צָחַק
tsa.chaq
to laugh
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word "צָחַק" (tsa.chaq) is defined as "to laugh." It is used 13 times in the Bible, indicating its significance in the Hebrew language and culture. This verb suggests a range of emotions, from joy and amusement to ridicule and scorn. The usage of "צָחַק" in the Bible reveals its connection to various social and emotional contexts. It can describe a person's reaction to a situation, such as mocking or belittling someone (e.g., Psalm 35:16), or expressing joy and delight (e.g., 1 Samuel 6:5). This word also implies a sense of mocking or scorn, as seen in the phrase "to laugh at" or "to mock" (e.g., Proverbs 10:23). The frequency and variety of "צָחַק" in the Bible suggest its importance inCANCEL Hebrew language and culture. It captures the complexities of human emotions, from joy and amusement to ridicule and scorn, and is used to describe various social and emotional contexts.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
13 total occurrences across the text
Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?”
Genesis 18:12Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
Genesis 18:13Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’
Genesis 18:15Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
Genesis 18:15Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
Genesis 19:14Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this place, for Yahweh will destroy the city!” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking.
Genesis 21:6Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.”
Genesis 21:9Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.
Genesis 26:8When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was caressing Rebekah, his wife.
Genesis 39:14she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
Genesis 39:17She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,
Exodus 32:6They rose up early on the next day, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
Judges 16:25When their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson, that he may entertain us.” They called for Samson out of the prison; and he performed before them. They set him between the pillars;