The Many Faces of Biblical Humor

Puns

    Most puns in the original languages of Hebrew and Greek do not come across very well into English.  However, the first example and the last two examples below do translate quite well into English.  The Hebrew or Greek words are given in italics both here and in the book so that the reader can see how the puns appeared in the original text.  Because the original Hebrew language had no vowels, puns are more prevalent in the Old Testament than in the New (such as in the third example below).  Vowels of course, were always present in the oral reading (and were added explicitly in the Masoretic Text), but that does not detract from the power of the puns.  The words still sound alike (if not identical) even with the different vowels.  Below are just a few examples, as there are more than 300 puns in Isaiah alone!

     His thirty sons rode around on thirty burros [´ayirim] and lived in thirty boroughs [´ayarim] in Gilead.
        Judges 10:4

    He hoped for justice [mishpat] but there is injustice [mispah] –
                     for equity [sedaqah] but there is outcry [se'aqah].     Isaiah 5:7

    Terror [pahad], pit [wa-pahath], and trap [wa-pah]; Upon you who dwell on earth.     Isaiah 24:17

    To eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, choose what pleases me, and hold to my covenant, I will give them a place in the walls of my house and a name that is better than sons or daughters. I will give them a name and they will not be “cut off.”      Isaiah 56:4-5

     Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the con-cision [katome, mutilators] because we are the true circum-cision [peritome, the ones who carefully cut away]. We worship God in the spirit [not in the flesh], we rejoice in Yeshua haMashiak [rather than in a ritual], and we put no trust in fleshly rites.    Philippians 3:2-3

    Because you have forsaken the Lord and His Temple –– and now worship the gods of "Fate" and "Destiny" –– I will "destine" you to die by the sword, and your "fate" will be an evil one.  For I called, but you did not answer.     Isaiah 65:11-12a

 Euphemisms and metaphors

    "loins" or "thigh" for male genitalia  (Genesis)
     "feet" for female genitalia (Isaiah)
    "garden springs" for sexual pleasure (Song of Solomon)
    "rows of white sheep" for his bride's teeth with
             "none missing"  (Song of Solomon)
     "evil eyed" and "single eyed" for stingy and generous
             (Matthew, Mark, and Luke)
    "occupied" or "covering feet" for using bathroom
             (I Samuel, and I Kings)
     "all who urinate against the wall"  for males
            (Jeremiah)
    "sleeping" for death of God's children (John, Paul)
    "stars" for pastors of the seven churches (Revelation)
    "sporting," "knowing," or "covering" for intercourse

  Riddle with a double meaning     (Judges 14:14-18)

Samson's riddle #1 to the Philistines:
    Out of the eater, came forth meat.
    Out of the strong, came forth sweet.
    What is it?

Philistines' counter riddle #2 (as the answer to #1): 
    What is stronger than a lion and sweeter than honey?

The Philistines' riddle is humorous in that it not only answers Samson's riddle (it was a swarm of bees in a lion carcass) but also requires an answer of its own.  In particular,  "love" is stronger than a lion and sweeter than honey, and it was love that made Samson give away the answer to his Philistine bride!  Samson was not amused.