שָׂחַט

שָׂחַט

to tread out, i.e. squeeze (grapes)

Definition

The Hebrew verb שָׂחַט (sâchaṭ) means to press or squeeze out, specifically by treading. It refers to the process of extracting juice from grapes by stomping on them in a winepress. This action is a vivid agricultural image of forceful extraction. In its sole biblical occurrence in Genesis 40:11, it describes Pharaoh's cupbearer dreaming of squeezing grapes into Pharaoh's cup. The word conveys a sense of direct, physical pressure to produce a valuable liquid.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in the narrative of Joseph interpreting dreams in prison. In Genesis 40:11, the chief cupbearer recounts his dream: 'and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.' The usage is straightforward and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the action within the dream's symbolic sequence.

Etymology

שָׂחַט is a primitive root, meaning its origin is not derived from another Hebrew word. It is specifically associated with the action of pressing grapes. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian, with similar meanings related to squeezing or wringing out. The core semantic idea is applying pressure to extract liquid.

Semantic Range

While used only once, the action of 'pressing' grapes is part of a larger biblical motif. Winepress imagery is often used metaphorically for divine judgment (e.g., Isaiah 63:3, Lamentations 1:15, Revelation 14:19-20), where God treads the winepress of His wrath. Understanding שָׂחַט as the concrete, agricultural action enriches the symbolic weight of these later prophetic and apocalyptic passages, grounding the metaphor in the tangible reality of juice-stained feet and forceful pressure. In ancient Israelite culture, treading grapes was a common harvest activity. Grapes were placed in a stone vat, and people would stomp on them to release the juice, which would flow through a channel into a lower collecting basin. This was often a communal and celebratory event (see Judges 9:27, Isaiah 16:10). The sole use in Genesis 40:11 reflects the Egyptian context, where the dream's imagery would have been universally understood as part of wine production for royalty. דָּרַךְ (dārak, H1869) — A broader term for treading or trampling, often used for treading a winepress but also for walking or marching. שָׂחַט is more specific to the squeezing action itself.

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