מִשְׂחַק
𐤌𐤔𐤇𐤒
mischaq
H4890 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Object of laughter, jest, or mockery; something or someone regarded with amusement but often with disdain or derision. The term can refer broadly to games, revelry, or jesting (entertainment, amusement), but appears chiefly in the sense of a figure or object subject to ridicule, taunting, or scorn by others. In some contexts, it denotes social amusement or jest, while in others (especially poetic or prophetic discourse), the focus is on derision or being mocked.
Semantic Range
object of laughter, object of ridicule, object of mockery, jest, amusement, entertainment, source of sport or scorn
Root / Etymology
From the root שׂחק (שׂ־ח־ק), which means 'to laugh, to play, to sport.' The noun form מִשְׂחַק is a derivative with the mem-prefix, indicating an object or result associated with the root action: thus 'means of laughter,' 'object of amusement,' or an occasion of play or mockery.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מִשְׂחַק occurs rarely, primarily in poetic or prophetic texts, where it denotes not just general amusement but specifically being the target of scorn or ridicule (see e.g., Job 12:4; Lamentations 3:14). In later biblical Hebrew, the semantic field narrows toward derisive laughter or mockery, distinguishing it from other terms like שְׂחוֹק (schoq), which usually means laughter in a positive sense. Importantly, the sense of 'laughing-stock' reflects a negative social dynamic where a person becomes an object of public amusement through humiliation or contempt. English translations often prefer 'laughing-stock,' ‘object of mockery,’ or ‘mockery’ to express the specific connotation, but these may not capture occasional nuance relating to play or jest.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שַׁחֲצוֹם; a laughing-stock; scorn.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂחק (ś-ḥ-q) — to laugh, to play, to amuse, to mock
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4890-01 |
מִשְׂחָ֣ק | misechaq | HNcmsa |
a laughingstock | object of mockery | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4890-01 |
Habakkuk 1:10 | מִשְׂחָ֣ק | misechaq | HNcmsa |
a laughingstock | object of mockery |