מִשְׁתֶּה
a banquet
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִשְׁתֶּה (mishteh) refers specifically to a drinking feast or banquet, an event centered on the consumption of wine and food, often for celebration. In its single biblical occurrence in Daniel 5:10, it describes the lavish royal banquet hosted by King Belshazzar, which provides the dramatic setting for the appearance of the mysterious handwriting on the wall. The term inherently implies a formal, communal gathering for a specific purpose, such as celebration, covenant-making, or, as in this case, royal display. While the word itself is used only once, its Aramaic counterpart and related Hebrew forms depict similar events of significant social and sometimes religious import.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel. It appears in Daniel 5:10 to describe King Belshazzar's great feast, where a thousand of his lords were present. The context is one of royal excess and idolatry, as the king drinks wine from the sacred vessels taken from the Jerusalem temple. The singular usage patterns with the book's theme of God's judgment on proud kingdoms, using their own celebratory contexts as the stage for divine revelation and pronouncement.
Etymology
מִשְׁתֶּה (mishteh) is an Aramaic noun that corresponds directly to the Hebrew noun מִשְׁתֶּה (H4960), which is derived from the root שָׁתָה (shatah), meaning 'to drink.' The word's formation indicates an event or occasion related to drinking. Its core meaning of a 'drinking feast' or 'banquet' is consistent across both languages, highlighting the central role of wine in such ancient Near Eastern social and ceremonial gatherings.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, the word is theologically significant as it sets the scene for a pivotal moment of divine judgment in Daniel 5. The 'mishteh' represents human arrogance, idolatry, and the profaning of holy things (the temple vessels). God interrupts this celebration of earthly power to declare the king's doom, demonstrating His sovereignty over all kingdoms. Understanding this term enriches the reading by highlighting the stark contrast between Belshazzar's defiant feast and the God who holds his breath and his days in His hand.
In the ancient Near East, a royal banquet (mishteh) was a major display of a king's wealth, power, and generosity. It reinforced social hierarchies, solidified alliances, and celebrated military or political achievements. Drinking wine from captured temple vessels, as Belshazzar did, was a potent political and religious act meant to demonstrate supremacy over the gods of the conquered people. The modern concept of a 'banquet' often lacks this layer of explicit political theater and religious challenge.
מִשְׁתֶּה (mishteh, H4960) — The direct Hebrew equivalent, used for feasts like Esther's (Esther 5:4). סְעוּדָה (se'udah, H6710) — A general term for a meal or feast, often less formal. חֲתֻנָּה (chatunnah, H2860) — Specifically a wedding feast or banquet.
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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