finally bore the promised son, she said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." God is no enemy of joy.
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Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.