Original Word: שִׁקֻּו
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: shiqquv
Pronunciation: shik-KOOV
Phonetic Spelling: (shif-koov')
KJV: drink
Word Origin: [from H8248 (שָׁקָה - drink)]

1. (plural collective) a draught

drink

From shaqah; (plural collective) a draught -- drink.

see HEBREW shaqah

Word Origin
the same as shiqquy, q.v.

Scriptural Context

Psalm 102 stands among the penitential and lament psalms, giving voice to deep personal affliction and national distress. Verse 9 contains the lone canonical use of שִׁקֻּו, rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, “For I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with tears.” The psalmist’s “drink” becomes the vehicle for tears, a vivid image of unrelieved sorrow that saturates the most basic act of sustaining life. The word’s placement amid a cascade of sensory descriptions—ashes, bread, drink, tears—emphasizes the totality of suffering.

Historical and Cultural Background

In ancient Israel, meals were covenantal moments, often sealed by bread and drink (Genesis 14:18; Exodus 24:11). To contaminate one’s drink with tears is, therefore, to testify that grief has invaded even the structures meant for fellowship and life. The motif recalls Near Eastern mourning customs in which ashes and tears publicly signaled loss.

Theology of Mourning and Lament

Scripture consistently validates the believer’s cry of anguish (Psalm 6:6; Lamentations 3:48). The solitary occurrence of שִׁקֻּו intensifies this theology: grief is not abstract but tangible, infiltrating ordinary routines. Psalm 102 frames personal lament within eternal hope, shifting from “my days are consumed like smoke” (verse 3) to Yahweh’s enduring throne (verses 12–28). Thus, sorrow and sovereignty coexist without contradiction.

Messianic Implications

Hebrews 1:10–12 cites Psalm 102:25–27 to ascribe divine eternity to Jesus Christ. By literary cohesion, the earlier verses that employ שִׁקֻּו form part of the same messianic tapestry. The incarnate Son, “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3), embodies the psalmist’s complaint, turning contaminated drink into the cup He willingly receives (Matthew 26:39).

Intertextual Connections

1. Psalms 42:3; 80:5 – Tears as daily “food” or “drink,” reinforcing the motif of sorrow pervading sustenance.
2. Isaiah 3:26 – Sitting on the ground in mourning, paralleling Psalm 102’s ashes.
3. Revelation 21:4 – The eschatological reversal: “He will wipe away every tear,” promising a future where no drink is mingled with weeping.

Worship and Liturgical Usage

The Church has historically read Psalm 102 during seasons of repentance (e.g., Ash Wednesday), allowing believers to confess grief before the Lord. The imagery of a tear-soaked cup invites corporate acknowledgment of suffering while anticipating divine comfort.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Pastoral Care: Psalm 102:9 legitimizes expressions of unfiltered sorrow; counselees may find language for grief that feels overwhelming.
• Preaching: The verse illustrates the universality of suffering and points to Christ’s participation in human lament.
• Discipleship: Encourages believers to integrate lament into prayer life, moving from honest despair to steadfast hope.

Summary

Shiqquw’s single appearance encapsulates unmitigated grief yet stands within a psalm that ultimately magnifies God’s eternal reign. By merging the ordinary act of drinking with extraordinary sorrow, Scripture assures the faithful that every tear is known to the Lord and, in Christ, will one day be transformed into everlasting joy.

וְ֝שִׁקֻּוַ֗י ושקוי veshikkuVai wə·šiq·qu·way wəšiqquwayInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts