שָׂחַט (sa.chat)
sa.chat
to squeeze
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sa.chat means to squeeze or press out a liquid. It appears only once in the entire Old Testament, found in Genesis 40:11. In this narrative, Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s cupbearer’s dream, describing the act of pressing grapes in a winepress to extract juice.
This single occurrence anchors the word in a specific agricultural context. The image is tactile and immediate: hands or tools applying pressure to fruit to release its essence. It does not refer to slaughter, despite the similar sound to other Hebrew words for killing; rather, it focuses on the extraction of liquid through force.
Translators typically render this verb as "squeeze" or "press." The brevity of its biblical usage means it carries no extended theological metaphor in Scripture. It remains a straightforward term for a physical action, highlighting the labor involved in winemaking during ancient times.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word שָׂחַט describes the physical act of squeezing grapes to release their juice. In Genesis 40:11, Joseph uses this term while recounting his time in prison. He recalls taking the fruit and pressing it into Pharaoh’s cup before handing it over. This simple image reminds us that God often works through ordinary, everyday tasks.
Even when we feel stuck in a season of waiting or service, our faithful actions matter. The cupbearer’s trust in Joseph was built on these small, consistent moments of obedience. Your daily work, no matter how mundane it seems, is seen and valued by God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ I squeezed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וָֽ/אֶשְׂחַ֤ט1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 40:11
Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.”
This verse uses the verb to describe the specific action of extracting grape juice for Pharaoh, grounding the word in a concrete historical moment rather than abstract theology.