Joy: Is it more than a feeling?

Joy is an important topic in the Bible.  The word joy occurs 165 times in the entire Bible (KJV) and 63 times in the New Testament.  For comparison, in the New Testament, the word salvation occurs 45 times; doctrine 45 times; knowledge 52 times; wisdom 53 times; and mercy 59 times.  The related word rejoice occurs 45 times.  Joy is one of the Fruits of the Spirit:

Gal 5:22 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The Oxford American Dictionary defines joy as "a feeling of great pleasure and happiness."  The related word rejoice is defined as "feel or show great joy or delight."  Some synonyms in the dictionary for rejoice are "be happy, be pleased, be glad."  Let's try substituting these in Philippians 4:4:

Phil 4:4 NKJV Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 

Be happy in the Lord always. Again I will say, be happy!
Be pleased in the Lord always.  Again I will say, be pleased!
Be glad in the Lord always.  Again I will say, be glad!

Is that it?  Is Paul telling us to be happy?  Is it possible that the Biblical understanding of joy is more than a feeling?  Does the Bible give us any insight into a greater meaning for the word joy?  This topic is too big for a single study; today I will limit the study to the Old Testament.

Following are two tables showing the Hebrew words that the King James Version translates as joy or rejoice.   The first table shows that there are 102 instances of joy in the Old Testament (KJV); nearly half of those instances (48) translate the Hebrew word simchah (H8057) or the related word samach (H8055).

The second table shows that there are 147 instances of rejoice in the Old Testament (KJV); just over half of those instances (79) are translations of the Hebrew words samach (H8055), sameach (H8056) and simchah (H8057).

These words are all derived from the same root (ש מ ח – S-M-CH) and will be the focus of this study.  The word simchah (שמחה – H8057, noun, 94 times) and related words samach (‏שמח – H8055, verb, 156 times) and sameach (‏שמח – H8056, adjective, 21 times) occur 271 times in 246 verses of the Hebrew Bible.  Now, looking from a Hebrew perspective, here are the English words that are used to translate these Hebrew words.

• Simchah is translated in the KJV as: joy 44, gladness 31, mirth 8, rejoice 3, rejoicing 2.
• Sameach is translated in the KJV as:  rejoice 11, glad 4, joyful 3, merry 3, merrily 1, merryhearted 1.
• Samach is translated in the KJV as:  rejoice 95, glad 45, joy 5, joyful 2, merry 2.

Something that may be worth noting is that the verb form is much more common than the noun or adjective form.  Hebrew is generally a very verbal language, so we may want to be careful about drawing too many conclusions from this.  But, does this tell us anything about joy?  Is it possible that joy is something that we do more than something we feel?  Let's keep that thought in mind as we look at texts from the Bible.

In the following texts, the words in bold are the ones that translate one of these S-M-CH Hebrew words that we are looking at.  The Hebrew word, its transliteration into English letters and its Strong's number follow in parenthesis; also in the parenthesis, following the slash (/), are the Greek translation in the Septuagint, the transliteration of the Greek into English letters, and the Greek Strong's number.

Parts of each text are highlighted in yellow to draw attention to some insight into the Biblical meaning of joy.

Notice in the following text that joy is active— there is singing with musical instruments.

Gen 31:27 NKJV Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy (‏‏בשמחה – b'simchah – H8057 / μετ' ευφροσυνης – met' euphrosunēs – G2167) and songs, with timbrel and harp?

Notice in the following text that specific times were set aside for rejoicing and that the community celebrated in specific ways.

Lev 23:39 NKJV Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest. 40 And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice (‏ושמחתם – usmachtem – H8055 / ευφρανθηναι – euphranthēnai – G2165) before the LORD your God for seven days. 41 You shall keep it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.’ ”

In the following text, we see more about rejoicing at specific times.  Also, notice again that simchah is not a quiet, private feeling— it is noisy and communal.

Num 10:10 NKJV Also in the day of your gladness (‏שמחתכם – simchatkhem – H8057 / υφροσυνης υμων – euphrosunēs umōn – G2167), in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God.

There seems to be a lot of food and eating associated with simchah.

Deut 14:22 NKJV  You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. 23 And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. 24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the LORD your God has blessed you, 25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. 26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice (‏וְשמחת – v'samachta – H8055 / ευφρανθηση – euphranthēsē – G2165), you and your household.

Simchah is mor than just a few close friends; it is inclusive— the stranger and the fatherless and the widow.

Deut 16:14 NKJV And you shall rejoice (‏ושמחת – v'samachta – H8055 / ευφρανθηση – euphranthēsē – G2165) in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates.

Family is an important part of simchah— in the text above notice son and daughter, and wife in the text below.

Deut 24:5 NKJV When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness (‏ושמח – v'simach – H8055 / ευφρανει – euphranei – G2165) to his wife whom he has taken.

Simchah is God focused— my heart rejoices in the LORD.

1 Sam 2:1 NKJV And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice (‏שמחתי – samachti – H8055 / ευφρανθην – euphranthēn – G2165) in Your salvation.

Simchah is a celebration.

1 Kgs 1:39 NKJV Then Zadok the priest took a horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the horn, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people went up after him; and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy (‏ושמחים שמחה ‏גדולה – usmechim simchah g'dolah – H8056 H8057 H1419 / υφραινομενοι ευφροσυνην μεγαλην – euphrainomenoi euphrosunēn megalēn – G2165 G2167 G3173), so that the earth seemed to split with their sound.

1 Kgs 4:20 NKJV Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing (‏ושמחים – usmechim – H8056 / χαιροντες – chairontes – G5463).

2 Kgs 11:14 NKJV When she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing (‏שמח – sameach – H8056 / χαιρων – chairōn – G5463) and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!” 

Isa 25:9 NKJV And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation (‏נגילה ונשמחה בישועתו – nagilah v'nismechah bishu'ato – H1523 H8055 H3444 / και ηγαλλιωμεθα και ευφρανθησομεθα επι τη σωτηρια ημων – kai ēgangiōmetha kai euphranthēsometha epi tē sōtēria ēmōn – G21 G2165 G4991).”

Simchah isn't just for the rich and powerful.

Isa 29:19 NKJV The humble also shall increase their joy (‏שמחה – simchah – H8057 / αγαλλιασονται... εν ευφροσυνη – agangiasontai... en euphrosunē – G21 G2167) in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice (‏יגילו – yagilu – H1523 / εμπλησθησονται ευφροσυνης – emplēsthēsontai euphrosunēs – G1705 G2167) in the Holy One of Israel.

Isa 30:29 NKJV You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept, and gladness of heart (‏שמחת לבב – simchat levav – H8057 H3824 / ευφραινεσθαι – euphrainesthai – G2165) as when one goes with a flute, to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the Mighty One of Israel.

Isa 35:10 NKJV And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy (‏שמחת עולם – simchat olam – H8057 H5769 / μετ' ευφροσυνης και ευφροσυνη αιωνιος – met' euphrosunēs kai euphrosunē aiōnios – G2167 G166) on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness (‏ששון ושמחה – sason v'simchah – H8342 H8057 / αινεσις και αγαλλιαμα και ευφροσυνη – ainesis kai agangiama kai euphrosunē – G133 G19.1 G2167), and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isa 51:3 NKJV For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness (‏ששון ושמחה – sason v'simchah – H8342 H8057 / ευφροσυνην και αγαλλιαμα – euphrosunēn kai agangiama – G2167 G19.1) will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

God's word is the guide for true joy.

Jer 15:16 NKJV Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart (‏לששון ולשמחת לבבי – l'sason ulsimchat l'vavi – H8342 H8057 H3824 / εις ευφροσυνην και χαραν καρδιας μου – eis euphrosunēn kai charan kardias mou – G2167 G5479 G2588); for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

Zeph 3:14 NKJV Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel Be glad and rejoice (‏שמחי ועלזי – simchi v'alzi – H8055 H5937 / ευφραινου και κατατερπου – euphrainou kai kataterpou – G2165 G2697.4) with all your heart O daughter of Jerusalem!

It is "God in our midst" that leads to real joy.

Zeph 3:17 NKJV The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice (‏בשמחה – b'simchah – H8057 / ευφροσυνην – euphrosunēn – G2167) over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice (‏יגיל – yagil – H1523 / ευφρανθησεται – euphranthēsetai – G2165) over you with singing.

Zech 2:10 NKJV “Sing and rejoice (‏שמחי – simchi – H8055 / ευφραινου – euphrainou – G2165), O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the LORD.

Ps 16:11 NKJV You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy (‏שמחות – s'machot – H8057 / ευφροσυνης – euphrosunēs – G2167); at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

Simchah is audible and physical.

Ps 30:11 NKJV You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness (‏שמחה – simchah – H8057 / ευφροσυνην – euphrosunēn – G2167),...

Ps 100:2 NKJV Serve the LORD with gladness (‏שמחה – simchah – H8057 / ευφροσυνη – euphrosunē – G2167); come before His presence with singing.

Ps 118:24 NKJV This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad (‏נגילה ונשמחה – nagilah v'nismechah – H1523 H8055 / αγαλλιασωμεθα και ευφρανθωμεν – agangiasōmetha kai euphranthōmen – G21 G2165) in it.

Job 21:12 NKJV They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice (‏וישמחו – v'yismechu – H8055 / ευφραινονται – euphrainontai – G2165) to the sound of the flute.

A wedding is a great example of simchah— family and community celebrating.

Song 3:11 NKJV Go forth, O daughters of Zion, and see King Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day of the gladness of his heart (‏שמחת לבו – simchat libo – H8057 H3820 / ευφροσυνης καρδιας αυτου – euphrosunēs kardias autou – G2167 G2588).

Do we have the right perspective on joy in our western culture?  Is our joy active— something we do?  Is it about community?  Does it include the whole family?  Does it include those who are at the margins— the poor, the widow and orphan?  Do we set aside specific times for joy?  Do we do anything special to mark the occasions for joy?  Do we celebrate with food and music?   Do we really know how to do joy?

See if the following video from YouTube challenges any of our cultural assumptions about joy?  Is there anything we can learn from a different cultural perspective?