שָׁכַר (sha.khar)
sha.khar
be drunk
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sha.khar describes the state of being intoxicated or becoming drunk. It appears eighteen times in the Old Testament, with notable occurrences in Genesis, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. The word covers a range of meanings from simply losing sobriety to actively causing that state in others, depending on the grammatical form used.
While the basic Qal stem means to become drunk, other forms show how this condition was viewed in ancient Israel. The Hiphil stem often describes God or human agents causing others to stumble through intoxication, as seen when leaders are made helpless. In Jeremiah 25:27, the prophet commands his listeners to drink and become drunk, using the Hithpael form to emphasize the act of making oneself a spectacle of drunkenness.
This word carries significant theological weight in prophetic literature. It is not merely about physical impairment but often symbolizes spiritual confusion or divine judgment. The sources highlight how Isaiah uses it to describe the nations that will drink from the cup of God's wrath, linking physical intoxication with moral and spiritual disorientation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sha.khar describes the state of intoxication, appearing eighteen times in the Old Testament. While it can refer to simple physical impairment, prophetic writers often use it as a metaphor for spiritual confusion and the loss of moral clarity. This imagery reminds us that true wisdom requires sobriety of mind and heart, keeping our focus steady on God rather than being swayed by worldly influences.
In passages like Isaiah 29:9, the text describes people who are "drunken, but not with wine," suggesting a deeper blindness to spiritual truth. This word invites us to examine what might be clouding our judgment or leading us away from righteousness. It serves as a sobering call to remain alert and grounded in faith.
Understanding this term helps us appreciate the seriousness of spiritual vigilance. We are encouraged to seek clarity and discernment, relying on God’s guidance to navigate life’s challenges with integrity and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ become drunk2×
- you will become drunk1×
- you make [them] drunk1×
- will you be drunk/ !1×
- to/ become drunk1×
- they will become drunk/ !1×
- people have become drunk1×
- making drunk1×
- make drunk/ it1×
- and/ they became drunk1×
- and/ he made drunk/ him1×
- and/ he became drunk1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑י/ן1×
- תִּשְׁכְּרִ֖י1×
- שָֽׁכְר֣וּ1×
- שַׁכֵּ֑ר1×
- מְשַׁכֶּ֖רֶת1×
- לְ/שָׁכְרָ֔ה1×
- יִשְׁכָּר֑וּ/ן1×
- וּ/שְׁכֻרַ֖ת1×
- וַֽ/יִּשְׁכְּר֖וּ1×
- וַֽ/יְשַׁכְּרֵ֑/הוּ1×
- וַ/יִּשְׁכָּ֑ר1×
- וַ/אֲשַׁכְּרֵ֖/ם1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 29:9
Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
This verse uses the word metaphorically to describe spiritual blindness where people are disoriented without physical intoxication.
-
Jeremiah 51:7
Babylon has been a golden cup in Yahweh’s hand, who made all the earth drunk. The nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.
Here the term illustrates how Babylon’s influence caused nations to lose their moral compass, leading to madness and confusion.
-
Genesis 9:21
He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent.
This occurrence records Noah’s physical intoxication, highlighting the vulnerability that comes with losing sobriety.