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שָׂמֵחַ

𐤔𐤌𐤇

sâmêach

H8056 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root שׂמח to rejoice, to be glad, to take pleasure

Definition

To be glad, joyful, or delighted; describes a state of happiness, cheerfulness, or emotional well-being, often as a result of positive events or conditions. In biblical usage, it refers to an enduring inner state or outward expression of joy, gladness, or festive spirit. The term can signify both emotional response and an attitude encouraged in religious or communal contexts.

Semantic Range

glad, joyful, merry, rejoicing, blithe, delighted, emotionally content; festive joy, happiness resulting from positive circumstance, commanded religious joy, communal festivity, gratitude-induced gladness

Root / Etymology

Root: שמח – meaning 'to rejoice, be glad'. The adjective שָׂמֵחַ is a participial or adjectival formation from the root, conveying the sense of being in a state of joy or gladness. The word denotes the quality or state produced by the root action (to rejoice).

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׂמֵחַ occurs frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible, describing both individual and communal joy—ranging from personal feelings (as in responses to deliverance or blessing) to the commanded attitude during festivals (e.g., Deuteronomy 16:14, Sukkot). The word applies to various registers: daily happiness (Proverbs), national rejoicing (Psalms), and liturgical festivity (Leviticus, Deuteronomy). Unlike other terms for joy, such as גִּיל (gil, often more exuberant or noisy), שָׂמֵחַ conveys a sense of contented gladness that can be both quiet or outwardly expressed. Later translations sometimes render it with 'rejoice' or 'be merry', but these can carry different connotations in English. Its use does not imply modern sentimental happiness, but ranges from robust communal celebration to solemn, deep contentment.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׂמַח; blithe or gleeful; (be) glad, joyful, (making) merry((-hearted), -ily), rejoice(-ing).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שמח (ś-m-ḥ) — to rejoice, to be glad, to take pleasure

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8057 שִׂמְחָה in your rejoicing

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8056-02 שָׂמֵֽחַ samecha HAamsa joyful joyful one 9
H8056-05 שְׂמֵחִ֔ים semechim HAampa rejoicing joyful ones 4
H8056-07 וּ/שְׂמֵחִ֖ים usemechim HC/Vqrmpa and rejoicing those who rejoice 2
H8056-06 שִׂמְחֵי simechey HAampc merry-hearted joyful ones of 1
H8056-03 שְׂמֵחָ֗ה semechah HAafsa joyful joyful 1
H8056-04 שְׂמֵחֵ֪י semechey HAampc who rejoice joyful ones of 1
H8056-01 הַ֭/שְּׂמֵחִים hasemechim HTd/Aampa who rejoice the rejoicing ones 1
H8056-08 יִשְׂמְח֤וּ yisemechu HVqi3mp let the heavens be glad may they rejoice 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8056-02 Deuteronomy 16:15 שָׂמֵֽחַ samecha HAamsa joyful joyful one
H8056-07 1 Kings 1:40 וּ/שְׂמֵחִ֖ים usemechim HC/Vqrmpa and-rejoicing those who rejoice
H8056-05 1 Kings 1:45 שְׂמֵחִ֔ים semechim HAampa rejoicing joyful ones
H8056-07 1 Kings 4:20 וּ/שְׂמֵחִֽים usemechim HC/Aampa and rejoicing those who rejoice
H8056-05 1 Kings 8:66 שְׂמֵחִים֙ semechim HAampa joyful joyful ones
H8056-02 2 Kings 11:14 שָׂמֵ֔חַ samecha HAamsa rejoicing joyful one
H8056-06 Isaiah 24:7 שִׂמְחֵי simechey HAampc merry-hearted joyful ones of
H8056-04 Psalms 35:26 שְׂמֵחֵ֪י semechey HAampc who rejoice joyful ones of
H8056-03 Psalms 113:9 שְׂמֵחָ֗ה semechah HAafsa joyful joyful
H8056-05 Psalms 126:3 שְׂמֵחִֽים semechim HAampa glad joyful ones
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