שִׁקֻּו
(plural collective) a draught
Definition
Shiqquv is a Hebrew noun meaning 'a draught' or 'a drink,' specifically referring to a portion of liquid consumed. It appears only in the plural collective form, suggesting it denotes the act or portion of drinking itself. In its sole biblical occurrence, Psalm 102:9, it poetically describes the psalmist mixing his drink with tears, emphasizing deep sorrow. The word conveys the basic concept of consuming a liquid, with no other specialized meanings attested in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 102:9. The context is a lament psalm, where the psalmist describes his profound grief and affliction. The usage is metaphorical, depicting the act of drinking as intermingled with weeping, thus intensifying the portrayal of personal misery. No patterns exist across books due to its single occurrence.
Etymology
Shiqquv derives from the root verb שָׁקָה (shaqah, H8248), which means 'to give to drink' or 'to water.' This root is common in Hebrew for actions related to providing drink, especially to animals or people. The noun form shiqquv specifically denotes the thing drunk—the draught itself—showing a straightforward development from the action to its object.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a common noun, its use in Psalm 102:9 contributes to the rich imagery of lament and human suffering before God. Understanding this Hebrew term highlights the psalmist's tangible expression of grief, where even a basic act like drinking is corrupted by sorrow, underscoring the depth of despair that can be brought honestly to God in prayer.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, sharing a drink was a common social act, and a 'draught' represented a basic sustenance. The metaphorical use in Psalm 102 subverts this normal, sustaining act by combining it with tears, powerfully communicating a state where grief permeates even life's simplest routines. This contrasts with a modern, more abstract understanding of sorrow.
מַשְׁקֶה (mashqeh, H4945) — a drink or beverage, often a banquet drink; שְׁתִיָּה (shethiyah, H4960) — the act of drinking or a drink; כּוֹס (kos, H3563) — a cup or vessel for drinking.
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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