רַעַל
a reeling (from intoxication)
Definition
רַעַל refers to a state of reeling or staggering, specifically from intoxication. It describes the physical unsteadiness and disorientation that results from being drunk. The word appears only in Zechariah 12:2, where it is used metaphorically to depict Jerusalem as a 'cup of reeling' that will cause the surrounding nations to stagger as if intoxicated. This singular usage extends the literal sense of drunken staggering to symbolize divine judgment that bewilders and overpowers enemies.
Biblical Usage
This noun is used only once in the Old Testament, in Zechariah 12:2. Here, it is employed in a prophetic, metaphorical context. Jerusalem is described as a 'cup of reeling' (כּוֹס רַעַל) for all the surrounding peoples. The usage shifts from a literal description of physical intoxication to a powerful image of God's judgment causing nations to stumble and be overcome with confusion and helplessness.
Etymology
רַעַל is a noun derived from the root verb רָעַל (H7477), which means 'to reel, stagger, or tremble.' The root conveys the idea of shaking or unsteadiness. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the sense of trembling or quaking. The development from the verb to the noun focuses on the state or result of the action—the reeling itself.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures a vivid metaphor for divine judgment. In Zechariah 12:2, the 'cup of reeling' symbolizes the wrath of God that Jerusalem will administer to the nations, causing them to lose their footing and be overcome. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of prophecy by highlighting how physical intoxication illustrates spiritual confusion and helplessness under God's sovereign hand of judgment. It connects to the biblical theme of the 'cup of wrath' (e.g., Jeremiah 25:15-17).
In ancient Near Eastern culture, drinking from a shared cup could symbolize sharing a fate or destiny. A 'cup' often represented what a person must experience, whether blessing or judgment. The imagery of reeling from intoxication was a universally understood picture of losing control, dignity, and strength. This metaphor would have been immediately powerful to an original audience familiar with the debilitating effects of strong drink and the symbolism of the cup in treaty and judgment contexts.
שַׁכּוֹר (shikkor, H7910) — specifically means 'drunk' or 'intoxicated,' describing the person's state, not the motion. תַּרְעֵלָה (tar`elah, H8653) — a 'reeling' or 'staggering,' often from terror or judgment, with a broader application than just intoxication.
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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