שָׂמַח (sa.mach)
sa.mach
to rejoice
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 116 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb samach describes the act of rejoicing or being glad, carrying a primary sense of brightening up or becoming cheerful. Its root imagery suggests a countenance that shines with joy, moving from an internal state of contentment to an outward expression of gladness. This word appears frequently across the Old Testament, particularly in Psalms and Proverbs, where it captures both personal delight and communal celebration.
Samach encompasses a wide range of joyful experiences, from quiet religious satisfaction to loud, exuberant festivity. It can describe the heart’s gladness in God, as seen in Psalm 16:9, or the festive merriment associated with wine and harvest in Ecclesiastes 8:15. The lexicons note that while it shares general meaning with other Hebrew words for joy, samach often emphasizes the visible brightness of a happy face rather than just vocal exultation.
The verb also functions causatively in its Piel and Hiphil stems, meaning to cause someone else to rejoice or gladden them. This usage highlights the social nature of joy in biblical thought, where one person’s gladness can be shared or even instigated in another. Translators typically render samach as "rejoice" or "be glad," preserving its simple yet profound connection between inner peace and outward celebration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word simchah, derived from the verb samach, describes a joy that is visible and embodied. It suggests a brightening of the face, moving from an inner sense of well-being to an outward expression of gladness. This is not merely a fleeting emotion but a deep-seated state of contentment that often finds its source in God’s presence or provision.
In Scripture, this joy is frequently communal. The law commands Israel to rejoice before the Lord together, including the Levite, the foreigner, and the widow (Deuteronomy 16:11). This highlights that biblical joy is social; it is meant to be shared and even caused in others. When we experience God’s faithfulness, we are invited to let our gladness reflect in our countenance and extend to those around us.
For your daily walk, this word reminds you that joy is a response to who God is. Whether in quiet personal moments or festive gatherings, samach invites you to acknowledge the goodness before you. It encourages a life where gratitude shapes your expression, turning ordinary blessings into occasions for shared gladness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 116 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ you will rejoice9×
- rejoice7×
- and/ they rejoiced7×
- you rejoice5×
- and/ rejoice4×
- I rejoiced4×
- so/ they may rejoice3×
- let them rejoice3×
- let it rejoice3×
- it rejoices3×
- it makes glad3×
- he rejoices3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִשְׂמַ֣ח3×
- יִשְׂמְחוּ\־3×
- וּ/שְׂמַחְתֶּ֗ם3×
- וַ/יִּשְׂמְח֥וּ3×
- וְ/יִשְׂמָ֑חוּ3×
- תִּשְׂמְחִ֤י2×
- שָׂמַ֣ח2×
- יִשְׂמָ֑ח2×
- יִשְׂמַ֥ח2×
- יִשְׂמַ֖ח2×
- יִ֝שְׂמַ֗ח2×
- יְשַׂמַּח\־2×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 16:11
You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God: you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there.
This verse shows samach as a commanded communal act that explicitly includes marginalized groups like the Levite and widow, emphasizing joy's inclusive nature.
-
I Samuel 2:1
Hannah prayed, and said, “My heart exults in Yahweh! My horn is exalted in Yahweh. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
Hannah uses this word to describe her heart’s exultation in God’s salvation, linking personal relief with public testimony of divine deliverance.
-
I Chronicles 16:31
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Let them say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns!”
Here the command to rejoice is cosmic, calling heaven and earth to gladness because Yahweh reigns, placing human joy within a larger theological context.
-
Exodus 4:14
Yahweh’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he is coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
Aaron’s heart being 'glad' upon meeting Moses illustrates the interpersonal relief and familial bond that samach can describe in times of tension.