שִׂמְחָה
𐤔𐤌𐤇𐤄
simchâh
H8057 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or emotion of joy, happiness, gladness, or rejoicing, often marked by an outward expression or celebration. שִׂמְחָה refers both to the feeling of inner joy and the manifestation of that feeling, especially in communal settings or religious festivals. Its semantic range encompasses natural emotional response as well as ritualized communal rejoicing.
Semantic Range
joy, gladness, rejoicing, mirth, delight, festive happiness, communal celebration, individual emotional pleasure, ritual or religious celebration, exultation
Root / Etymology
From the root שׂמח, which expresses the idea of 'being glad, rejoicing, experiencing joy.' שִׂמְחָה is the noun form, derived from the verbal root but denoting the state, act, or experience of joy. While the core meaning of the root is emotional gladness, the noun is frequently contextualized in settings of collective celebration and festivity.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שִׂמְחָה appears across multiple genres—narrative, poetry, wisdom literature, and liturgical texts—indicating its pervasive significance. In patriarchal and monarchic contexts, it frequently describes communal emotions during religious festivals (such as Sukkot or Passover), covenant ceremonies, victories, or familial gatherings. The term often carries connotations of overt, communal celebration, though it can also refer to individual, internal joy. Prophetic literature sometimes uses שִׂמְחָה to denote inappropriate or fleeting joy, contrasting it with enduring covenant fidelity. Later liturgical and post-exilic uses increasingly associate it with temple worship and the observance of appointed times. Although often translated as 'joy' or 'rejoicing,' these English terms may underrepresent the depth of communal, religious, and emotional engagement implied in biblical Hebrew. The verb שָׂמֵחַ and the related noun שָׂשׂוֹן ('gladness, exultation') can overlap in meaning, though שִׂמְחָה tends to emphasize collective, outward rejoicing.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׂמֵחַ; blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival); [idiom] exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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שׂמח (ś-m-ḥ) — to rejoice, to be glad, to experience joy
Word Forms
18 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8057-09 |
שִׂמְחָ֣ה | simechah | HNcfsa |
joy | glad rejoicing | 34 |
H8057-16 |
וְ/שִׂמְחָ֗ה | vesimechah | HC/Ncfsa |
and gladness | rejoicing | 17 |
H8057-01 |
בְּ/שִׂמְחָ֥ה | besimechah | HR/Ncfsa |
with joy | in rejoicing | 13 |
H8057-10 |
שִׂמְחַ֥ת | simechat | HNcfsc |
joy | joy of | 5 |
H8057-17 |
וְ/שִׂמְחַ֣ת | vesimechat | HC/Ncfsc |
and gladness | and joy-of | 4 |
H8057-02 |
בְּ/שִׂמְחַ֤ת | besimechat | HR/Ncfsc |
in the gladness of | in rejoicing-of | 3 |
H8057-04 |
הַ/שִּׂמְחָ֑ה | hasimechah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the joy | the rejoicing | 3 |
H8057-13 |
וּ/לְ/שִׂמְחָ֑ה | ulesimechah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and-for-gladness | and for rejoicing | 3 |
H8057-07 |
לְ/שִׂמְחָ֔ה | lesimechah | HR/Ncfsa |
for joy | for rejoicing | 3 |
H8057-18 |
בְ/שִׂמְחַתְ/כֶ֖ם | vesimechatekhem | HR/Ncfsc/Sp2mp |
your joy | in your rejoicing | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
94 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8057-01 |
Genesis 31:27 | בְּ/שִׂמְחָ֥ה | besimechah | HR/Ncfsa |
with mirth | in rejoicing |
H8057-11 |
Numbers 10:10 | שִׂמְחַתְ/כֶ֥ם | simechatekhem | HNcfsc/Sp2mp |
of-your-gladness | your rejoicing |
H8057-01 |
Deuteronomy 28:47 | בְּ/שִׂמְחָ֖ה | besimechah | HR/Ncfsa |
with joy | in rejoicing |
H8057-13 |
Judges 16:23 | וּ/לְ/שִׂמְחָ֑ה | ulesimechah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and to rejoice | and for rejoicing |
H8057-01 |
1 Samuel 18:6 | בְּ/שִׂמְחָ֖ה | besimechah | HR/Ncfsa |
with joy | in rejoicing |
H8057-01 |
2 Samuel 6:12 | בְּ/שִׂמְחָֽה | besimechah | HR/Ncfsa |
with rejoicing | in rejoicing |
H8057-09 |
1 Kings 1:40 | שִׂמְחָ֣ה | simechah | HNcfsa |
joy | glad rejoicing |
H8057-04 |
Isaiah 9:2 | הַ/שִּׂמְחָ֑ה | hasimechah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the joy | the rejoicing |
H8057-05 |
Isaiah 9:2 | כְּ/שִׂמְחַ֣ת | kesimechat | HR/Ncfsc |
like the joy | like rejoicing-of |
H8057-09 |
Isaiah 16:10 | שִׂמְחָ֤ה | simechah | HNcfsa |
joy | glad rejoicing |