שְׁתָה
𐤔𐤕𐤄
shᵉthâh
H8355 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To drink, to consume a liquid, whether water, wine, or another beverage; used literally for drinking, or figuratively in the sense of experiencing or partaking of something (such as 'drinking in' judgment or destruction). In Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, denotes the act of drinking by both humans and animals.
Semantic Range
to drink (liquid), to drink (alcoholic beverage), to consume, to participate in drinking, to experience (figuratively)
Root / Etymology
The word שְׁתָה (shᵉthâh) is the Aramaic verbal form corresponding to the Hebrew שָׁתָה (shātāh), from the triconsonantal root שתה, which fundamentally means 'to drink.' In Aramaic, this form is employed where Hebrew would use its own stem.
Historical & Contextual Notes
This form appears specifically in Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel and Ezra), distinguishing it from the Hebrew equivalent שָׁתָה. Its usage ranges from ordinary drinking to ceremonial or communal contexts. Figurative or idiomatic uses occur less frequently than in Hebrew. While most English translations render both the Aramaic and Hebrew roots as 'to drink,' some nuances or cultural practices around drinking (such as communal feasting or acts of royal largesse) may not be fully conveyed. In later Hebrew and in the post-biblical period, this specific Aramaic form is not used.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁתָה; {to imbibe (literally or figuratively)}; drink.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שתה (sh-t-h) — to drink, to consume liquid, to imbibe
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4960 | מִשְׁתֶּה | in a drinking-feast |
| H4961 | מִשְׁתֶּה | the drinking-banquet |
| H8354 | שָׁתָה | I will drink |
| H8358 | שְׁתִי | drunkenness |
| H8360 | שְׁתִיָּה | and the drinking |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8355-03 |
שָׁתֵֽה | shateh | AVqrmsa |
he was drinking | the drinking one | 1 |
H8355-02 |
שָׁתַ֣יִן | shatayin | AVqrmpa |
have drunk | drinking ones | 1 |
H8355-04 |
וְ/אִשְׁתִּ֣יו | veishetiv | AC/Vqp3mp |
and the king drank | and they drank | 1 |
H8355-05 |
וְ/יִשְׁתּ֣וֹן | veyisheton | AC/Vqi3mp |
and-they-will-drink | and they will drink | 1 |
H8355-01 |
אִשְׁתִּ֖יו | ishetiv | AVqp3mp |
they drank | they drank | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8355-03 |
Daniel 5:1 | שָׁתֵֽה | shateh | AVqrmsa |
he was drinking | the drinking one |
H8355-05 |
Daniel 5:2 | וְ/יִשְׁתּ֣וֹן | veyisheton | AC/Vqi3mp |
and-they-will-drink | and they will drink |
H8355-04 |
Daniel 5:3 | וְ/אִשְׁתִּ֣יו | veishetiv | AC/Vqp3mp |
and the king drank | and they drank |
H8355-01 |
Daniel 5:4 | אִשְׁתִּ֖יו | ishetiv | AVqp3mp |
they drank | they drank |
H8355-02 |
Daniel 5:23 | שָׁתַ֣יִן | shatayin | AVqrmpa |
have drunk | drinking ones |