### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **shâthâh**, represented by `{{H8354}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to imbibe**, either literally or figuratively. It appears 217 times across 193 unique verses in the Bible. Its core meaning is to **drink**, but it is also used idiomatically for feasting, drunkenness, and other forms of consumption.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its most common usage, `{{H8354}}` refers to the literal act of drinking. This can be for basic survival, such as when God provided water from a rock for the people to **drink** [[Exodus 17:6]], or in the context of celebration and daily life, as when people are encouraged to **drink** their wine with a merry heart [[Ecclesiastes 9:7]]. The term is also central to religious laws and commands, such as the prohibition for priests to **drink** wine or strong drink before entering the tabernacle [[Leviticus 10:9]]. Figuratively, the land of Israel is described as a land that **drinketh** water from the rain of heaven, personifying its reliance on divine provision [[Deuteronomy 11:11]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the scope and context of drinking in scripture:
* `{{H398}}` **ʼâkal** (to eat): This word is frequently paired with **shâthâh** to describe the full act of sustenance, feasting, or daily life, as seen in the command to "eat the fat, and **drink** the sweet" during a holy day [[Nehemiah 8:10]].
* `{{H3196}}` **yayin** (wine): As one of the most common beverages mentioned, **yayin** is often the object of the verb **shâthâh**. It can be associated with joy [[Ecclesiastes 9:7]] but also with warnings against excess [[Proverbs 31:4]].
* `{{H7941}}` **shêkâr** (strong drink): This term for an intoxicant is often mentioned alongside wine in prohibitions, such as the command for priests not to drink wine nor **strong drink** [[Leviticus 10:9]].
* `{{H7937}}` **shâkar** (to become tipsy): This word describes the direct consequence of excessive drinking. It highlights the difference between drinking for sustenance and drinking to the point of intoxication, as described in [[Haggai 1:6]], "ye **drink**, but ye are not **filled with drink**."
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8354}}` is significant, often used metaphorically to convey divine action and its consequences.
* **Symbol of Blessing and Curse:** The ability to plant a vineyard and **drink** its wine is a sign of God's blessing and national restoration [[Amos 9:14]]. Conversely, planting vineyards but not being able to **drink** the wine is a sign of judgment and covenant curse [[Amos 5:11]].
* **The Cup of Divine Wrath:** A powerful recurring theme is the act of being forced to **drink** from the cup of God's fury. This metaphor signifies experiencing divine judgment, as when Jerusalem is described as having **drunk** the cup of trembling from the Lord's hand [[Isaiah 51:17]].
* **Figurative Ingestion:** The act of drinking is extended to non-physical things. Job describes his spirit as **drinking up** the poison of the Almighty's arrows [[Job 6:4]], and in a prophetic vision, the fowls of the air are invited to a great sacrificial feast to **drink** blood [[Ezekiel 39:17]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8354}}` moves far beyond the simple act of drinking a liquid. While it grounds narratives in the physical realities of thirst, sustenance, and celebration, it also serves as a potent symbol in biblical theology. It is used to illustrate the consequences of obedience and disobedience, the blessings of peace, and the terrifying reality of divine judgment.
TRV