צְחֹק
𐤑𐤇𐤒
tsᵉchôq
H6712 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Laughter; the act or sound of laughing, encompassing both genuine amusement or joy and laughter as mockery or derision, depending on context. Refers either to spontaneous expression of mirth, as at a happy occasion, or to scornful, mocking laughter directed at another.
Semantic Range
laughter (of joy), laughter (of derision), mockery, jest, sport (metaphorical for playful or mocking behavior)
Root / Etymology
From the root צחק (to laugh), which conveys the act of laughing or making sport. The noun form צְחֹק is directly derived from the root but specifies the act or sound itself, as opposed to the action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
צְחֹק occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in the context of the birth of Isaac, whose name (יִצְחָק) is similarly derived from the root and is associated with laughter occasioned by unexpected joy (Genesis 21:6). The term can occur in positive settings (genuine celebration, e.g., at a birth), as well as in negative settings (derisive or mocking laughter, e.g., Genesis 39:14, Exodus 32:6). The same root yields both verbal and nominal forms with overlapping but distinct nuances. The semantic boundary between laughter of gladness (mirth) and of scorn (derision) must be determined contextually. Later Hebrew literature (post-biblical) employs related forms for similar nuances. Standard English translations often render the term as 'laughter,' but the implicit tone—joyous or mocking—sometimes requires contextual clarification.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from צָחַק; laughter (in pleasure or derision); laugh(-ed to scorn).
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 mock, to make sport
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6712-02 |
צְחֹ֕ק | tsechoq | HNcmsa |
laughter | laughter | 1 |
H6712-01 |
לִ/צְחֹ֛ק | litsechoq | HR/Ncmsa |
for laughter | for laughter | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6712-02 |
Genesis 21:6 | צְחֹ֕ק | tsechoq | HNcmsa |
laughter | laughter |
H6712-01 |
Ezekiel 23:32 | לִ/צְחֹ֛ק | litsechoq | HR/Ncmsa |
for laughter | for laughter |