(Simchah)

 

Hebrew Pronunciation [sim KHAH]

HCSB Translation: joy, gladness

Uses in the OT: 94

 

And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them
(Nehemiah 8:12)

 

Simchah, derived from samach (rejoice, be glad), reflects several of the verb’s meanings, occurring 10x with it.  Simchah signifies joy (Gen. 31:27), rejoicing (Neh. 12:43), or shout of joy (1 Sam. 18:6).  It connotes happiness (Job 20:5), pleasure (Pr. 21:17), enjoyment (Ecc. 8:15), celebration (Neh 8:12), and gratitude (Neh 12:44).  Simchah appears 13x with sason (“joy, delight”), usually as gladness (Ps. 51:8), and several times each with giyl (“rejoicing”; Isa. 16:10) and rinnah (“shout of joy, singing”; Zeph. 3:17).

Simchah accompanied feasting (Est. 9:17- 19), harvest (Is 9:3), and especially music (21 v v.). It could arise from folly or wisdom (Pr 15:21, 23).  The adjective sameach (21x) describes people rejoicing (1 Kg. 1:40).  It appears as joy (Deut. 16:15) and joyful (Ps. 113:9).  It implies enjoying (oneself) (Est. 5:14; Pr. 2:14), taking pleasure (Ec 2:10), and being full of joy (Est.5:9).  Carouser translates ” sameach of heart” (Is. 24:7).

 


Word Studies courtesy of the Holman Christian Standard Study Bible. Used with permissions from B&H Publishing Group, A Division of LifeWay Christian Resources.