מִשְׁתֶּה
𐤌𐤔𐤕𐤄
mishteh
H4961 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A gathering or event characterized by communal drinking, often accompanied by eating and social interaction; in most contexts, refers to a 'feast,' 'banquet,' or 'drinking party.' The term emphasizes the festive, communal aspect of such occasions, sometimes held for religious, social, or royal purposes.
Semantic Range
banquet, feast, drinking-party, celebratory gathering, royal banquet, social drinking event
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root שׁתה (sha-tah), 'to drink.' The word מִשְׁתֶּה is a noun formation emphasizing the act or event of drinking, particularly in a communal, organized context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, מִשְׁתֶּה most commonly refers to events where drinking is central, often used in royal, festive, or celebratory settings (e.g., weddings, royal banquets, community celebrations such as those in the book of Esther). While often translated as "banquet" or "feast" in English versions, the Hebrew term places stronger focus on drinking than eating. Distinct from זֶבַח (zevaḥ, 'sacrifice/feast'), which centers on ritual sacrifice and the associated communal meal. The social function of a מִשְׁתֶּה could include political alliances (as in Genesis 40 or Esther), hospitality, or rites of passage. The nature and character of these drink-based gatherings vary across sources but are generally bounded by tradition and social expectation. In later periods, particularly during Persian rule (Esther), the concept of מִשְׁתֶּה expands to grander and more open-ended festivities, sometimes lasting multiple days. English translations sometimes obscure the prominent role of drinking by simply rendering as "feast" or "banquet." The Aramaic cognate also exists (cf. Daniel 5:1).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to מִשְׁתֶּה; a banquet; banquet.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שתה (sh-t-h) — to drink, consume liquid
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4960 | מִשְׁתֶּה | in a drinking-feast |
| H8354 | שָׁתָה | I will drink |
| H8355 | שְׁתָה | they drank |
| H8358 | שְׁתִי | drunkenness |
| H8360 | שְׁתִיָּה | and the drinking |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4961-01 |
מִשְׁתְּיָ֖/א | misheteya | ANcmsd/Td |
of the banquet | the drinking-banquet | of the banquet | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4961-01 |
Daniel 5:10 | מִשְׁתְּיָ֖/א | misheteya | ANcmsd/Td |
of the banquet | the drinking-banquet | of the banquet |