שְׁתָה (she.tah)
she.tah
to drink
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb shetah simply means to drink. It appears five times in the Hebrew Bible, all within the book of Daniel, reflecting the linguistic shift to Aramaic in that section of Scripture. This form is the direct equivalent of the Hebrew word shatah (H8354), serving the same basic function of describing the act of consuming liquid.
Its usage is straightforward and literal, often appearing in contexts involving feasts or royal banquets where drinking is a central activity. For instance, it describes Babylonian officials partaking in wine during Nebuchadnezzar’s reign (Daniel 5:1, 23). The word carries no hidden metaphorical weight here; it denotes the physical act of drinking as clearly as the Hebrew counterpart does in other parts of the Old Testament.
Recognizing this Aramaic form helps readers navigate the bilingual nature of Daniel. While most of the Bible is written in Hebrew, Daniel 2:4b–7:28 switches to Aramaic, a common language of the ancient Near East. Shetah reminds us that the text adapts its language to its audience and setting, yet the fundamental human actions described remain consistent across both linguistic traditions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shetah appears five times in the book of Daniel, specifically within the Aramaic section where the text shifts languages to reach a broader audience. In these verses, it describes the simple physical act of drinking wine during Belshazzar’s feast. The narrative uses this ordinary action to highlight a profound spiritual contrast: while the king and his guests drink from sacred vessels stolen from Jerusalem’s temple, they fail to honor the true God who holds their lives in His hands.
For your daily life, this word reminds us that even mundane activities like eating or drinking can become acts of worship or rebellion depending on our heart posture. The text does not condemn the act of drinking itself but exposes the arrogance of using holy things for self-glorification while ignoring the Creator. It invites you to examine how you use the gifts God provides, ensuring they lead to gratitude rather than pride.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they drank1×
- so/ they may drink1×
- and/ they drank1×
- [he was] drinking1×
- [are] drinking1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁתַ֣יִן1×
- שָׁתֵֽה\׃1×
- וְ/יִשְׁתּ֣וֹן1×
- וְ/אִשְׁתִּ֣יו1×
- אִשְׁתִּ֖יו1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 5:1
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
This verse introduces the setting where shetah appears, establishing the royal feast as the backdrop for the subsequent spiritual failure.
-
Daniel 5:23
but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which don’t see, or hear, or know; and you have not glorified the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways.
Here the word underscores the direct defiance of Belshazzar, who drinks from the temple vessels while refusing to glorify the God who sustains his breath.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shetah mean in the Bible?
Why is this word only found in Daniel?
Is drinking wine considered a sin in these verses?
Every Occurrence (5 verses across 1 books)
Daniel 5 verses
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
Daniel 5:2Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded that the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had…
Daniel 5:3Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of God’s house which was at Jerusalem; and the…
Daniel 5:4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
Daniel 5:23but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and…