Lexical Summary sason: Joy, gladness, exultation Original Word: שָׂשׂוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance gladness, joy, mirth, rejoicing Or sason {saw-sone'}; from suws; cheerfulness; specifically, welcome -- gladness, joy, mirth, rejoicing. see HEBREW suws NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sus Definition exultation, rejoicing NASB Translation gaiety (1), gladness (3), joy (15), joyously (1), rejoicing (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׂשׂוֹן noun masculineIsaiah 51:3 exultation, rejoicing; — absolute ׳שׂ Psalm 45:8 +, שָׂשׂן Esther 8:16; construct שְׂשׂוֺן (Sta§ 296 e) Psalm 51:14; Psalm 119:111; — exaulation, joy (especially in ׳יs favour), Joel 1:12; Isaiah 12:3; Psalm 51:14; Psalm 105:43; Psalm 119:111; ׳שֶׁמֶן שׂ (i.e. with which guests were anointed; figurative) Psalm 45:8; Isaiah 61:3 (opposed to אֵבֶל); ׳שֵׁם שׂ Jeremiah 33:9 ("" תְּהִלָּה; on text v Gie AlbrZAW xvi(1896), 115); elsewhere "" שִׂמְחָה: Jeremiah 7:34; Jeremiah 15:16; Jeremiah 16:9; Jeremiah 25:10; Jeremiah 33:11; Isaiah 22:13 (only here condemned as reckless, wanton), Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 51:3,11; Zechariah 8:19; Psalm 51:10; Esther 8:16,17; "" שָׂמַח Jeremiah 31:13 (opposed to אֵבֶל). Topical Lexicon OverviewThe term describes a deep, exuberant joy that springs from divine favor. It is used twenty-two times across narrative, poetic, and prophetic books to celebrate God’s salvation, to mark festive community life, and, by contrast, to warn of the dread that follows when that joy is withdrawn. Together these occurrences trace the arc of redemptive history—creation blessed, covenant ruptured, judgment felt, and restoration promised—while offering enduring counsel for worship and ministry. Historical and Narrative Settings 1. Esther 8:16–17. The first canonical appearance arises in Persia when Mordecai’s edict rescues the Jews from annihilation. “For the Jews it was a time of light and gladness and joy and honor.” The word captures a national, public relief that radiates outward: “many of the people of the land became Jews.” Joy becomes a testimony, turning deliverance into evangelism. 2. Post-exilic community life (Zechariah 8:19). After the exile, compulsory fasts commemorating catastrophe are promised transformation: “These fasts…will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for the house of Judah.” The term thus anchors communal rhythm—fasting yields to feasting once sin is dealt with. Personal Devotion and Worship The Psalter shows that this joy is both requested and received in private worship. Psalm 51:8 records David’s plea after sin: “Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.” Restoration joy follows repentance. Psalm 51:12 links it to assurance: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” Here salvation, not circumstance, is the fountainhead. Psalm 45:7, a royal-messianic psalm, indicates that righteousness is the precondition: “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy above your companions.” Joy is oil—an anointing that consecrates for service. Psalm 105:43 commemorates the exodus: “He brought forth His people with rejoicing, His chosen with shouts of joy.” Corporate worship rehearses past saving acts, reinforcing confidence in present trials. Psalm 119:111 locates joy in revelation: “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.” Scripture anchors the believer’s inner delight independent of external turmoil. Prophetic Visions of Restoration Isaiah and Jeremiah employ the word to paint coming glory: • Isaiah 35:10; 51:11. “Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.” The term signals the irreversible triumph of grace when the ransomed enter Zion. • Isaiah 51:3 connects it to Edenic reversal: “Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song.” • Isaiah 61:3 places it in the Servant’s mission: “to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning.” The phrase anticipates the Gospel proclamation that Jesus applies to Himself in Luke 4. • Jeremiah 31:13 extends it to generational wholeness: “The young women will rejoice in the dance, and the young men and old alike. I will turn their mourning into joy and bring them comfort and gladness.” Such passages reveal that true, lasting gladness is eschatological, rooted in God’s covenant faithfulness and ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah’s kingdom. Withdrawal of Joy as Judgment Prophets also announce the removal of this joy when covenant infidelity persists. Jeremiah 7:34; 16:9; 25:10; 33:9. The silencing of “the sounds of joy and gladness” is both sentence and sign that relationships, marriages, and daily commerce crumble without God’s blessing. Joel 1:12 portrays agricultural collapse: “Joy and gladness are withheld from the house of our God.” The absence of harvest and worship are linked; physical barrenness mirrors spiritual drought. Isaiah 22:13 exposes nihilistic revelry—“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”—a counterfeit joy that ignores impending judgment. Theology of Joy 1. God-centered. Joy is not self-generated; it is given by God, anchored in His salvation, character, and Word. Ministry Implications • Preaching. Proclaim salvation history so that congregations see joy as a response to deliverance, not mere emotion. Representative Chain for Study Esther 8:16 → Psalm 51:8 → Psalm 105:43 → Isaiah 35:10 → Jeremiah 31:13 → Zechariah 8:19. This sequence moves from historic rescue to personal restoration, corporate remembrance, prophetic promise, covenant renewal, and post-exilic hope, showing the thematic coherence of Scripture. Conclusion The occurrences of שָׂשׂוֹן weave a tapestry in which joy is both gift and goal. It crowns the righteous king, steadies the penitent sinner, celebrates communal deliverance, and heralds the coming reign of God. For believers today, it stands as a call to anchor delight in the finished and future works of the Lord, ministering that same joy to a world yearning for lasting gladness. Forms and Transliterations בְּשָׂשׂ֑וֹן בְשָׂשׂ֑וֹן בששון וְשָׂשֹׂ֖ן וְשָׂשׂוֹן֙ וששון וששן לְשָׂשׂ֖וֹן לְשָׂשׂ֣וֹן לְשָׂשׂוֹן֙ לששון שְׂשׂ֖וֹן שְׂשׂ֣וֹן שָׂשׂ֖וֹן שָׂשׂ֗וֹן שָׂשׂ֞וֹן שָׂשׂ֣וֹן שָׂשׂ֤וֹן שָׂשׂוֹן֙ ששון bə·śā·śō·wn ḇə·śā·śō·wn besaSon bəśāśōwn ḇəśāśōwn lə·śā·śō·wn lesaSon ləśāśōwn śā·śō·wn saSon śāśōwn śə·śō·wn seSon śəśōwn vesaSon wə·śā·śō·wn wə·śā·śōn wəśāśōn wəśāśōwnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Esther 8:16 HEB: אוֹרָ֖ה וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְשָׂשֹׂ֖ן וִיקָֽר׃ NAS: and gladness and joy and honor. KJV: and gladness, and joy, and honour. INT: light and gladness and joy and honor Esther 8:17 Psalm 45:7 Psalm 51:8 Psalm 51:12 Psalm 105:43 Psalm 119:111 Isaiah 12:3 Isaiah 22:13 Isaiah 35:10 Isaiah 51:3 Isaiah 51:11 Isaiah 61:3 Jeremiah 7:34 Jeremiah 15:16 Jeremiah 16:9 Jeremiah 25:10 Jeremiah 31:13 Jeremiah 33:9 Jeremiah 33:11 Joel 1:12 Zechariah 8:19 22 Occurrences |
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