English · KJV
H6711

צָחַק

tsâchaq /tsaw-khak'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by implication, to sport
KJV usagelaugh, mock, play, make sport.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsâchaq — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word tsâchaq, represented by H6711, is a primitive root meaning to laugh outright, often with connotations of merriment or scorn. It also carries the implication to sport, mock, play, or make sport. This word appears 13 times across 12 unique verses, highlighting its specific and often dramatic role in biblical narratives.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H6711 is used in several key contexts, often centered around pivotal moments of disbelief, joy, and scorn. Its most famous usage is tied to Abraham and Sarah H8283, who both laughed at the divine promise of a son in their old age (Genesis 17:17, Genesis 18:12). After being confronted by the LORD, Sarah H8283 denied her laughter out of fear Genesis 18:15. This same word, however, shifts to express joy when she exclaims that God has made her laugh and all who hear will laugh with her upon Isaac's birth Genesis 21:6. The word also frequently denotes mockery or contempt, as when Lot seemed to his sons-in-law as one that mocked Genesis 19:14, or when Potiphar's wife twice accused Joseph of being brought in to mock them (Genesis 39:14, Genesis 39:17). It can also describe revelry or play, seen when the Israelites rose up to play after their idolatry Exodus 32:6 and when Isaac was seen sporting with his wife Rebekah Genesis 26:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concepts of laughter, mockery, and play:

  • H6712 tsᵉchôq (laughter): This noun is derived directly from H6711 and means laughter (in pleasure or derision). It is used by Sarah H8283 when she says God has made her laughter, directly connecting the act of laughing with the resulting state Genesis 21:6.
  • H7832 sâchaq (to laugh, play): A closely related verb, this term also means to laugh (in pleasure or detraction) or to play. It is used to describe the Lord having his enemies in derision Psalms 2:4 and the voice of them that make merry Jeremiah 30:19, showing a similar range of meaning from scorn to joyful celebration.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6711 is significant, often illustrating the tension between human perception and divine action.

  • Divine Promise and Human Doubt: The laughter of Abraham and Sarah H8283 initially represents human limitation and doubt in the face of a divine promise (Genesis 17:17, Genesis 18:12). God's response to their laughter reaffirms His power, ultimately transforming their skepticism into joyful laughter that testifies to His faithfulness Genesis 21:6.
  • Scorn Preceding Consequence: The word is frequently used to describe mockery or scorn that invites negative consequences. Lot's sons-in-law treat his warning as a mockery just before their destruction Genesis 19:14. Similarly, Sarah's H8283 observation of Ishmael mocking Isaac is a catalyst for a major familial shift Genesis 21:9.
  • Corrupt Merriment: In the context of the golden calf, the people rising up to play H6711 is not innocent fun but a sign of their turning to idolatry and away from God, linking this form of "sport" to spiritual rebellion Exodus 32:6.

Summary

In summary, H6711 tsâchaq is a potent word that captures a spectrum of human expression, from the scornful mockery of a doubter to the joyful laughter of a believer. Its use in scripture highlights critical moments of divine intervention, human response, and moral consequence. Whether it is the disbelief of Abraham and Sarah H8283, the idolatrous play of the Israelites, or the cruel sport of the Philistines, the context of tsâchaq consistently reveals deeper truths about faith, judgment, and the nature of God's interaction with humanity.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 13 occurrences, inflected in 9 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • צַחֶק
  • מְצַחֵק
  • יְצַחֵק
  • תִּצְחַק
  • יִּצְחָק
  • יִצְחַק
  • צָחַקְתִּי
  • צָחָקְתְּ
  • צָחֲקָה

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H8283 שָׂרָה the same as שָׂרָה; Sarah, Abraham's wife; Sarah. H6712 צְחֹק from צָחַק; laughter (in pleasure or derision); laugh(-ed to scorn). H7832 שָׂחַק a primitive root; to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play; deride, have in derision, laugh, make m

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 12 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis (10 verses); never once in the other 36.

10
Genesis
1
Exodus
1
Judges

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.