שָׂשׂוֹן
𐤔𐤔𐤅𐤍
sâsôwn
H8342 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or expression of exuberant joy or gladness, often marked by public celebration; denotes jubilation in response to positive events (such as deliverance, prosperity, or acts of divine favor), and is frequently associated with communal feasting or ritual occasions. The term emphasizes both the emotional and communal dimension of joy.
Semantic Range
exuberant joy, gladness, mirth, rejoicing, celebration (often communal or ritual), elation at positive events, anticipated festal joy, welcome (as festive reception)
Root / Etymology
From the root שׂוּשׂ, which carries the idea of exulting or rejoicing. שָׂשׂוֹן is a nominal form, expressing the outcome or state resulting from acts or circumstances that produce jubilation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, שָׂשׂוֹן is often paired with other expressions of joy (such as שִׂמְחָה 'simchah') to intensify the sense of festivity, particularly in poetic contexts (e.g., Psalms, Isaiah). While both שָׂשׂוֹן and שִׂמְחָה denote joy, שָׂשׂוֹן tends to convey heightened, outward, and often communal joy rather than an inward or general sense of happiness. The term is used for anticipated future celebration (e.g., in prophetic texts), as well as the actual experience of deliverance or blessing. In postexilic and later periods, 'שָׂשׂוֹן' retained its association with liturgical and communal rejoicing, influencing later Hebrew and liturgical usages. English translations often render it simply as 'joy,' 'gladness,' or 'rejoicing,' at times blurring the distinction between related Hebrew terms and missing the nuance of public or ritual celebration. In the prophetic books, שָׂשׂוֹן is at times contrasted with sorrow or lamentation, marking a hoped-for or promised reversal of misfortune.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or שָׂשֹׂן; from שׂוּשׂ; cheerfulness; specifically, welcome; gladness, joy, mirth, rejoicing.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שושׂ (š-w-š) — exultation, rejoicing, jubilation
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4885 | מָשׂוֹשׂ | rejoicing-of |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8342-03 |
שָׂשׂ֣וֹן | sason | HNcmsa |
joy | jubilation | 13 |
H8342-05 |
בְ/שָׂשׂ֑וֹן | vesason | HR/Ncmsa |
and joy | jubilant celebration | 3 |
H8342-02 |
לְ/שָׂשׂ֖וֹן | lesason | HR/Ncmsa |
for joy | for jubilant celebration | 3 |
H8342-04 |
שְׂשׂ֣וֹן | seson | HNcmsc |
joy | jubilation of | 2 |
H8342-01 |
בְּ/שָׂשׂ֑וֹן | besason | HR/Ncmsa |
with joy | in jubilation | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
22 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8342-01 |
Isaiah 12:3 | בְּ/שָׂשׂ֑וֹן | besason | HR/Ncmsa |
with joy | in jubilation |
H8342-03 |
Isaiah 22:13 | שָׂשׂ֣וֹן | sason | HNcmsa |
joy | jubilation |
H8342-03 |
Isaiah 35:10 | שָׂשׂ֤וֹן | sason | HNcmsa |
joy | jubilation |
H8342-03 |
Isaiah 51:3 | שָׂשׂ֤וֹן | sason | HNcmsa |
joy | jubilation |
H8342-03 |
Isaiah 51:11 | שָׂשׂ֤וֹן | sason | HNcmsa |
gladness | jubilation |
H8342-03 |
Isaiah 61:3 | שָׂשׂוֹן֙ | sason | HNcmsa |
of gladness | jubilation |
H8342-03 |
Jeremiah 7:34 | שָׂשׂוֹן֙ | sason | HNcmsa |
joy | jubilation |
H8342-02 |
Jeremiah 15:16 | לְ/שָׂשׂ֖וֹן | lesason | HR/Ncmsa |
for joy | for jubilant celebration |
H8342-03 |
Jeremiah 16:9 | שָׂשׂוֹן֙ | sason | HNcmsa |
of mirth | jubilation |
H8342-03 |
Jeremiah 25:10 | שָׂשׂוֹן֙ | sason | HNcmsa |
of-mirth | jubilation |