### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mishrâh**, represented by `{{H4952}}`, is a specific term for **liquor** or **steeped juice**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible. The word derives from a root meaning "loosening" and describes a liquid made by maceration, likely a juice created by steeping grapes.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H4952}}` is within the laws concerning the vow of a Nazarite. The command specifies a complete abstinence from all grape products, stating that a person consecrated to the LORD "shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any **liquor** of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried" [[Numbers 6:3]]. This places `mishrâh` within a spectrum of prohibited items, distinct from fermented wine but also from the raw fruit itself.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context of this unique prohibition:
* `{{H5144}}` **nâzar** (consecrate, separate): The defining action associated with the prohibition of `mishrâh`. This root is used for the vow of a Nazarite, who is to "separate themselves unto the LORD" [[Numbers 6:2]].
* `{{H3196}}` **yayin** (wine): This is the primary fermented beverage a Nazarite must avoid, mentioned alongside `mishrâh`. Its prohibition is a key element of the vow [[Numbers 6:3]].
* `{{H3892}}` **lach** (green, moist): This adjective describes the fresh, undried state of the grapes that are also forbidden, showing the vow's comprehensive nature [[Numbers 6:3]].
* `{{H3002}}` **yâbêsh** (dry): This term is used for the "dried" grapes that a Nazarite cannot eat, representing the other end of the grape's natural state from which `mishrâh` is derived [[Numbers 6:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4952}}` is tied directly to its singular context:
* **Holistic Consecration:** The inclusion of `{{H4952}}` in the Nazarite vow highlights the totality of the separation. It was not enough to avoid wine; every form of grape product, from fresh fruit to steeped juice to fermented drink, was forbidden [[Numbers 6:3]].
* **Separation from Common Life:** Grapes and their products, like wine `{{H3196}}`, were staples of life and celebration [[Ecclesiastes 9:7]]. Abstaining from even a simple "liquor" of grapes symbolized a Nazarite's deliberate step away from ordinary earthly pleasures to be set apart for a holy purpose.
* **Purity and Devotion:** The command in [[Numbers 6:3]] is an act of devotion. By avoiding `mishrâh` and other grape products, the Nazarite maintained a state of ritual purity and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their vow unto the LORD.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4952}}` is a highly specific term whose sole biblical appearance is critical to understanding the Nazarite vow. It is not simply another word for a drink but represents a particular preparation of grape juice that was explicitly forbidden to those consecrated to God. The word `mishrâh` illustrates the depth and thoroughness required in this unique form of biblical devotion, where separation from the world extended to every product of the grapevine.
TRV