Original Word: שָׁתָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shathah
Pronunciation: shah-THAH
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-thaw')
KJV: X assuredly, banquet, X certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk (X -ard), surely (Prop intensive of H8248)
NASB: drink, drank, drinking, drunk, drinks, certainly drink, well-watered
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

assuredly, certainly, surely

A primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively) -- X assuredly, banquet, X certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk (X -ard), surely. (Prop. Intensive of shaqah.)

see HEBREW shaqah

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to drink
NASB Translation
certainly drink (2), drank (27), drink (138), drink the will certainly (1), drink down (1), drinkers (1), drinking (18), drinks (9), drunk (11), drunkards* (1), feasted (1), surely drink (1), well-watered (2).

I. שָׁתָה₂₁₇ verb drink (Late Hebrew id.; Assyrian šatû, Ethiopic Old Aramaic שתה, Aramaic שְׁתָא, אִשְׁתִּי, [], ; Sabean שתי DHM^{ZMG xxxvii (1883), 403} Hom^{Chr 124}); —

Qal₂₁₆ Perfect3masculine singular ׳שׁ Exodus 34:28 +, 1 singular שָׁתִ֫יתִי 1 Samuel 1:15 +, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁתֶּה Genesis 44:5 +, וַיִּשְׁתֶּה 1 Kings 19:8, usually וַיֵּשְׁתְּ Genesis 9:21+; jussive וְיֵשְׁתְּ 1 Kings 13:18; 3feminine singular וַתֵּשְׁתְּ Numbers 20:11; 2masculine singular with apocope תֵּשְׁתְּ Judges 13:14 +, וַתֵּשְׁתְּ 1 Kings 13:22; 1singular וָאֵשְׁתְּ Genesis 24:46; 3masculine plural יִשְׁתָּי֑וּן Psalm 78:44, etc.; Imperative masculine singular שְׁתֵה Genesis 24:14 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute שָׁתֹה Isaiah 21:5; Jeremiah 49:12 (in 1 Samuel 1:9 after preposition, anomalous, Ges^{§ 113e}, omitted by ᵐ5 Th We Dr and modern), שָׁתוֺ Jeremiah 25:28 +, שָׁתוֺת Isaiah 22:13 (Ges^{§ 75n}); construct תְוֺ Proverbs 31:4, שְׁתוֺת Jeremiah 35:8,14, לִשְׁתּתֹ Genesis 24:19 +, suffix שְׁתוֺתוֺ 1 Kings 13:33, לִשְׁתּוֺתָהּ Isaiah 51:22 etc.; Participle active שֹׁתֶה Isaiah 29:8 +, feminine שֹׁתָה Job 6:4, etc.; —

1. a. of man: drink, water, wine, etc., Exodus 34:28 (JE), compare Exodus 15:24 (J), 1 Samuel 30:12; Amos 2:8; Amos 4:8; Amos 5:11; Isaiah 5:22; Isaiah 62:8,9; Proverbs 31:4; Judges 13:4,7,14 + often (2 t. J E; 6 t. D); by measure (short allowance) Ezekiel 4:11,16; milk Ezekiel 25:4, compare Songs 5:1; blood 1 Chronicles 11:19 (figurative of water gained by hazard); figurative חֲמָתָם שֹׁתָה רוּחִי Job 6:4 whose venom [of arrows of ׳י] my spirit drinks up; accusative + מִן of source Exodus 7:18 (J), Exodus 7:21 (E), Exodus 15:23 (J), Proverbs 5:15 (figurative); accusative (of wine, water, etc.) omitted Genesis 24:14 (twice in verse); Genesis 27:25; Genesis 43:34 (all J) + 11 t. J, Exodus 7:24; Exodus 17:6 (E), Numbers 20:5 (JE), Numbers 20:11; Numbers 33:14 (P), Judges 15:19 + often; accusative שׁין 2 Kings 18:27 = Isaiah 36:12; מַמְתַקִּים Nehemiah 8:10; absolute Ecclesiastes 2:24 +; + מִן of source 1 Kings 17:4,6; Psalm 110:7, מִכֹּסוֺ 2 Samuel 12:3; בְּמִזְרְקֵי יַיִן ׳שׁ Amos 6:6, compare Genesis 44:5; בְּיַיִן ׳שׁ Proverbs 9:5;

c. מִן partitive Genesis 9:21; Exodus 7:24; Ruth 2:9, also (figurative) Jeremiah 51:7 (and Job 21:20 infra).

b. participle as substantive שֹׁתֵי מַיִם Ezekiel 31:14,16, שֹׁתֵי יַיִן Joel 1:5; שׁוֺתֵי שֵׁכָר Psalm 69:13.

c. drink wine in sacrificial feast Deuteronomy 32:38 (poem); blood of sacrificial victim Psalm 50:13 (figurative of ׳י).

d. subject animals Numbers 20:19; Jonah 3:7 (both + men), also (figurative) Ezekiel 34:18,19; accusative (water) omitted Genesis 24:19,22; Genesis 30:38 (twice in verse).

e. figurative of drinking cup of ׳יs wrath, אֶתאכּוֺס ׳שׁ חֲמָתוֺ Isaiah 51:17 (+ ׳מִיַּד י), compare Isaiah 51:17, Isaiah 51:22, see also Ezekiel 23:32,34 and (accusative omitted) Jeremiah 25:16,26,27 8t. Jeremiah; Habakkuk 2:16; absolute Obadiah 16 (3 t. in verse); accusative שְׁמָרִים Psalm 75:9; מֵחֲמַת שַׁדַּי ׳שׁ Job 21:20.

f. drink blood, figurative of slaughter, Numbers 23:24 (J E; of lion, metaphor of Israel), Zechariah 9:15 (read דָּמָם for הָמוּ ᵐ5^Manuscripts Sta Now Marti); so (blood of ׳יs sacrifice) Ezekiel 39:17,18,19.

g. figurative of wicked deeds: יֵין חֲמָסִים יִשְׁתּוּ Proverbs 4:17 ("" לָֽחֲמוּ לֶחֶם רֶשַׁע; these are their food and drink), compare Job 15:16; Job 34:7, but Proverbs 26:6 apparently = suffers violence (compare De Toy).

2 late, = feast Esther 3:15; Esther 7:1 (compare מִשְׁתֶּה).

Niph`al Imperfect3masculine singular יִשָּׁתֶה Leviticus 11:34 (P) all which is (may be) drunk, with ב of vessel. — נִשְׁתָּ֑וָה Proverbs 27:15 see I. שׁוה near the end For cause, give, to drink see שׁקה.

Overview

The verb שָׁתָה occurs about 217 times and describes the physical act of drinking as well as a wide range of figurative, covenantal and eschatological ideas. Its usage sweeps from the first book of Moses to the last of the Prophets, binding together themes of life-sustaining refreshment, festive fellowship, priestly holiness, divine judgment and ultimate redemption.

Frequency and Distribution

• Most frequent in the Pentateuch (Genesis–Deuteronomy) where daily life and cultic instruction dominate.
• Common in the Historical Books, especially Samuel and Kings, highlighting royal courts and military life.
• Large cluster in the Wisdom writings and Major Prophets, where the verb becomes richly metaphorical.
• Appears in 32 canonical books; only Obadiah and Malachi lack the word.

Everyday Sustenance and Hospitality

Drinking water or wine supplies basic human need and is a mark of welcome. Rebekah’s “Drink, my lord” (Genesis 24:18) showcases covenant hospitality, while Elijah “drank from the brook” (1 Kings 17:6) under God’s care. Livestock also drink (Genesis 24:19), and even the land itself “drinks in the rain from heaven” (Deuteronomy 11:11). These scenes present God as the ultimate Provider who opens wells, brooks and rainclouds for His people.

Festive Joy and Covenant Fellowship

Feasting language often pairs “eat and drink.” At Sinai the elders “saw God, and they ate and drank” (Exodus 24:11), prefiguring table fellowship in both Testaments. Annual tithes could be converted to money so the worshipper might “buy wine or strong drink… and rejoice” before the Lord (Deuteronomy 14:26). Weddings, harvests and royal banquets all feature שָׁתָה as a token of shared joy and covenant solidarity.

Prohibition and Sobriety in Worship

Because holy service demands clear minds, priests may “not drink wine or strong drink” when entering the tent of meeting (Leviticus 10:9). The Nazirite vow intensifies the principle (Numbers 6:3), separating the devotee from grape products entirely. These regulations form the Old Testament root of the New Testament call to sobriety in ministry leadership (1 Timothy 3:3).

Drink Offerings and Sacrificial Worship

Though a separate noun describes the libation, the verb שָׁתָה stands behind the idea of “pouring out.” Numbers 15–29 repeatedly associates wine with burnt offerings, teaching that life belongs to God. David’s refusal to drink the water fetched at the risk of his men’s lives and his choice to “pour it out to the LORD” (2 Samuel 23:16) models this theology of sacred devotion.

Warning Against Excess and Debauchery

Scripture extols joyful moderation yet sternly condemns drunkenness. Noah “drank some of the wine and became drunk” (Genesis 9:21). Isaiah cries, “Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine” (Isaiah 5:22), and Habakkuk warns, “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor… so as to gaze on their nakedness” (Habakkuk 2:15). Such texts expose the shame and injustice that flow from intemperance.

Metaphor of Judgment: Drinking the Cup of Wrath

God employs drinking imagery to portray judgment. “Take… this cup of the wine of wrath and make all the nations… drink it” (Jeremiah 25:15). Zion “has drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of His wrath” (Isaiah 51:17) but will see the cup transferred to her oppressors (Isaiah 51:22-23). Psalm 75:8 pictures the wicked forced to “drink it down to the dregs.” In Revelation this theme culminates when the unrepentant “will drink the wine of God’s anger” (Revelation 14:10), linking Old and New Testaments in a unified doctrine of divine justice.

Metaphor of Blessing: Drinking Water of Life

Positive images balance the warnings. “Eat, friends; drink, drink freely, O lovers” (Song of Solomon 5:1) celebrates covenant love. Psalm 110:7 foresees Messiah “drink from the brook along the way.” Prophets promise abundant water for the restored land (Isaiah 41:17) and a river of life (Ezekiel 47; Zechariah 14). These hopes set the stage for Jesus’ invitation, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37).

Internalization of Character and Truth

People can “drink injustice like water” (Job 15:16) or “drink scorn like water” (Job 34:7), showing that drinking symbolizes absorbing and embodying what is taken in. Wisdom literature urges the righteous to “drink water from your own cistern” (Proverbs 5:15), a call to marital faithfulness and moral integrity.

Eschatological Reversal

Jerusalem’s release from the cup of wrath (Isaiah 51:22) looks ahead to the suffering Servant who would “drink the cup” on behalf of His people (cf. Matthew 26:39). The nations that once made Zion drink bitterness will themselves be compelled to drink judgment. Conversely, the redeemed will “drink of the abundance of the seas” (Isaiah 60:5) and “draw water from the springs of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).

Ministry Reflections and Applications

1. Provision: Trust God’s promise to supply physical and spiritual drink (Philippians 4:19).
2. Hospitality: Offer literal refreshment as an avenue for gospel witness (Hebrews 13:2).
3. Sobriety: Leaders maintain clarity to guard doctrine and care for souls (Titus 1:7).
4. Worship: Like Paul, be ready to be “poured out as a drink offering” (2 Timothy 4:6) in sacrificial service.
5. Evangelism: Proclaim Christ as the ultimate source of living water, satisfying every thirst (John 4:14).

Key Passages for Further Study

Genesis 24:17-20; Exodus 24:11; Leviticus 10:9; Numbers 6:3; Deuteronomy 11:11; 2 Samuel 23:16; Psalm 23:5; Psalm 75:8; Proverbs 20:1; Isaiah 5:11-22; Isaiah 51:17-23; Jeremiah 25:15-28; Habakkuk 2:15-16; Song of Solomon 5:1; Zechariah 9:15; Matthew 26:39; John 7:37-38; Revelation 14:10.

Summary

Whether depicting a weary traveler sipping from a well, a priest abstaining for holy duty, or the nations swallowing the cup of wrath, שָׁתָה threads a consistent testimony: what one drinks reveals dependence, character and destiny. Scripture urges God’s people to drink wisely, worshipfully and expectantly until the day they share the new wine of the kingdom with their Lord (Matthew 26:29).

אֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה אֶשְׁתֶּ֤ה אֶשְׁתֶּֽה׃ אֶשְׁתֶּה־ אֹכְלִ֖ים אכלים אשתה אשתה־ אשתה׃ הַשֹּׁתִ֤ים הַשֹּׁתִֽים׃ השתים השתים׃ וְ֠לִשְׁתּוֹת וְאֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה וְאֶשְׁתֶּֽה׃ וְיִשְׁתּ֔וּ וְיֵ֣שְׁתְּ וְלִשְׁתּ֑וֹת וְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹת וְלִשְׁתּ֛וֹת וְלִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃ וְלִשְׁתּוֹת֙ וְנִשְׁתֶּ֑ה וְנִשְׁתֶּֽה׃ וְשָׁת֔וֹ וְשָׁת֕וּ וְשָׁת֖וּ וְשָׁת֣וֹת וְשָׁת֣וּ וְשָׁת֥וּ וְשָׁתִ֑יתִי וְשָׁתִ֕ית וְשָׁתִ֖יתִי וְשָׁתִ֣יתִי וְשָׁתִ֨ית וְשָׁתָ֔ה וְשָׁתָ֗ה וְשָׁתָ֣ה וְשֹׁתִ֖ים וְשֹׁתִ֣ים וְשֹׁתִים֙ וַיִּשְׁתֶּ֑ה וַיִּשְׁתּ֑וּ וַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּ וַיִּשְׁתּ֗וּ וַיִּשְׁתּ֜וּ וַיִּשְׁתּ֥וּ וַיִּשְׁתּֽוּ׃ וַיֵּ֑שְׁתְּ וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ וַיֵּ֖שְׁתְּ וַיֵּ֥שְׁתְּ וַיֵּֽשְׁתְּ׃ וַיֵּשְׁתְּ֙ וַתֵּ֣שְׁתְּ וַתֵּ֥שְׁתְּ וָאֵ֕שְׁתְּ וּ֝שְׁת֗וּ וּ֭שְׁתֵה וּֽשֲׁתֵ֥ה וּשְׁת֖וּ וּשְׁת֣וּ וּשְׁתִ֥יתֶם וּשְׁתִיתֶ֛ם וּשְׁתִיתֶֽם׃ וּשְׁתֵ֑ה ואשת ואשתה ואשתה׃ וישת וישת׃ וישתה וישתו וישתו׃ ולשתות ולשתות׃ ונשתה ונשתה׃ ושתה ושתו ושתות ושתים ושתית ושתיתי ושתיתם ושתיתם׃ ותשת יִ֭שְׁתֶּה יִֽשְׁתֶּה־ יִשְׁתֶּ֑ה יִשְׁתֶּ֔ה יִשְׁתֶּ֤ה יִשְׁתֶּ֥ה יִשְׁתֶּֽה׃ יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן׃ יִשְׁתֻּ֖הוּ יִשְׁתּ֑וּ יִשְׁתּ֔וּ יִשְׁתּ֖וּ יִשְׁתּ֤וּ יִשְׁתּ֥וּ יִשְׁתּֽוּ׃ יִשְׁתּוּ־ יִשָּׁתֶ֔ה ישתה ישתה־ ישתה׃ ישתהו ישתו ישתו־ ישתו׃ ישתיון׃ לְשֹׁתָֽיו׃ לִשְׁתֹּ֔ת לִשְׁתֹּ֥ת לִשְׁתֹּֽת׃ לִשְׁתּ֑וֹת לִשְׁתּ֔וֹת לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת לִשְׁתּ֣וֹת לִשְׁתּ֤וֹת לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת לִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃ לִשְׁתּוֹת֙ לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֑ם לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֔ם לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֖הּ לשתות לשתות׃ לשתותה לשתותם לשתיו׃ לשתת לשתת׃ נִּשְׁתֶּֽה׃ נִשְׁתֶּ֖ה נִשְׁתֶּה֙ נִשְׁתֶּה־ נשתה נשתה־ נשתה׃ שְׁת֤וּ שְׁת֥וּ שְׁתִיתֶ֑ם שְׁתִיתֶם֙ שְׁתֵ֔ה שְׁתֵ֣ה שְׁתֵ֥ה שְׁתֵה־ שְׁתֽוֹת־ שְׁתוֹ־ שְׁתוֹת֑וֹ שְׁתוּ־ שָׁ֣תָה שָׁ֥תָה שָׁת֣וֹ שָׁת֣וּ שָׁת֥וֹ שָׁתִ֑יתִי שָׁתִ֔ינוּ שָׁתִ֖ית שָׁתִ֛ית שָׁתִ֥יתִי שָׁתִֽיתִי׃ שָׁתָ֑ה שָׁתָ֔ה שָׁתֹ֑ה שָׁתֹ֖ה שָׁתוּ֙ שֹׁ֣תֵי שֹׁ֥תֵי שֹׁתֶ֑ה שֹׁתֶ֔ה שֹׁתֶ֖ה שֹׁתֶ֛ה שֹׁתֶ֣ה שֹׁתֶ֨ה שֹׁתָ֣ה שׁוֹתֵ֥י שותי שתה שתה־ שתו שתו־ שתות־ שתותו שתי שתינו שתית שתיתי שתיתי׃ שתיתם תִּשְׁתִּ֔י תִּשְׁתִּ֖י תִּשְׁתִּ֣י ׀ תִּשְׁתֶּ֑ה תִּשְׁתֶּֽה׃ תִּשְׁתֶּֽינָה׃ תִּשְׁתֶּה־ תִּשְׁתּ֑וּ תִּשְׁתּ֔וּ תִּשְׁתּ֜וּ תִשְׁתֶּ֖ה תִשְׁתֶּ֥ה תִשְׁתֶּה֙ תִשְׁתֶּה־ תִשְׁתּ֑וּ תִשְׁתּ֖וּ תִשְׁתּֽוּ׃ תִשְׁתּוּ־ תֵּ֔שְׁתְּ תֵּ֣שְׁתְּ תֵּ֣שְׁתְּ ׀ תשת תשתה תשתה־ תשתה׃ תשתו תשתו־ תשתו׃ תשתי תשתינה׃ ’eš·teh ’eš·teh- ’ešteh ’ešteh- ’ō·ḵə·lîm ’ōḵəlîm eshTeh haš·šō·ṯîm hashshoTim haššōṯîm lə·šō·ṯāw leshoTav ləšōṯāw liš·tō·w·ṯāh liš·tō·w·ṯām liš·tō·wṯ liš·tōṯ lishTot lishtoTah lishtoTam lištōṯ lištōwṯ lištōwṯāh lištōwṯām niš·teh niš·teh- nishTeh ništeh ništeh- ocheLim šā·ṯāh šā·ṯî·nū šā·ṯî·ṯî šā·ṯîṯ šā·ṯōh šā·ṯōw šā·ṯū šāṯāh šāṯînū šāṯîṯ šāṯîṯî šāṯōh šāṯōw šāṯū šə·ṯêh šə·ṯêh- šə·ṯî·ṯem šə·ṯō·w·ṯōw šə·ṯō·wṯ- šə·ṯōw- šə·ṯū šə·ṯū- šəṯêh šəṯêh- šəṯîṯem šəṯōw- šəṯōwṯ- šəṯōwṯōw šəṯū šəṯū- shaTah shaTinu shaTit shaTiti shaTo shaToh shaTu sheTeh shetiTem shetot shetoTo shetov sheTu shoTah shoTeh shoTei šō·ṯāh šō·ṯê šō·ṯeh šō·w·ṯê šōṯāh šōṯê šōṯeh šōwṯê tê·šət têšət Teshet tiš·te·nāh tiš·teh ṯiš·teh tiš·teh- ṯiš·teh- tiš·tî tiš·tū ṯiš·tū ṯiš·tū- tishteh tishTeinah tishTi tishTu tišteh ṯišteh tišteh- ṯišteh- tištenāh tištî tištū ṯištū ṯištū- ū·šă·ṯêh ū·šə·ṯêh ū·šə·ṯî·ṯem ū·šə·ṯū ūšăṯêh ūšəṯêh ūšəṯîṯem ūšəṯū ushaTeh usheTeh ushetiTem usheTu vaEshet vaiYeshet vaiyishTeh vaiyishTu vatTeshet veeshTeh velishTot venishTeh veshaTah veshaTit veshaTiti veshaTo veshaTot veshaTu veshoTim veYeshet veyishTu wā’êšət wā·’ê·šət wat·tê·šət wattêšət way·yê·šət way·yiš·teh way·yiš·tū wayyêšət wayyišteh wayyištū wə’ešteh wə·’eš·teh wə·liš·tō·wṯ wə·niš·teh wə·šā·ṯāh wə·šā·ṯî·ṯî wə·šā·ṯîṯ wə·šā·ṯō·wṯ wə·šā·ṯōw wə·šā·ṯū wə·šō·ṯîm wə·yê·šət wə·yiš·tū wəlištōwṯ wəništeh wəšāṯāh wəšāṯîṯ wəšāṯîṯî wəšāṯōw wəšāṯōwṯ wəšāṯū wəšōṯîm wəyêšət wəyištū yiš·šā·ṯeh yiš·tā·yūn yiš·teh yiš·teh- yiš·tū yiš·tū- yiš·tu·hū yishshaTeh yishtaYun yishTeh yishTu yishTuhu yiššāṯeh yištāyūn yišteh yišteh- yištū yištū- yištuhūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts