Hebrew · H7832, G2606 · unreviewed

שָׂחַק

To laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play · to mock

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

שָׂחַק H7832 to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play
Pronunciation yiśḥāq
Laughter spans from joy and play to mockery and derision; often implies power dynamics or superiority.
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καταγελάω G2606 to mock
Pronunciation katageláō
Scornful, contemptuous laughter directed at someone; more intense ridicule than simple mockery.
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What does שָׂחַק (sachaq) mean in the Bible?

שָׂחַק · καταγελάω is a Hebrew word meaning "to laugh in mockery or scorn".

Full entry for שָׂחַק (H7832, G2606) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to laugh in mockery or scorn
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 10×
Participle active 1Chr 13:8 · 2Sam 6:5 · Jer 15:17 · Jer 30:19 · Jer 31:4 · Prov 8:30 · Prov 8:31 · Prov 26:19 · Zech 8:5
Imperfect Job 40:20
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 13×
Imperfect Hab 1:10 · Job 39:7 · Job 39:22 · Ps 2:4 · Ps 37:13 · Job 5:22 · Ps 59:9 · Job 29:24 · Prov 1:26 · Job 39:18 · Ps 52:8 11×
Perfect Job 30:1 · Lam 1:7
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action
Participle active 2Chr 30:10
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 24 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Imperfect 12 Participle 10 Perfect 2
Stem
Qal 13 Piel 10 Hiphil 1
Mood
Indicative/jussive 10 Indicative/cohortative 2 Indicative 2

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources