יִשְׂחָק
𐤉𐤔𐤇𐤒
Yisechaq
H3446 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper personal name, masculine: 'Yitzḥaq' (Isaac) — denoting the son and designated heir of Abraham and Sarah in the Hebrew Bible. The name is understood etymologically as 'he will laugh' or 'may he laugh,' and functions primarily as a personal name rather than a common noun. Its meaning is closely tied to the narrative of laughter surrounding his birth. In all occurrences, it designates a single historical figure of the ancestral narratives, but occasionally the name can also serve as designation for his descendants as an ethnic or clan group ('sons of Isaac').
Semantic Range
personal name (Isaac); by extension, ancestor of the 'sons of Isaac'; retains etymological nuance of 'laughter' or 'joy' in narrative context
Root / Etymology
From the root צ-ח-ק (צחק), meaning 'to laugh.' 'Yitzḥaq' is formed as a verbal form (imperfect, 3rd masculine singular) and, as a theophoric or commemorative personal name, likely means 'he laughs' or 'he will laugh.' The spelling variation יִשְׂחָק (Yisḥaq) is a later orthographic variant of the standard biblical יִצְחָק (Yitzḥaq), with no significant difference in meaning. The root conveys laughter or rejoicing, but as a personal name it is best understood in context as a marker of identity.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name יִשְׂחָק (Yisḥaq) is an orthographic variant of the more common יִצְחָק, likely reflecting dialectical, chronological, or scribal differences. Both forms refer exclusively to the patriarch Isaac, son of Abraham and Sarah. In the ancestral narratives (Genesis 17, 18, 21, 22, 26), the name is closely linked to the theme of miraculous birth and laughter (Sarah and Abraham's response to the promise of a son in their old age). No evidence suggests a broader generic use as a common noun in biblical or post-biblical periods. Septuagint and later translations use 'Isaac' or transliterations thereof, and early English Bible versions follow this usage, which may obscure the literary connection with the verb 'to laugh.' The shift from צ to ש in spelling is relatively rare and did not reflect a change in pronunciation or meaning; it is best considered a scribal or regional orthographic phenomenon.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שַׁחֲצוֹם; he will laugh; Jischak, the heir of Abraham; Isaac. Compare יִצְחָק.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צחק (ṣ-ḥ-q) — to laugh, to rejoice, to jest
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3446-02 |
יִשְׂחָ֣ק | yisechaq | HNp |
Isaac | He-will-laugh | 3 |
H3446-01 |
לְ/יִשְׂחָֽק | leyisechaq | HR/Np |
to Isaac | to Yitzḥaq | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3446-02 |
Jeremiah 33:26 | יִשְׂחָ֣ק | yisechaq | HNp |
Isaac | He-will-laugh |
H3446-02 |
Amos 7:9 | יִשְׂחָ֔ק | yisechaq | HNp |
of Isaac | He-will-laugh |
H3446-02 |
Amos 7:16 | יִשְׂחָֽק | yisechaq | HNp |
Isaac | He-will-laugh |
H3446-01 |
Psalms 105:9 | לְ/יִשְׂחָֽק | leyisechaq | HR/Np |
to Isaac | to Yitzḥaq |