שְׁתִי (she.ti)
she.ti
drunkenness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sheti refers to the act of drinking or a specific drinking bout. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Ecclesiastes 10:17, where it describes the behavior of a ruler who feasts at inappropriate times.
This single occurrence highlights the word’s focus on the social event of consuming alcohol rather than the substance itself. The text contrasts this with a leader who drinks to celebrate proper governance, suggesting that sheti marks a time of indulgence that disrupts order and wisdom.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sheti appears only once in Scripture, found in Ecclesiastes 10:17. It describes a state of excess that disrupts order and wisdom. Solomon contrasts this with leaders who eat for strength during proper times. This distinction reminds us that our habits shape our influence.
When we consume things to the point of losing control, we damage our ability to lead and serve well. True joy does not require intoxication. We find stability in clear minds and steady hearts. Let your daily choices reflect wisdom rather than indulgence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- for <the>/ drinking1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַ/שְּׁתִֽי\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Ecclesiastes 10:17
Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
This verse uniquely uses sheti to contrast a wise leader who eats for strength with one who drinks to excess, highlighting the disruption of order.