שָׁתָה (sha.tah)
sha.tah
to drink
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 171 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shâthâh means to drink, covering both the physical act of consuming liquids and figurative expressions of absorbing experiences. In the Old Testament, it appears over two hundred times, often describing everyday scenes like water at a well or wine at a feast. Yet it also carries heavy symbolic weight, such as when prophets describe Israel drinking from the cup of God’s wrath (Jeremiah 25:15) or the wicked drinking iniquity “as water” (Proverbs 4:17).
Its root sense implies thorough consumption, which allows it to shift naturally into metaphors for moral corruption or divine judgment. Translators usually render it simply as “drink,” but the context reveals whether the action is life-giving, destructive, or judicial. The word’s flexibility shows how ancient Hebrew speakers viewed physical acts as mirrors of spiritual realities.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shâthâh describes the simple, necessary act of drinking. In the Old Testament, it appears in everyday scenes like drawing water from a well or sharing wine at a feast. Yet it also carries deep symbolic weight. Prophets use it to describe Israel drinking from the cup of God’s wrath, while wisdom literature speaks of the wicked drinking iniquity as if it were water. This flexibility shows how ancient Hebrew speakers saw physical acts as mirrors of spiritual realities.
For your faith life, this word invites reflection on what you are absorbing. Just as the body needs water to survive, your spirit is shaped by what you take in. When Scripture speaks of drinking from the Lord’s cup, it reminds us that our lives are influenced by the sources we choose. Whether in times of thirst or plenty, God provides for our needs and calls us to discernment.
Consider how this word appears in Genesis 24:18, where Rebekah offers water to Abraham’s servant. Her act of hospitality reflects a heart open to God’s provision. In your own life, you can find peace in knowing that God meets your deepest needs and guides your steps toward what is truly life-giving.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 171 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ drink20×
- and/ they drank11×
- and/ he drank10×
- drink9×
- and/ to/ drink9×
- and/ drink7×
- you drink6×
- you will drink5×
- he will drink5×
- you have drunk4×
- to/ drink/ them4×
- they will drink4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לִ/שְׁתּ֥וֹת5×
- לִ/שְׁתּֽוֹת\׃4×
- וַ/יִּשְׁתּ֔וּ4×
- שְׁתֵ֔ה3×
- לִ/שְׁתּ֖וֹת3×
- יִשְׁתֶּֽה\׃3×
- יִשְׁתּ֖וּ3×
- וַ/יֵּ֔שְׁתְּ3×
- וְ/לִ/שְׁתּ֖וֹת3×
- תִּשְׁתֶּה\־2×
- תִשְׁתֶּה֙2×
- תִשְׁתֶּה\־2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 24:18
She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink.
This verse highlights the word's use in a context of hospitality and divine guidance, where Rebekah's offer of water signals God's chosen path for Isaac.
-
Exodus 17:6
Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Here, the command to strike the rock so the people may drink illustrates God as the source of life-giving sustenance in times of desperate need.
-
Exodus 32:6
They rose up early on the next day, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
The phrase 'eat and drink' here marks a moment of reckless celebration that precedes idolatry, showing how the word can accompany moral failure.
-
Genesis 9:21
He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent.
Noah drinking wine and becoming drunk serves as a stark example of how physical consumption can lead to vulnerability and shame.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word shâthâh mean?
How is shâthâh used metaphorically in Scripture?
Why is this word significant in the story of Rebekah?
Does shâthâh always have a positive meaning?
Every Occurrence (171 verses across 33 books)
Genesis 14 verses
He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent.
Genesis 24:14Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says,…
Genesis 24:18She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink.
Genesis 24:19When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished…
Genesis 24:22As the camels had finished drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her…
Genesis 24:44then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my…
Genesis 24:46She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So…
Genesis 24:54They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said,…
Genesis 25:34Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 26:30He made them a feast, and they ate and drank.
Genesis 27:25He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless you.” He brought it near to…
Genesis 30:38He set the rods which he had peeled opposite the flocks in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. They…
Genesis 43:34He sent portions to them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. They drank,…
Genesis 44:5Isn’t this that from which my lord drinks, and by which he indeed divines? You have done evil in so doing.’”