שָׁתָה
𐤔𐤕𐤄
shâthâh
H8354 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To drink liquid, primarily referring to the physical act of consuming liquids, most commonly water, wine, or other beverages. The term can also extend in some contexts to figurative senses such as imbibing or partaking (e.g., of wrath, suffering, or experience). Used both in literal descriptions of drinking and, less frequently, in metaphorical or evocative language.
Semantic Range
to drink (liquid), to imbibe, to consume liquid, to partake (figuratively: of wrath, cup, or experience), to get drunk (in combination with other terms), to absorb (figurative usage)
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁתה, likely derived from a base meaning 'to drink.' The verb is distinct but related to שָׁקָה, which means 'to give drink, water, cause to drink.' שָׁתָה serves as the simple (qal) stem of the action, while שָׁקָה is causative (hiphil) or intensive. There is no evidence for further etymological layers or connections outside North-West Semitic.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שָׁתָה is the standard Biblical Hebrew verb for 'to drink.' It appears throughout the Hebrew Bible, from the patriarchal narratives (e.g., Genesis 9:21, Noah drinking wine) through the monarchy and into prophetic and wisdom literature. Its usage is almost always literal, describing the consumption of liquids, though in some passages it is used metaphorically: e.g., 'drink the cup of wrath' (Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15), symbolizing suffering or judgment. The verb is applied both to humans and animals, and at times appears in ritual contexts (e.g., the drinking of wine in feasts or offerings). While the English 'to drink' is a straightforward translation, English may lack the idiomatic force of the Hebrew in some metaphorical uses; for instance, 'drinking' in biblical idiom can connote full participation in an experience (cf. Job 34:7, 'drinks scorn like water'). The word does not carry later connotations associated with excessive drinking or drunkenness unless specified by context. It is distinct from related terms such as רָוָה (ravah, 'to be saturated' or 'quench thirst') and serves as the basic term for drinking action in Hebrew narrative and law.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively); [idiom] assuredly, banquet, [idiom] certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk ([idiom] -ard), surely. (Prop. intensive of שָׁקָה.)
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שתה (š-t-h) — to drink, consume liquid, imbibe
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4960 | מִשְׁתֶּה | in a drinking-feast |
| H4961 | מִשְׁתֶּה | the drinking-banquet |
| H8355 | שְׁתָה | they drank |
| H8358 | שְׁתִי | drunkenness |
| H8360 | שְׁתִיָּה | and the drinking |
Word Forms
54 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8354-04 |
לִ/שְׁתֹּֽת | lishetot | HR/Vqc |
to drink | to drink | 23 |
H8354-53 |
יִשְׁתּ֖וּ | yishetu | HVqi3mp |
they drink | they drink | 15 |
H8354-37 |
וַ/יִּשְׁתּ֗וּ | vayishetu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and they drank | and they drank | 12 |
H8354-52 |
יִשְׁתֶּ֤ה | yisheteh | HVqi3ms |
drinks | he will drink | 12 |
H8354-25 |
תִּשְׁתֶּה | tisheteh | HVqi3fs |
you shall drink | she drinks | 12 |
H8354-39 |
וְ/לִ/שְׁתּ֖וֹת | velishetot | HC/R/Vqc |
and to drink | and to drink | 10 |
H8354-35 |
וַ/יֵּ֥שְׁתְּ | vayeshete | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he drank | and he drank | 9 |
H8354-28 |
תִשְׁתּֽוּ | tishetu | HVqi2mp |
you shall drink | you will drink | 7 |
H8354-47 |
וְ/שֹׁתִים֙ | veshotim | HC/Vqrmpa |
and drinking | and drinking-ones | 6 |
H8354-15 |
שְׁתֵ֔ה | sheteh | HVqv2ms |
Drink | Drink! | 6 |
Occurrences in Scripture
217 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8354-35 |
Genesis 9:21 | וַ/יֵּ֥שְׁתְּ | vayeshete | HC/Vqw3ms |
he drank | and he drank |
H8354-38 |
Genesis 24:14 | וְ/אֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה | veesheteh | HC/Vqi1cs |
and I will drink | and I will drink |
H8354-15 |
Genesis 24:14 | שְׁתֵ֔ה | sheteh | HVqv2ms |
drink | Drink! |
H8354-15 |
Genesis 24:18 | שְׁתֵ֣ה | sheteh | HVqv2ms |
Drink | Drink! |
H8354-04 |
Genesis 24:19 | לִ/שְׁתֹּֽת | lishetot | HR/Vqc |
drinking | to drink |
H8354-04 |
Genesis 24:22 | לִ/שְׁתּ֔וֹת | lishetot | HR/Vqc |
to drink | to drink |
H8354-15 |
Genesis 24:44 | שְׁתֵ֔ה | sheteh | HVqv2ms |
drink | Drink! |
H8354-15 |
Genesis 24:46 | שְׁתֵ֔ה | sheteh | HVqv2ms |
Drink | Drink! |
H8354-33 |
Genesis 24:46 | וָ/אֵ֕שְׁתְּ | vaeshete | HC/Vqw1cs |
so I drank | I drank |
H8354-37 |
Genesis 24:54 | וַ/יִּשְׁתּ֗וּ | vayishetu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and they drank | and they drank |