What does שָׂחַק (yiśḥāq) mean in the Bible?
שָׂחַק (yiśḥāq): Laughter spans from joy and play to mockery and derision; often implies power dynamics or superiority.
Hebrew · H7832
שָׂחַק
To laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play
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שָׂחַקH7832
Pronunciationyiśḥāq
What does שָׂחַק (yiśḥāq) mean in the Bible?
שָׂחַק (yiśḥāq): Laughter spans from joy and play to mockery and derision; often implies power dynamics or superiority.
Full entry for שָׂחַק (H7832) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7832?
The BSB source-word alignment has 36 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include laugh (2), laughs (2), were celebrating (2), And as the women danced (1), and celebrating (1).
Where does שָׂחַק (yiśḥāq) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Judges 16:25. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (9), Proverbs (6), Psalms (5), 2 Samuel (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itlaugh2×Psalms 59:8, Habakkuk 1:10
laughs2×Psalms 2:4, Psalms 37:13
were celebrating2×2 Samuel 6:5, 1 Chronicles 13:8
And as the women danced1×1 Samuel 18:7
and celebrating1×1 Chronicles 15:29
and compete1×2 Samuel 2:14
and he laughs1×Job 41:29
and laughing1×Proverbs 29:9
and she can laugh1×Proverbs 31:25
but the people scorned1×2 Chronicles 30:10
Can you pet1×Job 41:5
entertain them1×Judges 16:27
He laughs1×Job 39:22
He scorns1×Job 39:7
I was rejoicing1×Proverbs 8:31
I will celebrate1×2 Samuel 6:21
If I smiled1×Job 29:24
in joyful1×Jeremiah 31:4
joking1×Proverbs 26:19
laughing1×Lamentations 1:7
of celebration1×Jeremiah 30:19
of revelers1×Jeremiah 15:17
play1×Job 40:20
playing1×Zechariah 8:5
rejoicing1×Proverbs 8:30
she laughs1×Job 39:18
they mock me1×Job 30:1
they will mock [the evildoer], saying1×Psalms 52:6
to entertain1×Judges 16:25
to frolic1×Psalms 104:26
to laugh1×Ecclesiastes 3:4
will mock1×Proverbs 1:26
You will laugh1×Job 5:22
Show sample aligned rows
Judges 16:25וִישַֽׂחֶק־toto entertainConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singularJudges 16:27בִּשְׂח֥וֹקtoentertain themPreposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1 Samuel 18:7הַֽמְשַׂחֲק֖וֹתtoAnd as the women dancedArticle | Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine plural2 Samuel 2:14וִֽישַׂחֲק֖וּtoand competeConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural2 Samuel 6:5מְשַֽׂחֲקִים֙towere celebratingVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural2 Samuel 6:21וְשִׂחַקְתִּ֖יtoI will celebrateConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1 Chronicles 13:8מְשַׂחֲקִ֛יםtowere celebratingVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural1 Chronicles 15:29וּמְשַׂחֵ֔קtoand celebratingConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular2 Chronicles 30:10מַשְׂחִיקִ֣יםtobut the people scornedVerb - Hifil - Participle - masculine pluralJob 5:22תִּשְׂחָ֑קtoYou will laughVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowJudges 16:25
Aligned rows36
Books represented13
Judges21 Samuel12 Samuel31 Chronicles22 Chronicles1Job9Psalms5Proverbs6Ecclesiastes1Jeremiah3Lamentations1Habakkuk1Zechariah1
Source forms
מְשַׂחֲקִ֖ים2xmə·śa·ḥă·qîmJeremiah 15:17, Zechariah 8:5
אֶשְׂחַ֣ק1x’eś·ḥaqJob 29:24
אֶשְׂחָ֑ק1x’eś·ḥāqProverbs 1:26
בִּשְׂח֥וֹק1xbiś·ḥō·wqJudges 16:27
הַֽמְשַׂחֲק֖וֹת1xham·śa·ḥă·qō·wṯ1 Samuel 18:7
הַֽתְשַׂחֶק־1xhaṯ·śa·ḥeq-Job 41:5
וְ֝יִשְׂחַ֗ק1xwə·yiś·ḥaqJob 41:29
וִישַֽׂחֶק־1xwî·śa·ḥeq-Judges 16:25
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural6x2 Samuel 6:5, 1 Chronicles 13:8, Jeremiah 15:17, Jeremiah 30:19
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular5xJob 39:7, Job 39:22, Psalms 2:4, Psalms 37:13
Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular2xProverbs 8:30, Proverbs 8:31
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular2xJob 29:24, Proverbs 1:26
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xJob 5:22, Psalms 59:8
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2xJob 30:1, Lamentations 1:7
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine plural1x1 Samuel 18:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural1x2 Samuel 2:14
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Laughter spans from joy and play to mockery and derision; often implies power dynamics or superiority.
Strong'sH7832
Lexical occurrences36 versesWord forms3 forms24 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkPsalm 2:4–6Source Gloss
to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Laughter spans from joy and play to mockery and derision; often implies power dynamics or superiority.
to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play BDB: laugh Usage: deride, have in derision, laugh, make merry, mock(-er), play, rejoice, (laugh to) scorn, be in (make) sport.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms24
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action10×
Participle active1Chr 13:8 · 2Sam 6:5 · Jer 15:17 · Jer 30:19 · Jer 31:4 · Prov 8:30 · Prov 8:31 · Prov 26:19 · Zech 8:59×
ImperfectJob 40:201×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense13×
ImperfectHab 1:10 · Job 39:7 · Job 39:22 · Ps 2:4 · Ps 37:13 · Job 5:22 · Ps 59:9 · Job 29:24 · Prov 1:26 · Job 39:18 · Ps 52:811×
PerfectJob 30:1 · Lam 1:72×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action1×
Participle active2Chr 30:101×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
To laugh, mock, or scoff; expresses the disproportion of power
He laughs; he scorns; he derides; signifies a sovereign confidence in the face of human rebellion
Additional Occurrences
Psalms 2:1-6יִשְׂחָקyiśḥāq
laughs; mocks; derides
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 36 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שָׂחַק is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.