THE FULL ARTICLE — from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), general editor James Orr — public domain, printed whole.

An emphatic expression of joy, "They clapped their hands (nakhah), and said, Long live (the King James Version "God save") the king" (2Ki 11:12); "Oh clap your hands (taqa`), all ye peoples" (Ps 47:1); or exultation (caphaq, La 2:15; macha', Eze 25:6; taqa`, Na 3:19); or repudiation (caphaq, Job 27:23; 34:37).

Figurative: To denote Nature's "sympathy" with God's people. "Let the floods clap (macha') their hands" (Ps 98:8); "All the trees of the field shall clap their hands" (Isa 55:12; compare Jud 5:20).