שִׂמְחָה (sim.chah)
sim.chah
joy
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 78 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun simchah denotes a deep, abiding sense of joy or gladness that permeates life. Derived from a root meaning to be bright or cheerful, it describes an inner state of well-being rather than a fleeting emotion. In the Hebrew Bible, this word appears frequently in Psalms and Proverbs, often characterizing the stability of a faithful heart.
Its usage extends beyond personal happiness to include communal celebration and divine satisfaction. For instance, Ezra records the joy of the returned exiles rebuilding the temple (Ezra 3:12-13), while Isaiah speaks of God’s own joy over His people (Isaiah 62:5). It also describes the "joy" of a banquet or festival, highlighting its social and liturgical dimensions.
Translators typically render simchah as "joy," "gladness," or "mirth." The sources note it can signify a "happy issue" or result, suggesting that this joy is often the outcome of God’s faithfulness. Unlike transient pleasure, simchah implies a lasting gladness rooted in covenant relationship.
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 points to a steady gladness that comes from knowing God is faithful. It is more than a passing feeling; it is a deep sense of well-being that stays with you even when life is hard. This joy is rooted in your relationship with the Lord, not in your circumstances.
When you read about the people of Israel rebuilding the temple or celebrating festivals, you see this kind of joy. They rejoiced because God kept His promises. You can find this same steady joy today by remembering how good He has been to you. It is a gift that strengthens your heart and helps you trust Him more.
Let this truth encourage you. When you feel weary, look back at God’s faithfulness. Let your heart rest in the knowledge that He gives you a joy that nothing can take away. This gladness is a sign of His presence in your life right now.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 78 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- joy15×
- with/ joy11×
- gladness10×
- and/ joy5×
- and/ gladness5×
- with/ gladness3×
- and/ gladness of3×
- pleasure2×
- [the] rejoicing of2×
- [the] joy of2×
- [is] a joy2×
- with/ rejoicing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׂמְחָ֣ה7×
- שִׂמְחָ֥ה5×
- שִׂמְחָ֔ה5×
- שִׂמְחָֽה\׃4×
- שִׂמְחָ֑ה4×
- וְ/שִׂמְחָה֙4×
- שִׂמְחַ֥ת3×
- בְּ/שִׂמְחָ֣ה3×
- בְּ/שִׂמְחָ֑ה3×
- בְ/שִׂמְחָ֖ה3×
- שִׂמְחָ֤ה2×
- שִׂמְחָ֗ה2×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 8:12
All the people went their way to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to celebrate, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
This verse connects understanding God's words directly to joy, showing that true gladness comes from knowing His truth.
-
II Chronicles 20:27
Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for Yahweh had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
The people returned to Jerusalem with joy because God fought for them, highlighting His role as the source of gladness.
-
I Chronicles 29:9
Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Yahweh; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
David rejoiced because the people gave willingly, showing that simchah often flows from a heart devoted to God.