What does צָחַק (ṣāḥaq) mean in the Bible?
צָחַק (ṣāḥaq): Laughter expressing emotion ranging from joy and play to mockery and contempt; often implies derision.
Hebrew · H6711
צָחַק
To laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by implication, to sport
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צָחַקH6711
Pronunciationṣāḥaq
What does צָחַק (ṣāḥaq) mean in the Bible?
צָחַק (ṣāḥaq): Laughter expressing emotion ranging from joy and play to mockery and contempt; often implies derision.
Full entry for צָחַק (H6711) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6711?
The BSB source-word alignment has 13 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include laugh (2), to make sport (2), caressing (1), joking (1), laughed (1).
Where does צָחַק (ṣāḥaq) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 17:17. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (11), Exodus (1), Judges (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itlaugh2×Genesis 18:13, Genesis 18:15
to make sport2×Genesis 39:14, Genesis 39:17
caressing1×Genesis 26:8
joking1×Genesis 19:14
laughed1×Genesis 18:12
Then he laughed1×Genesis 17:17
to entertain them1×Judges 16:25
to indulge in revelry1×Exodus 32:6
was mocking [her son]1×Genesis 21:9
will laugh1×Genesis 21:6
you did laugh1×Genesis 18:15
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 17:17וַיִּצְחָ֑קtoThen he laughedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 18:12וַתִּצְחַ֥קtolaughedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularGenesis 18:13צָחֲקָ֨הtolaughVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularGenesis 18:15צָחַ֖קְתִּיtolaughVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularGenesis 18:15צָחָֽקְתְּ׃toyou did laughVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularGenesis 19:14כִמְצַחֵ֖קtojokingPreposition-k | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularGenesis 21:6יִֽצְחַק־towill laughVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 21:9מְצַחֵֽק׃towas mocking [her son]Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularGenesis 26:8מְצַחֵ֔קtocaressingVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularGenesis 39:14לְצַ֣חֶקtoto make sportPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 17:17
Aligned rows13
Books represented3
Genesis11Exodus1Judges1
Source forms
וַיְצַחֵק֙1xway·ṣa·ḥêqJudges 16:25
וַיִּצְחָ֑ק1xway·yiṣ·ḥāqGenesis 17:17
וַתִּצְחַ֥ק1xwat·tiṣ·ḥaqGenesis 18:12
יִֽצְחַק־1xyiṣ·ḥaq-Genesis 21:6
כִמְצַחֵ֖ק1xḵim·ṣa·ḥêqGenesis 19:14
לְצַ֣חֶק1xlə·ṣa·ḥeqGenesis 39:14
לְצַ֥חֶק1xlə·ṣa·ḥeqGenesis 39:17
לְצַחֵֽק׃פ1xlə·ṣa·ḥêqExodus 32:6
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct3xGenesis 39:14, Genesis 39:17, Exodus 32:6
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular2xGenesis 21:9, Genesis 26:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xJudges 16:25
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular1xGenesis 18:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xGenesis 17:17
Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1xGenesis 19:14
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xGenesis 21:6
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular1xGenesis 18:15
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Laughter expressing emotion ranging from joy and play to mockery and contempt; often implies derision.
Strong'sH6711
Lexical occurrences13 versesWord forms2 forms6 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkGenesis 17:15-22Source Gloss
to laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by implication, to sport
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Laughter expressing emotion ranging from joy and play to mockery and contempt; often implies derision.
to laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by implication, to sport BDB: laugh Usage: laugh, mock, play, make sport.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms6
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action2×
Participle activeGen 21:9 · Gen 26:82×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense4×
PerfectGen 18:13 · Gen 18:153×
ImperfectGen 21:61×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Abraham's inward laughter expressing doubt or skepticism about God's promise
Sarah's fearful, skeptical laughter denying she laughed when confronted by the Lord
Ishmael playing or mocking Isaac, causing Sarah to demand his expulsion
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 13 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
צָחַק is a primitive root - no further derivation.