Jastrow: שְׂחוֹק

שְׂחוֹק m. (b. h.; שָׂחַק) laughter, sport, jest. Ab. III, 13, v. קַלּוּת. Ex. R. s. 42 (ref. to לצחק, Ex. XXXII, 6) אין ש׳ האמור כאן וכ׳ the sport here mentioned means idolatry, debauchery, and bloodshed; ומנין לש׳ שהוא וכ׳ and whence is it proved that ‘sport’ refers to bloodshed? (Answ. ref. to II Sam. II, 14). Y. Peah I, 16ᵃ bot. שעשה דמן … ש׳ he (Abner) made the blood of lads an object of sport (ref. to II Sam. l. c.). Ber. 31ᵃ אסוֹר לאדם … ש׳ פיו וכ׳ man should not fill his mouth with laughter in this world (of oppression). Ib. מתוך ש׳ in a mood of laughter, v. עֲצֵבוּת; Y. ib. V, beg. 8ᵈ. Pes. 117ᵃ; Sabb. 30ᵇ אין שכינה … מתוך ש׳ וכ׳ holy inspiration does not rest upon man when he is in a mood of grief, or indolence, or laughter &c. Ib. (ref. to Koh. VII, 3) טוב כעס … מש׳ שמשחק וכ׳ better is the anger the Lord shows the righteous (by trials) in this world, than the laughter the Lord laughs with the wicked (when he makes them prosper) in this world. Cant. R. to VI, 11 מה אגוז זה ש׳ … ושעשוע וכ׳ as the nut is a plaything for children and an entertainment for kings, so is Israel &c.; a. fr.—Erub. 65ᵇ אף בשַׂחֲקוֹ man’s character is also recognized in his jesting.—[Yalk. Ps. 620 ד׳ שחוק הן, v. שְׂחִיקָה.]—Pl. שְׂחוֹקִים. Koh. R. to X, 19 (ref. to לשחוק עושים לחם ib.) לש׳ של יראות עושים לחם for the revelries of idolatries they prepare bread, but the wine &c.