Lexical Summary sameach: Joyful, glad, merry, happy Original Word: שָׂמֵחַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be glad, joyful, making merry-hearted, rejoicing From samach; blithe or gleeful -- (be) glad, joyful, (making) merry((-hearted), -ily), rejoice(-ing). see HEBREW samach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom samach Definition glad, joyful, merry NASB Translation glad (2), joyful (5), joyfully (1), merry-hearted* (1), pleased (1), rejoice (3), rejoiced (2), rejoices (1), rejoicing (4), who delight (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׂמֵחַ verbal adjective glad, joyful, merry; — absolute ׳שׂ Deuteronomy 16:15 +, feminine שְׂמֵחָה Psalm 119:9; plural שְׂמֵחִים 1 Kings 1:45 +, construct שִׂמְחֵי Isaiah 24:17, שְׂמֵחֵי Psalm 35:26; — 1. a. as adjective joyful, shewing joy, 1 Kings 1:45; Esther 5:9 (+ טוֺב לֵב), Esther 5:14; אֵם שְׂמֵחָה Psalm 113:9; ׳לֵב שׂ Proverbs 15:13; Proverbs 17:22; at feast of tabernacle Deuteronomy 16:15, in thankfulness to ׳י Psalm 126:3 (both predicate with הָיָה), 1 Kings 8:66 (+ טוֺבֵי לֵב) = 2 Chronicles 7:10. b. = participle 1 Kings 1:40 ("" מְחַלְּלִים piping), 1 Kings 4:20; 2 Kings 11:14 (+ תֹּקֵעַ ב) = 2 Chronicles 23:13, מִן of thing Ecclesiastes 2:10. 2 as substantive ׳הַשׂ Amos 6:13 (+ ל of thing), Proverbs 2:14 (ל infinitive), Job 3:22 (+ אֱלֵיגִֿיל; "" יָשְׂישׂוּ); שִׂמְחֵילֵֿב Isaiah 24:7; of malicious joy ׳שׂ Proverbs 17:5 (ל of thing), שְׂמֵחֵי רָעָתִי Psalm 35:26. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Biblical Portrait שָׂמֵחַ (sameach) describes a state of settled gladness that springs from covenant favor, obedience, and God-given blessing. Unlike fleeting amusement, the adjective regularly portrays joy that is morally congruent with the character and purposes of the LORD. It is often paired with worship terms or covenant celebrations, signaling that true gladness is rooted in relationship with God. Distribution across Scripture The word appears approximately twenty-seven times, scattered through Torah, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and the Megilloth. A sampling illustrates its breadth: Covenant Festivals and Communal Worship Sameach is the expected atmosphere of Israel’s three pilgrimage feasts (Deuteronomy 16). Joy is not incidental but commanded, rooted in remembrance of deliverance and harvest provision. When Solomon concludes the temple dedication, “the people went to their homes joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had shown” (2 Chronicles 7:10). Worship that is theocentric cultivates a glad people; worship that is self-centered deteriorates into empty celebration (Amos 6:13). Joy in Domestic and Vocational Life Deuteronomy 24:5 legislates an entire year free from military duty so that a new marriage may flourish in joy. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes extend sameach to work, food, and family life, validating ordinary pleasures when received with gratitude. Boaz’s “merry heart” (Ruth 3:7) springs from labor completed and generosity poised, illustrating vocational satisfaction intertwined with covenant kindness. Contrasts with False or Fleeting Joy Scripture is candid about counterfeit gladness. Haman’s sameach evaporates the moment his idolatrous ambitions are threatened (Esther 5:9–13). Isaiah 24:7-11 pictures worldly mirth silenced under judgment. Such texts warn that joy severed from holiness is temporary and self-destructive. Prophetic and Messianic Threads The prophets envision a restored Zion marked by unbroken gladness (Isaiah 35:10; 51:11, verbs related to sameach). The adjective itself occasionally surfaces in anticipation of redemption, foreshadowing the Messiah who would be “anointed with the oil of joy” (Psalm 45:7). Thus sameach becomes a foretaste of the kingdom where sorrow and sighing flee away. Integration with New Testament Theology While sameach is Hebrew, its theological trajectory converges with the Greek χαρά (chara). The angel heralds “good news of great joy” at Messiah’s birth (Luke 2:10). Jesus promises that His joy will be in the disciples “and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). Paul commands, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4), an imperative echoing Deuteronomy’s festival calls. The eschatological consummation—“Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory” (Revelation 19:7)—gathers every Old Testament nuance of sameach into eternal praise. Ministry Applications Today 1. Corporate Worship: Design services that recall redemption, fostering biblically grounded gladness rather than entertainment. Summary שָׂמֵחַ embodies covenantal joy—an emotion, an attitude, and a public witness that God’s presence satisfies. Whether in Israel’s feasts, in the righteous household, or in prophetic hope, sameach points beyond itself to the ultimate gladness secured in Christ and awaiting full realization in the New Creation. Forms and Transliterations הַ֭שְּׂמֵחִים השמחים וְשִׂמְחִי֙ וְשַׂמַּ֣ח וְשָׂמֵ֔חוּ וְשָׂמַ֥ח וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֣ וּשְׂמֵחִ֖ים וּשְׂמֵחִֽים׃ ושמח ושמחו ושמחי ושמחים ושמחים׃ ושמחת יִשְׂמְח֤וּ ישמחו מח שְׂמֵחִ֔ים שְׂמֵחִֽים׃ שְׂמֵחִים֙ שְׂמֵחֵ֪י שְׂמֵחָ֗ה שִׂמְחֵי־ שִׂמְחָ֥ה שִׂמֳּחָֽהוּ׃ שַׂמֵּ֖חַ שָׂ֭מֵחַ שָׂמֵ֑חַ שָׂמֵ֔חַ שָׂמֵ֖חַ שָׂמֵ֥חַ שָׂמֵֽחַ׃ שמח שמח׃ שמחה שמחהו׃ שמחי שמחי־ שמחים שמחים׃ תִּשְׂמְחִ֤י תשמחי haś·śə·mê·ḥîm Hassemechim haśśəmêḥîm mê·aḥ meach mêaḥ śā·mê·aḥ śam·mê·aḥ saMeach śāmêaḥ samMeach śammêaḥ śə·mê·ḥāh śə·mê·ḥê śə·mê·ḥîm semeChah semeChei semeChim śəmêḥāh śəmêḥê śəmêḥîm śim·ḥāh śim·ḥê- śim·mo·ḥā·hū simChah simchei śimḥāh śimḥê- simmoChahu śimmoḥāhū tiś·mə·ḥî tismeChi tiśməḥî ū·śə·mê·ḥîm usemeChim ūśəmêḥîm vesaMach vesamachTa vesaMechu vesamMach vesimChi wə·śā·maḥ wə·śā·maḥ·tā wə·śā·mê·ḥū wə·śam·maḥ wə·śim·ḥî wəśāmaḥ wəśāmaḥtā wəśāmêḥū wəśammaḥ wəśimḥî yiś·mə·ḥū yismeChu yiśməḥūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 4:14 HEB: לִקְרָאתֶ֔ךָ וְרָאֲךָ֖ וְשָׂמַ֥ח בְּלִבּֽוֹ׃ INT: to meet sees glad his heart Deuteronomy 16:15 Deuteronomy 26:11 1 Kings 1:40 1 Kings 1:45 1 Kings 4:20 1 Kings 8:66 2 Kings 11:14 1 Chronicles 16:31 2 Chronicles 7:10 Esther 5:9 Esther 5:14 Psalm 35:26 Psalm 113:9 Psalm 126:3 Proverbs 2:14 Proverbs 15:13 Proverbs 17:5 Proverbs 17:22 Proverbs 27:11 Isaiah 24:7 Jeremiah 20:15 Jeremiah 20:15 Lamentations 4:21 Jonah 4:6 27 Occurrences |
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