8057. simchah
Lexical Summary
simchah: Joy, gladness, mirth, rejoicing

Original Word: שִׂמְחָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: simchah
Pronunciation: sim-KHAH
Phonetic Spelling: (sim-khaw')
KJV: X exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing)
NASB: joy, gladness, pleasure, rejoicing, delight, exceeding joy, festival
Word Origin: [from H8056 (שָׂמֵַח - joyful)]

1. blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
exceedingly, gladness, joyfulness, mirth, pleasure, rejoicing

From sameach; blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival) -- X exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing).

see HEBREW sameach

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from samach
Definition
joy, gladness, mirth
NASB Translation
delight (1), exceeding joy (1), extremely* (1), festival (1), gladness (34), happiness (1), joy (38), mirth (1), pleasure (6), rejoice (1), rejoiced (1), rejoicing (6).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
שִׂמְחָה93 noun feminine joy, gladness, mirth; — absolute ׳שׂ Genesis 31:37 +, construct שִׂמְחַת Isaiah 9:2 +; suffix שִׂמְחָתִי Psalm 137:6, etc.; plural שְׂמָחוֺת Psalm 16:11, תֹ- Psalm 45:16; —

1 mirth, gladness, e.g. in festivity, Genesis 31:27 (E), Psalm 137:3; Psalm 137:6, 1 Kings 1:40; 1 Samuel 18:6; Isaiah 9:2 (twice in verse); Isaiah 16:10; Psalm 45:16; יוֺם ׳מִשְׁתֶּה וְשׂ Esther 9:17,18,22 compare (יוֺם omitted) Esther 9:19 (+ יוֺם טוֺב), Esther 9:22 ("" יוֺם טוֺם), + 5 t., + ׳קוֺל שׂ Jeremiah 7:34 = Jeremiah 16:9 = Jeremiah 25:10 = Jeremiah 33:11; joy of heart Proverbs 14:10,13; Ecclesiastes 5:19; Songs 3:11, compare (of inward joy) Jonah 4:6; Proverbs 15:23; Proverbs 21:15; = gaiety, pleasure Isaiah 22:13; Ecclesiastes 2:1,2,10; Ecclesiastes 8:15; Ecclesiastes 9:7, ׳בֵּית שׂ Ecclesiastes 7:4; חָנֵף ׳שׂ Job 20:5, of foolish Proverbs 15:21; Proverbs 21:17; malicious joy Ezekiel 35:15 (ל of thing), so כָּללֵֿבָב ׳שׂ Ezekiel 36:5.

246 (especially Psalms Chronicles) religious: 2 Samuel 6:12 "" 1 Chronicles 15:16,25; Joel 1:16 +; ׳יוֺם שׂ Numbers 10:10 (P); ׳עָשָׂה שׂ i.e. make a (sacred) festivity 2 Chronicles 30:23; Nehemiah 8:12; Nehemiah 12:27; שִׂמְחַת עוֺלָם Isaiah 35:10 = Isaiah 51:11; Isaiah 61:7; ׳שׂ with עַל person Nehemiah 12:44; joy of heart Isaiah 30:29; Jeremiah 15:16; as gift of ׳י Psalm 4:8; Psalm 21:7 7t. + (in mockery) Isaiah 66:5.

3 joy of ׳י Zephaniah 3:17.

4 glad result, gleeful issue Psalm 106:5 ("" טוֺבָה), Proverbs 10:28; Proverbs 12:20 (Gr אֱמֻנָה, Toy מִשְׁמָּט; opposed to מִרְמָה).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

שִׂמְחָה (simchah) denotes the joy, gladness, or mirth that arises when the people of God experience His presence, provision, and promises. Spanning Genesis through Esther, Job through the Prophets, the term appears about ninety-three times and forms a thread that ties together Israel’s history, worship, and eschatological hope.

Semantic Range and Related Terms

Simchah describes an inner emotion expressed outwardly. It encompasses spontaneous elation (1 Samuel 18:6), communal festivity (Nehemiah 12:43), and solemn yet exuberant worship (2 Chronicles 30:26). It overlaps with gil (“rejoicing”), chedvah (“joy”), and sason (“exultation”), yet simchah often highlights celebration rooted in covenant fellowship.

Joy in Covenant Celebration

From the outset, joy marks salvation history. Following the Red Sea deliverance, Moses’ sister led Israel in song, and “Miriam the prophetess… sang to them” (Exodus 15:20-21). When the Law is renewed, “You shall rejoice before the LORD” (Deuteronomy 12:12). Covenant feasts—Passover, Weeks, Booths—were legislated seasons of simchah (Deuteronomy 16:14-15), ensuring that remembrance of redemption remained experiential, not merely intellectual.

Triumphal and Royal Joy

Royal enthronements and victories evoke simchah. When Solomon is crowned, “All the people went up after him… rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook with the sound” (1 Kings 1:40). Victory psalms echo the same theme: “We will shout for joy in Your victory” (Psalm 20:5). Joy thus becomes a public testimony that the LORD reigns through His chosen king.

Joy in Harvest and Provision

Agricultural abundance triggers gladness. Isaiah links simchah to reaping grain “as men rejoice when they divide the spoil” (Isaiah 9:3). The Feast of Tabernacles, occurring after ingathering, epitomizes this: “You will be completely joyful” (Deuteronomy 16:15). God’s material gifts are to be received with spiritual rejoicing that acknowledges the Giver.

Marriage and Familial Joy

Simchah saturates nuptial language. Jeremiah foresees restoration when “the voice of joy and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride” will be heard again in Judah (Jeremiah 33:11). Family celebration mirrors the covenant relationship between God and His people.

Joy in Worship and Temple Service

Dedications of sacred space are accompanied by unprecedented joy. At the first Temple’s consecration, “on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they had observed the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days with joy” (2 Chronicles 7:9). Centuries later, post-exilic Jerusalem resounds: “God had given them great joy” (Nehemiah 12:43). True worship transforms duty into delight.

Prophetic and Eschatological Joy

The prophets often juxtapose current sorrow with future simchah. Zephaniah promises that the LORD “will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). Isaiah envisions ransomed pilgrims who “will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads” (Isaiah 35:10). This future-oriented joy enlarges Israel’s horizon beyond present distress.

Joy and Obedience

Simchah is inseparable from covenant faithfulness. Moses warns that curses will overtake those who “did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart” (Deuteronomy 28:47). Joyless obedience is disobedience; delight is the proper atmosphere of service.

Joyless Worship and Warnings

When idolatry prevails, joy departs. Joel foretells, “Joy and gladness are cut off from the house of our God” (Joel 1:16). The absence of simchah signals divine displeasure. Thus loss of joy functions as a prophetic alarm calling the community back to repentance.

Simchah in Personal Piety

Individual believers turn private experience into praise: “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound” (Psalm 4:7). Joy becomes the believer’s inner strength regardless of outward circumstances, a foretaste of promised fullness.

Psalms of Joy

The Psalter repeatedly commands joyful response: “Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with joyful songs” (Psalm 100:2). These imperatives establish simchah as a moral obligation grounded in divine goodness.

Intertestamental and New Testament Continuity

Though simchah is Hebrew, its theological substance flows into the New Testament. The angels proclaim “good news of great joy” at Christ’s birth (Luke 2:10), echoing Isaiah’s announcement. The fruit of the Spirit includes joy (Galatians 5:22), and believers are exhorted to “rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Thus, Old Testament simchah finds fulfillment in the Messiah.

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Worship leaders should cultivate gatherings where gratitude and delight fuse, reflecting Temple precedents.
2. Preachers can trace joy from Exodus redemption to resurrection victory, underscoring its centrality.
3. Pastoral counseling may remind the afflicted that future joy is covenant-guaranteed, offering hope amid suffering.
4. Mission endeavors should radiate the gladness that authenticates the gospel message (Psalm 67:4).

Key References

Deuteronomy 16:14-15; 1 Kings 1:40; 2 Chronicles 30:26; Nehemiah 12:43; Psalm 16:11; Psalm 51:12; Isaiah 35:10; Joel 1:16; Zephaniah 3:17.

Simchah, therefore, is not peripheral emotion but covenantal celebration—past, present, and future—anchored in the unchanging character and saving acts of the LORD.

Forms and Transliterations
בְ֝שִׂמְחָ֗ה בְּשִׂמְחַ֣ת בְּשִׂמְחַ֤ת בְּשִׂמְחַ֥ת בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה בְּשִׂמְחָ֖ה בְּשִׂמְחָ֗ה בְּשִׂמְחָ֣ה בְּשִׂמְחָ֥ה בְּשִׂמְחָֽה׃ בְּשִׂמְחָה֙ בְשִׂמְחַתְכֶ֖ם בְשִׂמְחָ֖ה בְשִׂמְחָ֣ה בְשִׂמְחָֽה׃ בִּשְׂמָחֹ֣ת בשמחה בשמחה׃ בשמחת בשמחתכם הַשִּׂמְחָ֑ה הַשִּׂמְחָ֔ה השמחה וְשִׂמְחַ֖ת וְשִׂמְחַ֣ת וְשִׂמְחַ֥ת וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וְשִׂמְחָ֗ה וְשִׂמְחָֽה׃ וְשִׂמְחָה֙ וּ֝בְשִׂמְחָת֗וֹ וּלְשִׂמְחַ֣ת וּלְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וּלְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּלְשִׂמְחָ֖ה ובשמחתו ולשמחה ולשמחת ושמחה ושמחה׃ ושמחת כְּשִׂמְחַ֣ת כְּשִׂמְחָ֨תְךָ֜ כשמחת כשמחתך לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה לְשִׂמְחָֽה׃ לשמחה לשמחה׃ מחות שְׂ֭מָחוֹת שִׂמְחַ֣ת שִׂמְחַ֥ת שִׂמְחַ֪ת שִׂמְחַתְכֶ֥ם שִׂמְחָ֑ה שִׂמְחָ֔ה שִׂמְחָ֖ה שִׂמְחָ֗ה שִׂמְחָ֣ה שִׂמְחָ֤ה שִׂמְחָ֥ה שִׂמְחָֽה־ שִׂמְחָֽה׃ שִׂמְחָתִֽי׃ שמחה שמחה־ שמחה׃ שמחת שמחתי׃ שמחתכם bə·śim·ḥāh ḇə·śim·ḥāh bə·śim·ḥaṯ ḇə·śim·ḥaṯ·ḵem besimChah besimChat bəśimḥāh ḇəśimḥāh bəśimḥaṯ ḇəśimḥaṯḵem biś·mā·ḥōṯ bismaChot biśmāḥōṯ haś·śim·ḥāh hassimChah haśśimḥāh kə·śim·ḥā·ṯə·ḵā kə·śim·ḥaṯ kesimChat kesimChatecha kəśimḥaṯ kəśimḥāṯəḵā lə·śim·ḥāh lesimChah ləśimḥāh mā·ḥō·wṯ machot māḥōwṯ śim·ḥā·ṯî śim·ḥāh śim·ḥāh- śim·ḥaṯ śim·ḥaṯ·ḵem simChah simChat simchatChem simchaTi śimḥāh śimḥāh- śimḥaṯ śimḥāṯî śimḥaṯḵem ū·ḇə·śim·ḥā·ṯōw ū·lə·śim·ḥāh ū·lə·śim·ḥaṯ ūḇəśimḥāṯōw ulesimChah ulesimChat ūləśimḥāh ūləśimḥaṯ uvesimchaTo vesimChah vesimChat vesimchatChem wə·śim·ḥāh wə·śim·ḥaṯ wəśimḥāh wəśimḥaṯ
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 31:27
HEB: לִּ֔י וָֽאֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ֛ בְּשִׂמְחָ֥ה וּבְשִׁרִ֖ים בְּתֹ֥ף
NAS: me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs,
KJV: me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs,
INT: tell have sent joy songs timbrel

Numbers 10:10
HEB: וּבְי֨וֹם שִׂמְחַתְכֶ֥ם וּֽבְמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם֮ וּבְרָאשֵׁ֣י
NAS: Also in the day of your gladness and in your appointed feasts,
KJV: Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days,
INT: the day of your gladness your appointed the first

Deuteronomy 28:47
HEB: יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּבְט֣וּב לֵבָ֑ב
NAS: your God with joy and a glad
KJV: thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness
INT: the LORD your God joy glad heart

Judges 16:23
HEB: לְדָג֥וֹן אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם וּלְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ נָתַ֤ן
NAS: their god, and to rejoice, for they said,
KJV: their god, and to rejoice: for they said,
INT: to Dagon their god rejoice said has given

1 Samuel 18:6
HEB: הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ בְּתֻפִּ֥ים בְּשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּבְשָׁלִשִֽׁים׃
NAS: with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments.
KJV: with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments
INT: King tambourines joy musical

2 Samuel 6:12
HEB: עִ֥יר דָּוִ֖ד בְּשִׂמְחָֽה׃
NAS: into the city of David with gladness.
KJV: into the city of David with gladness.
INT: the city of David gladness

1 Kings 1:40
HEB: בַּחֲלִלִ֔ים וּשְׂמֵחִ֖ים שִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַתִּבָּקַ֥ע
NAS: with great joy, so that the earth
KJV: with great joy, so that the earth
INT: flutes and rejoicing joy great shook

1 Chronicles 12:40
HEB: לָרֹ֑ב כִּ֥י שִׂמְחָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ
NAS: and sheep. There was joy indeed
KJV: abundantly: for [there was] joy in Israel.
INT: and sheep indeed joy Israel

1 Chronicles 15:16
HEB: לְהָרִֽים־ בְּק֖וֹל לְשִׂמְחָֽה׃ פ
NAS: to raise sounds of joy.
KJV: by lifting up the voice with joy.
INT: to raise sounds of joy

1 Chronicles 15:25
HEB: עֹבֵֽד־ אֱדֹ֖ם בְּשִׂמְחָֽה׃ ס
NAS: from the house of Obed-edom with joy.
KJV: out of the house of Obededom with joy.
INT: the house of Obed-edom joy

1 Chronicles 29:9
HEB: הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שָׂמַ֖ח שִׂמְחָ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃ פ
KJV: also rejoiced with great joy.
INT: and King rejoiced joy greatly

1 Chronicles 29:17
HEB: פֹ֔ה רָאִ֥יתִי בְשִׂמְחָ֖ה לְהִֽתְנַדֶּב־ לָֽךְ׃
NAS: [things]; so now with joy I have seen
KJV: all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people,
INT: here have seen joy offered

1 Chronicles 29:22
HEB: בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא בְּשִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַיַּמְלִ֤יכוּ
NAS: with great gladness. And they made
KJV: with great gladness. And they made Solomon
INT: day he gladness great made

2 Chronicles 20:27
HEB: אֶל־ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה כִּֽי־ שִׂמְּחָ֥ם
NAS: to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD
KJV: to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD
INT: to Jerusalem joy them to rejoice

2 Chronicles 23:18
HEB: בְּתוֹרַ֥ת מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּשִׂמְחָ֣ה וּבְשִׁ֑יר עַ֖ל
NAS: of Moses-- with rejoicing and singing
KJV: of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing,
INT: the law of Moses rejoicing and singing according

2 Chronicles 29:30
HEB: וַֽיְהַלְלוּ֙ עַד־ לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃
NAS: So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down
KJV: And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads
INT: praises with joy and bowed and worshiped

2 Chronicles 30:21
HEB: שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים בְּשִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וּֽמְהַלְלִ֣ים
NAS: with great joy, and the Levites
KJV: with great gladness: and the Levites
INT: seven days joy great praised

2 Chronicles 30:23
HEB: שִׁבְעַת־ יָמִ֖ים שִׂמְחָֽה׃
NAS: the seven days with joy.
KJV: [other] seven days with gladness.
INT: the seven days joy

2 Chronicles 30:26
HEB: וַתְּהִ֥י שִׂמְחָֽה־ גְדוֹלָ֖ה בִּֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
NAS: So there was great joy in Jerusalem,
KJV: So there was great joy in Jerusalem:
INT: become joy great Jerusalem

Ezra 3:12
HEB: וְרַבִּ֛ים בִּתְרוּעָ֥ה בְשִׂמְחָ֖ה לְהָרִ֥ים קֽוֹל׃
NAS: shouted aloud for joy,
KJV: shouted aloud for joy:
INT: many shouted joy aloud voice

Ezra 3:13
HEB: ק֚וֹל תְּרוּעַ֣ת הַשִּׂמְחָ֔ה לְק֖וֹל בְּכִ֣י
NAS: of the shout of joy from the sound
KJV: of the shout of joy from the noise
INT: the sound of the shout of joy the sound of the weeping

Ezra 6:22
HEB: שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה כִּ֣י ׀ שִׂמְּחָ֣ם
NAS: days with joy, for the LORD
KJV: days with joy: for the LORD
INT: seven days joy them to rejoice

Nehemiah 8:12
HEB: מָנ֔וֹת וְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹת שִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה כִּ֤י
NAS: a great festival, because
KJV: great mirth, because they had understood
INT: portions celebrate festival A great because

Nehemiah 8:17
HEB: הַה֑וּא וַתְּהִ֥י שִׂמְחָ֖ה גְּדוֹלָ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃
NAS: And there was great rejoicing.
KJV: And there was very great gladness.
INT: he become rejoicing great very

Nehemiah 12:27
HEB: לַעֲשֹׂ֨ת חֲנֻכָּ֤ה וְשִׂמְחָה֙ וּבְתוֹד֣וֹת וּבְשִׁ֔יר
NAS: the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving
KJV: the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings,
INT: celebrate the dedication gladness hymns songs

93 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8057
93 Occurrences


bə·śim·ḥāh — 13 Occ.
bə·śim·ḥaṯ — 3 Occ.
biś·mā·ḥōṯ — 1 Occ.
haś·śim·ḥāh — 3 Occ.
kə·śim·ḥaṯ — 1 Occ.
kə·śim·ḥā·ṯə·ḵā — 1 Occ.
lə·śim·ḥāh — 3 Occ.
mā·ḥō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
śim·ḥāh — 33 Occ.
śim·ḥaṯ — 5 Occ.
śim·ḥaṯ·ḵem — 1 Occ.
śim·ḥā·ṯî — 1 Occ.
ū·lə·śim·ḥāh — 3 Occ.
ū·lə·śim·ḥaṯ — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·śim·ḥā·ṯōw — 1 Occ.
ḇə·śim·ḥāh — 17 Occ.
wə·śim·ḥaṯ — 4 Occ.
ḇə·śim·ḥaṯ·ḵem — 1 Occ.

8056
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