Hebrew Word Study – Laugh – Tsachaq צחק Sade Cheth Qop
Genesis 18:13-14: “And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? (14) Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
I have heard this verse quoted many times by preachers to assure us that all things are possible with God. Well, after all, He created this natural world it is only logical that He can manipulate his creation any way He wants. I often have often wondered why God had to remind Abraham that nothing is too hard for God. Surely Abraham, among all people, would know that nothing is too hard for God.
Some modern translations say nothing is too wonderful for God to perform. That would seem to fit the context more as Abraham and Sarah had given up all hope of having a child and then God performs this wonderful miracle for them. It had to be overwhelming. We say Sarah laughed in mockery when she heard she was having a child. Yet the word for a laugh here in Hebrew is the word tsachaqah from the root word tsachaq which means laughter. It can be used for laughter in mockery, yet if you trace this word too is very Semitic origins you find that it is used to express the idea of playful teasing, specifically of a husband and wife during a time of intimacy as the husband caresses his wife. He is teasing her, being playful with her, and making her happy and joyful.
Oddly, tsachaq is where the word and name Isaac originate. Isaac was named after this moment of laughter, this moment of God playfully teasing Sarah, making her joyful and happy. Did God really expect this miracle child to be named after a word for mockery? I find that hard to believe. This had to be a different type of laughter. I believe it was an expression of the root meaning of tsachaq, the joy and pleasure one feels when being caressed, cherished, and loved. At that very moment, Sarah’s laughter was born out of a sense of joy over being loved and cherished by God.
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Rashi expresses this as Sarah not mocking but showing a sense of wonder. Something so wonderful you just can’t believe it. She senses a thrill over the fact that she would bear a child. In other words, she is saying; “If only this were true, what a happy wonderous thought.” Sarah’s unbelief was not one of mockery but of wonder. Sort of like being told you won the lottery. You say; “No, it can’t be true, but yippee!” She was laughing out of pure joy but at the same time just thinking it was just too wonderful to be true thinking: “Oh if only it were true.”
In a sense that was God’s response when he said: “Hayipale’” that is “Yes, it is true.” Hayipale comes from the root word pala’ which is rendered as “is anything too hard.” The Hei makes this interrogative, that is a question. In this case, it is a rhetorical question. “Do you really doubt it?” The root word pala’ really has the idea of something that is wonderous, outside the realm of the natural world. “Do you think that it is just too wonderful that it can’t be? Are you not deserving of something so wonderful?” The Tagum uses the Aramaic word haytakasi, which has the idea of being hidden, separated, or concealed. In other words, God was saying; “Is anything too hidden, separated, and concealed from Me that would prevent me from doing my will?”
Jeremiah 29:10: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” The word plans is chashab which has the idea of designs, intentions, or thoughts in the sense of a plan and purpose. Nothing was going to change the plans and purpose that God had for Sarah to bear a child. Of course, Sarah could have gotten an abortion and could have ended her pregnancy. I know, such a thing is absolutely ridiculous to consider. She wanted this child, prayed for it, and longed for it because God put that desire in her. That was His plan for her and nothing would hinder that plan unless she wanted to hinder it.
Sometimes God will do things for us and we just sit in awe and think: “Can it really be, this is just too wonderful?” This morning I was spending a little special time with God. Things haven’t been going that well for me. I guess I was doing my share of bellyaching. I was struggling with a health issue, a job issue, an issue with my apartment, and the possibility I would have to move but just can’t afford a move so I was also struggling with a financial issue. Suddenly it was like God said: “Hey, look around you, check out your life right now.” I paused and thought of my particular moment. I was driving in a car that was running without major problems, I was on my way to spend the day just studying God’s Word in a peaceful coffee shop. I was anticipating God giving me some new insight into His Word which He was doing at that moment.
As I thought about my life at seventy-two years of age I started to tsachaq, laugh. This was not a mockery laugh but one of joy. I personally do not see how things are going to work out, but I am doing what my heart had longed to do all my life. To just spend time peacefully studying God’s Word, writing books that will get published, and enjoying a comfortable day off from my day job. This was God’s plan for my life, to study His Word and share insights He gives me with others, even it only one person reads my blog, he created me to encourage that one person and that gives a seventy-two-year-old man purpose.
You see that all Sarah in her old age wanted, was just purpose and God gave it to her beyond her expectations. That purpose was haytakasi, that is nothing could prevent God from carrying out his plan for her life. She is the only one who could prevent it, but why would she, she was getting the desire of her heart which just happened to be God’s desire for her as well.
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Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
Thank you Chaim. Your teachings are such a blessing to me. God bless you 🙏 praying for you 🙏
Beautiful! Thank you, Chaim.
Thank you Chaim ! I love this! So very relatable.
By the way, I gave my 81 year old mother your book Racham and WOW she says it’s the best book she’s ever read! And she reads A LOT!
I pray God multiplies back to you all that you give from your heart! And more. Isn’t it amazing that eye has not seen nor ear heard what He has in store for those that believe in Him?!!
This has been highly impactful. Thank you.
Thank you! I am that one person he created you to encourage today! I am so excited anout learning more from your teaching!
This article has deeply blessed me. Some of God’s prophecies over my life are almost too wonderful to comprehend but I have found joy in this article which has given me deeper understanding of Sarah’s laugh. Thank you for taking the time to share this beautiful insight with us who do not speak or understand Hebrew.
I’m not one who laughs much – or smiles much – because I’ve known I live in a World whose spirit delights in stealing our joy. Call it fear. I also know we all came into this World infected with fear.
Yes, I’ve wondered about the nature of Sarah’s laugh – that it might have come from unbelief. She convinced Abraham to have a child with Hagar previously – to help God out. I’ve also read the Prayer of Jabez, where a beleaguered mother named her child, “He who causes pain”; and I believe Rachel named her second son, “Ben oni – ‘son of my pain'”; Jacob changed it to, “Benjamin.”
As you pointed out, the LORD was directly involved and made His involvement crystal clear in the conception of Isaac. So, I can see where Sarah’s laughter was not of unbelief or derision – but the response of one who felt God’s love, comfort, providence – His grace.
Thank you for this exposition: it has lifted my spirit today.
Love this
It makes sense 💝
This is wonderful!! Do not stop posting these. A friend showed me your studies and the are life changing and directed by God. Thank you, sir.
It is truly a blessing to have received the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and instruction through the word laughter and your experience with it.
I wanted to mention that you said “only if one person reads my blog”. I’m sure it was the beginning of 2022, that I ran into your blog and began to actually write key words attached with your blog name in the google search when I needed a better understanding. This may not relate or may, depending if you get a good laugh from this. But I’ve been using your blog testimonies to help my friends and family to understand. Specifically the word “seek”. I send them your blog posts. The shock when they understand!
I just wanted to say thank you for letting God be that desire in your heart to help not only me, but many others in my life. This also is my first time posting, usually I’m a lurker. Another thing, not sure why I assumed you were my age(early 30’s). I don’t usually say anything about being young, but God really does keep us, doesn’t he? Rhetorical. Maybe somewhat on topic. Now that makes me laugh.
I just wanted to say thank you greatly for your blog. It has had a profound impact on me and my relationship with God. I don’t have the ability to articulate such feelings in a quick letter of thanks, but your work is immensely precious to me and reaches the deep parts of my heart because of how much it has helped me to understand and grow.
Thank you, keep up the amazing work. Much love and God bless always.
Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing your gift God has given you! I enjoyed reading your blog on the word “laugh”! It is in perfect harmony with God’s beautiful character.
Thank you. This is what I needed to hear today. Your words, God’s words to us, through you, are a blessing. You are a real person, being used by God to help others through this life. And to glorify Him by how we conduct ourselves. You are a great help to many. And this includes those who help you in this ministry. God bless you.
Love your daily studies! Gives this Chili’s
Of God hope! Thank you
Dear Chaim, thank you that you keep fulfilling your purpose by sharing these thought-provoking and encouraging insights; they have always been of great help to me and renewed my interest in God’s word.
If you ask just for one person that would benefit from this, believe me there is more than one.
May Jesus guide you and comfort you!
Chaim, Sir, You are a tremendous blessing to me and to countless others who may not be able to write a comment. God continue to keep you. God bless you real good Sir
I want to lift you up in prayer during this time, I know God is faithful to supply all that we need. I pray as you celebrate the joy that you find in studying and sharing His Word you see God miraculously provide a way through this season! Thank you for sharing the joy of laughter from an intimate knowledge of God’s love!
Shalom, I have never read an article from you that I did not like very much. You really touched me with this one.
I’m 82 and am dealing with some health issues. My kidneys stopped working 2.5 years ago. I’m on peritoneal dyalysis that I do every night for 9 hours, plus I’ve developed diabetes. I to laugh even with these things. I just do not care about these things. I do take good care of myself and when I tired from working in the yard I go in, sit down and rest by studying Hebrew.
I am blessed as I get to meet a lot of others on dialysis and tell them about G-d, and on occasion about you.
I’ve never sent you anything, it I am today. G-d bless.
Such encouragement
So beautiful and insightful. Made me aware of what was happening to me on the several occasions I have had this encounter with G-d. Thank you for your work!
Well thank you Chaim greatly appreciated this word . Made my wife and LAUGH and cry . Love you brother and may the Lord bless you .