שְׂחֹק (se.choq)
se.choq
laughter
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun sechoq refers to laughter, but its meaning shifts dramatically depending on the context. In most instances, it describes a hollow or mocking sound rather than genuine joy. This dual nature is clear in Job 39:7, where the wild donkey scorns the city’s noise and laughs (sechoq) at the driver’s shouts, illustrating derision toward human authority.
Conversely, the word can denote joyful mirth, though even this is often fleeting. Ecclesiastes uses it to describe the vanity of pleasure, noting that laughter ends in sorrow (Ecclesiastes 2:2). Jeremiah frequently employs sechoq to depict the ridicule Israel faces from enemies or God’s judgment, turning their pride into a laughingstock.
Its root relates to opening the mouth wide, suggesting an outward expression. Translators must decide whether the scene calls for joy or scorn. The sources highlight that in prophetic literature, this laughter is rarely celebratory; it is often the sound of mockery or the emptiness of worldly amusement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word for laughter carries a surprising depth that goes beyond simple happiness. While it can describe the joy of restoration, as seen in Psalms 126:2 where God’s people are filled with laughter after deliverance, it often points to something more complex. In many prophetic texts, this same word describes mockery or derision, highlighting how easily joy can turn into scorn when pride takes hold.
This duality reminds us that our emotional responses matter deeply to God. Ecclesiastes 7:3 warns that sorrow can sometimes refine the heart more effectively than fleeting mirth. Yet, we are not called to live in constant gloom. Instead, we are invited to seek a joy that is rooted in God’s faithfulness rather than in the temporary applause of the world or the hollow laughter of fools.
When you feel mocked or misunderstood, remember that your worth is not defined by others’ ridicule. And when you experience true joy, let it be anchored in the reality of who God is. This balance helps us navigate life with both humility and hope, knowing that lasting peace comes from a relationship with the Creator, not from external circumstances.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <into>/ a laughing stock3×
- laughter2×
- a laughingstock2×
- the/ laughing stock1×
- of/ laughter1×
- more than/ laughter1×
- in/ laughter1×
- for/ laughter1×
- [the] laughter of1×
- [is] like/ sport1×
- [is] a laughingstock1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לִ/שְׂחוֹק֙2×
- שְּׂחֹק֙1×
- שְׂחֹ֤ק1×
- שְׂחֹ֣ק1×
- שְׂח֣וֹק1×
- שְׂח֡וֹק1×
- שְׂ֝ח֗וֹק1×
- מִ/שְּׂחֹ֑ק1×
- לִ/שְׂחֹ֥ק1×
- לִ/שְׂחֹ֖ק1×
- לִ/שְׂח֖וֹק1×
- כִּ/שְׂח֣וֹק1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 126:2
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “Yahweh has done great things for them.”
This verse captures the rare instance where laughter signifies genuine divine restoration and communal joy rather than mockery.
-
Jeremiah 20:7
Yahweh, you have persuaded me, and I was persuaded. You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day. Everyone mocks me.
Here the word describes the prophet’s personal experience of being made a laughingstock, illustrating the pain of social rejection for faithfulness.
-
Ecclesiastes 7:6
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
The text uses this term to contrast the empty, explosive noise of foolishness with the steady wisdom of a serious heart.