שִׁקּוּי
a beverage; moisture, i.e. (figuratively) refreshment
Definition
The Hebrew noun שִׁקּוּי (shiqqûwy) primarily means 'a beverage' or 'drink,' referring literally to something consumed for refreshment. In its two biblical occurrences, it also carries a figurative sense of 'moisture' or 'refreshment,' representing something that invigorates and sustains. In Proverbs 3:8, it is used metaphorically as 'marrow to your bones,' symbolizing health and vitality. In Hosea 2:5, it refers to the literal 'drink' provided by a lover, within a metaphor for God's provision.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only twice in the Old Testament, in wisdom and prophetic literature. In Proverbs 3:8, it is used figuratively for the refreshing, health-giving effect of fearing the Lord. In Hosea 2:5, it is used literally within an extended metaphor, where the prophet Hosea describes Israel attributing God's provisions (like 'drink') to false lovers (idols). Both uses connect the concept of drink to a source of sustenance, whether literal or spiritual.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb שָׁקָה (shāqâ, H8248), meaning 'to give to drink' or 'to irrigate.' This root conveys the action of providing liquid. The noun form שִׁקּוּי is a verbal noun, indicating the thing that is given or the result of the action—namely, the beverage or moisture itself.
Semantic Range
Though a simple noun, its usage connects physical sustenance to spiritual realities. In Proverbs 3:8, it illustrates how reverence for God brings holistic health ('marrow'), enriching the understanding of divine blessing. In Hosea, its context highlights the tragedy of misattributing God's life-giving provisions to false sources. It subtly underscores God as the ultimate source of all refreshment.
In an arid climate, reliable sources of drink and irrigation were directly tied to survival and prosperity. A 'beverage' or 'moisture' was not a trivial luxury but a fundamental necessity. The figurative leap from physical drink to spiritual refreshment would have been immediate and powerful for the original audience, for whom water symbolized life itself.
מַשְׁקֶה (mashqeh, H4945) — a drink or beverage; often the thing drunk or a drinking vessel. שְׁתִיָּה (shethîyâ, H4960) — the act of drinking or a drink. תִּרְשָׁת (tirshâth, H8662) — new wine or fresh, sweet drink.
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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