סָבָא
to quaff to satiety, i.e. become tipsy
Definition
The Hebrew verb סָבָא (sāḇāʾ) means to drink deeply, specifically to imbibe alcoholic beverages to the point of intoxication or satiety. It describes the act of excessive drinking, often with the connotation of becoming drunk or tipsy, as seen in Deuteronomy 21:20, where a rebellious son is accused of being a glutton and a drunkard. In some contexts, it can imply habitual drinking or carousing, such as in Proverbs 23:20-21, which warns against associating with those who overindulge in wine. The word carries a sense of overconsumption leading to a loss of control or judgment.
Biblical Usage
This verb appears five times in the Old Testament, primarily in wisdom and prophetic literature. It is used to depict negative behavior associated with drunkenness and excess. In Deuteronomy 21:20, it labels a rebellious son as a 'drunkard' (סֹבֵא, sōḇēʾ), a legal charge. Proverbs 23:20-21 uses it to caution against joining drunkards and gluttons, linking it to poverty. Isaiah 56:12 mocks the false confidence of leaders who say, 'Let us drink our fill of wine' (נִסְבְּאָה־יַיִן, nisbəʾâ-yayin), and Nahum 1:10 metaphorically describes enemies being consumed like drunkards. The usage consistently carries moral and social condemnation.
Etymology
סָבָא is a primitive root verb in Hebrew, meaning its origin is not derived from other Hebrew words. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, such as Arabic (sabā, 'to drink wine') and Aramaic, supporting the core meaning of drinking alcohol. The related noun סֹבֵא (sōḇēʾ) means 'drunkard' or 'winebibber.' The root conveys the idea of drinking to excess, with its semantic range focused on intoxication rather than moderate consumption.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights biblical warnings against drunkenness and self-indulgence, which are portrayed as sins that lead to folly, rebellion, and divine judgment. In Deuteronomy 21:20, being a סֹבֵא (drunkard) is grounds for severe family discipline, reflecting its seriousness in Israelite law. Proverbs and prophets use it to illustrate moral decay and false security, as in Isaiah 56:12, where leaders' drunken revelry blinds them to God's coming judgment. Understanding סָבָא enriches reading by emphasizing the Bible's consistent call to sobriety, self-control, and alertness in one's spiritual life, contrasting with the destructive excess of intoxication.
In ancient Israelite culture, wine was a common part of daily life and religious rituals, but excessive drinking was socially and morally condemned. סָבָא depicts not casual drinking but a pattern of overindulgence that could lead to public disorder, poverty, and familial shame, as seen in the case of the rebellious son in Deuteronomy 21:20. The term's usage in wisdom literature (Proverbs) and prophecy (Isaiah, Nahum) reflects its association with foolishness and impending doom, differing from modern views that might treat drunkenness more as a personal health issue rather than a communal and spiritual failing.
שָׁתָה (šāṯâ, H8354) — a general verb for drinking, without the negative connotation of excess; רָוָה (rāwâ, H7301) — to drink one's fill or be saturated, often used positively for satisfaction; שָׁכַר (šāḵar, H7937) — to become drunk or intoxicated, similar to סָבָא but more common in biblical Hebrew.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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