H6712 H6712
laughter, object of laughter; mirth or being laughed at as a mockery
This word encompasses both joyful laughter and being laughed at in derision. Sarah declares that God has made laughter for her when Isaac is born—everyone who hears will laugh with her in joy. But in Ezekiel, Jerusalem will become 'laughter and derision,' an object of mocking scorn among the nations. The same Hebrew word thus covers the full range from delighted mirth to contemptuous ridicule, with context determining which sense applies.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Genesis 21:6 celebrates Sarah's joyful laughter at Isaac's birth ('God has made laughter for me'), while Ezekiel 23:32 warns Jerusalem will become 'laughter and derision.' English uses 'laughter' for both, Spanish 'risa,' French 'rire,' though the emotional valence is opposite: Sarah invites others to laugh with her in shared joy, while Jerusalem will be laughed at in shame. The word derives from the same root as Isaac's name (Yitzhak, 'he laughs'), connecting to themes of promise, fulfillment, and divine surprise throughout Genesis. 2×
AR["ضَحِكًا", "لِلضِّحْكِ"]·ben["পরিহাসের-জন্যে", "হাসি"]·DE["Lachen", "[לצחק]"]·EN["for-laughter", "laughter"]·FR["brûlure", "rire"]·heb["ל-צחוק", "צחק"]·HI["ठट्ठे", "हँसी"]·ID["bahan-tertawaan", "tawa"]·IT["[לצחק]", "laughter"]·jav["geguyonan", "gujeng"]·KO["-웃음으로", "웃음을"]·PT["Riso", "para-riso"]·RU["будешь", "смех"]·ES["para-risa", "risa"]·SW["kucheka", "kwa-kicheko"]·TR["Gülüş", "gülüş-için"]·urd["ٹھٹھ-کے-لیے", "ہنسی"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† צְחֹק n.[m.] laughter;—צְחֹק עָשָׂה לִי א׳ Gn 21:6 (E) laughter hath God caused for me; =laughing-stock, תִּהְיֶה לְצ׳ וּלְלַעַג Ez 23:32 (del. 𝔊B Hi Co Berthol Siegf Krae; not Toy).