### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun שֶׁמֶר (shemer, `{{H8105}}`) is derived from the verb שָׁמַר (shamar, `{{H8104}}`), meaning "to keep, guard, preserve, or watch." This etymological connection is crucial, as שֶׁמֶר literally denotes "that which has been kept" or "preserved." In its specific and primary usage, שֶׁמֶר refers to the "settlings" or "dregs" of wine. These are the solid particles, yeasts, and other sediments that precipitate and settle at the bottom of a wine vessel as the wine ages and clarifies. The base definition notes that it is used in the plural only, שְׁמָרִים.
The semantic range of שֶׁמֶר thus extends to:
* **Dregs/Lees/Sediment:** The literal physical residue at the bottom of a wine container.
* **Aged Wine:** By implication, the presence of these lees indicates that the wine has been allowed to mature for a significant period, often leading to a richer, clearer, and more potent product once decanted.
* **Figurative Implications:** Depending on the context, it can symbolize either the undesirable, bitter residue (judgment) or the desirable, refined essence (blessing, quality). It can also metaphorically describe a state of stagnation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word שֶׁמֶר (shemer, `{{H8105}}`) appears in a few key passages in the Hebrew Bible, each offering distinct contextual nuances:
* **[[Psalm 75:8]] (Hebrew: [[Psalm 75:9]]):** "For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he pours out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them." Here, the "dregs" (שְׁמָרִים) are explicitly associated with divine judgment. The imagery portrays a cup of wrath that God offers to the wicked, and they are forced to drink not just the wine, but even to "wring out" and consume the bitter, unpalatable sediment at the very bottom. This emphasizes the totality and severity of God's righteous indignation against the ungodly.
* **[[Isaiah 25:6]]:** "And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined." In stark contrast to Psalm 75, this passage presents "wines on the lees" (יַיִן מְזֻקָּקִים עַל־שְׁמָרִים) as a positive descriptor. Wine allowed to rest on its lees for an extended period becomes richer, more flavorful, and clearer (after decanting). This signifies the highest quality, aged, and well-preserved wine. In the context of the eschatological feast prepared by the LORD, it symbolizes the richness, purity, abundance, and enduring excellence of God's blessings in the Messianic age.
* **[[Jeremiah 48:11]]:** "Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed." Here, "settled on his lees" (שָׁקֶט עַל־שְׁמָרָיו) is a powerful metaphor for complacency and stagnation. Unlike wine that is periodically decanted and refined by being poured from one vessel to another, Moab has remained undisturbed, unpurified by adversity or divine discipline. This lack of movement and refinement means that Moab's original "taste" and "scent"—representing its inherent character, pride, and sinfulness—have remained unchanged and unpurified.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the root verb שָׁמַר (shamar, `{{H8104}}`), "to keep, guard, preserve." This connection highlights that the "lees" are literally the "preserved" part of the wine, whether for good or ill.
Other related concepts include:
* **Wine and Viticulture:** Terms associated with wine production, such as יַיִן (yayin, `{{H3196}}`, "wine"), גֶּפֶן (gephen, `{{H1612}}`, "vine"), and יֶקֶב (yeqev, `{{H3342}}`, "winepress"). The understanding of wine-making processes is essential to grasp the nuances of שֶׁמֶר.
* **Figurative Language:** The use of wine and its properties as metaphors for divine judgment, blessing, purification, and spiritual stagnation is a recurring motif in biblical literature.
* **Refinement and Purification:** The idea of "emptying from vessel to vessel" in [[Jeremiah 48:11]] relates to concepts of spiritual testing and purification, often associated with metallurgy (refining metals).
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of שֶׁמֶר (shemer, `{{H8105}}`) is remarkably multifaceted, demonstrating how a single term can convey profound and contrasting truths based on its contextual application:
* **Divine Judgment and Wrath:** In [[Psalm 75:8]], שֶׁמֶר serves as a stark symbol of the full, bitter, and inescapable measure of God's wrath against the wicked. It signifies the most undesirable and potent aspect of divine justice, ensuring that no part of the deserved judgment is avoided. This underscores God's absolute sovereignty and righteousness in judgment.
* **Eschatological Blessing and Abundance:** Conversely, in [[Isaiah 25:6]], שֶׁמֶר, when referring to "wines on the lees well refined," speaks of the ultimate quality, purity, and richness of God's promised blessings. This imagery points to the Messianic age, where God will provide a feast of unparalleled abundance and delight. The "preservation" implied by the lees suggests God's careful preparation and the enduring, eternal nature of His covenant mercies and salvation. It highlights the excellence and perfection of God's provision for His people.
* **Spiritual Stagnation and Unchanged Character:** [[Jeremiah 48:11]] uses שֶׁמֶר to illustrate the spiritual danger of complacency and lack of divine discipline. Like wine that remains undisturbed on its lees, a people or individual who avoids trials and refining experiences can become stagnant, losing clarity and failing to develop. This metaphor emphasizes the necessity of God's shaping hand, even through adversity, to purify and transform character. Without such "emptying from vessel to vessel," one's "taste" (character) remains unchanged, leading to spiritual decay rather than maturity.
### Summary
שֶׁמֶר (shemer, `{{H8105}}`), derived from the verb "to preserve," refers to the "dregs" or "lees" of wine. Its theological significance is profoundly shaped by its context:
* In [[Psalm 75:8]], it represents the bitter, undrinkable essence of divine judgment, which the wicked must fully consume.
* In [[Isaiah 25:6]], "wines on the lees" symbolize the finest, most aged, and purest blessings of God, indicative of the richness of the eschatological feast.
* In [[Jeremiah 48:11]], "settled on his lees" metaphorically describes spiritual complacency and stagnation, where a lack of refining experiences leaves character unchanged and unpurified.
Thus, שֶׁמֶר beautifully illustrates how a single physical reality can carry vastly different theological meanings—from the depths of judgment to the heights of blessing, and the dangers of spiritual inertia—all rooted in the concept of "preservation" by divine design or human choice.
TRV