צָחַק (tsa.chaq)

tsa.chaq

to laugh

H6711 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 12 verses

H:V

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 12 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:V

Word Overview

The Hebrew verb tschaq means to laugh, but its emotional range spans from genuine joy to sharp mockery. In the Qal stem, it typically describes simple laughter, often in response to surprise or delight. This is most famously seen when Abraham laughs upon hearing he will have a son in old age (Genesis 17:17), and again when Isaac’s name itself reflects this reaction to his birth (Genesis 21:6). The word captures the human instinct to express astonishment through sound.

However, the term carries a darker edge in other contexts. When used in the Piel stem, it can mean to mock or make sport of someone. This nuance appears when Ishmael mocks Isaac (Genesis 21:9), suggesting that laughter here is not harmless but potentially hostile or dismissive. Similarly, in Judges 16:25, the Philistines laugh at Samson’s humiliation, turning his weakness into entertainment. The distinction lies in intent: one laugh celebrates a miracle, while the other belittles a person.

This duality shows how laughter functions as a powerful social signal in Scripture. It can affirm God’s faithfulness or expose human cruelty. Translators must carefully weigh the context to decide whether the sound is one of wonder or scorn, ensuring the reader grasps the full weight of the moment without reducing it to a simple smile.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

Laughter in Scripture is never just a reflex; it is a window into the heart's response to reality. When Abraham heard the promise of a child in his old age, his laugh was one of sheer astonishment at God’s impossible grace (Genesis 17:17). This shows us that wonder and joy often look like disbelief before they become trust. In those moments, our human limits meet divine power, and laughter becomes the natural sound of hope breaking through.

Yet the word also warns us about how we treat others. When Ishmael mocked Isaac (Genesis 21:9), that same sound became a weapon of exclusion and cruelty. The Bible invites us to examine our own laughter. Are we using it to celebrate God’s faithfulness, or to diminish someone else? We are called to let our joy be rooted in gratitude rather than superiority.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.

to/ mock2×
you laughed1×
to/ play1×
mocking1×
like/ [one who] jests1×
he will laugh1×
did she laugh1×
and/ she laughed1×
and/ he made sport1×
and/ he laughed1×
[was] playing1×
I laughed1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

צָחָֽקְתְּ\׃1×
צָחַ֖קְתִּי1×
צָחֲקָ֨ה1×
מְצַחֵֽק\׃1×
מְצַחֵ֔ק1×
לְ/צַחֵֽק\׃\ \פ1×
לְ/צַ֥חֶק1×
לְ/צַ֣חֶק1×
כִ/מְצַחֵ֖ק1×
יִֽצְחַק\־1×
וַ/תִּצְחַ֥ק1×
וַ/יִּצְחָ֑ק1×

Key Verses

Genesis 17:17
Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?”

Abraham’s laugh reveals the tension between human limitation and God’s promise, showing that wonder is a valid response to divine grace.
Genesis 21:6
Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.”

Sarah declares that God has turned her private doubt into public joy, marking this laughter as a testimony to answered prayer.
Genesis 21:9
Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.

The shift to the Piel stem here shows how laughter can become a tool for social exclusion and emotional harm.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word tsachaq mean?

Tsachaq primarily means to laugh, but its meaning shifts based on context. It can express genuine joy and surprise at God’s actions, or it can describe mocking and scorn toward others. The emotional tone depends entirely on the situation.

Why does Sarah laugh in Genesis 17?

Sarah laughs because she finds the promise of having a child in her old age unbelievable (Genesis 18:12). Her laughter starts as disbelief but later transforms into joy when Isaac is born, as seen in Genesis 21:6.

How is tsachaq different from other words for mocking?

While tsachaq can mean to mock, it specifically refers to the act of laughing at someone. Other Hebrew words might emphasize verbal abuse or general scoffing, but tsachaq focuses on the sound and attitude of derisive laughter.

Every Occurrence (12 verses across 3 books)

Genesis 10 verses

Genesis 17:17

Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred…

Genesis 18:12

Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

Genesis 18:13

Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’

Genesis 18:15

Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

Genesis 19:14

Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this…

Genesis 21:6

Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.”

Genesis 21:9

Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.

Genesis 26:8

When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold,…

Genesis 39:14

she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He…

Genesis 39:17

She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to…

Exodus 1 verse

Judges 1 verse