שָׁקָה

שָׁקָה

to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or furnish apotion to

Definition

The Hebrew verb שָׁקָה (shâqâh) primarily means 'to cause to drink' or 'to give drink to.' It is used in both literal and figurative senses across the Old Testament. Literally, it describes the act of providing water to people (Genesis 24:14), animals (Genesis 29:2-3), or irrigating land (Genesis 2:6, 10). Figuratively, it can signify overwhelming judgment, as in being 'drowned' or saturated with calamity (Jeremiah 51:57; Lamentations 3:15). In the narrative of Lot's daughters, it is used with the sense of making someone drink wine, leading to intoxication (Genesis 19:32-35).

Biblical Usage

שָׁקָה appears 59 times, predominantly in narrative books like Genesis, Exodus, and 1 Kings. It is commonly used in stories of hospitality (e.g., Abraham's servant at the well in Genesis 24:14-46) and agricultural contexts (watering flocks in Genesis 29:2-10; 30:38). It also appears in prophetic literature for metaphorical judgment, such as making nations drink the cup of God's wrath (Jeremiah 25:28; Habakkuk 2:15). The causative sense ('to cause to drink') is consistent, whether the object is a person, animal, or the ground.

Etymology

A primitive root, שָׁקָה is related to the act of drinking. It is a causative form of the basic idea of imbibing. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian šaqû, meaning 'to give to drink.' The root is distinct from שָׁתָה (H8354), which is the simple verb 'to drink,' and שָׁכַר (H7937), which means 'to become drunk.'

Semantic Range

This word carries theological weight in its figurative use for divine judgment. The image of God making the nations 'drink the cup' of His wrath (Jeremiah 25:15-28) portrays judgment as an inescapable, administered potion. Conversely, in Psalm 23:5, God's provision is pictured as a host who 'anoints my head with oil; my cup overflows'—though שָׁקָה is not used there, the conceptual link to divine provision of drink enriches the metaphor. Understanding שָׁקָה highlights God's active role in both sustaining life and executing justice. In the arid Ancient Near East, providing water was a fundamental act of hospitality and survival. Offering drink to a guest (Genesis 24:18) or a traveler's animals was a sacred duty. The act of 'causing to drink' could also be a means of administering something, whether medicine, poison, or wine, as seen in the story of Lot's daughters. The agricultural use reflects the dependence on irrigation from springs, rivers, or rain for crops and livestock. שָׁתָה (shâthâh, H8354) — the simple, active verb 'to drink.' שָׁכַר (shâkar, H7937) — specifically means 'to become intoxicated, drunk.' הִשְׁקָה (hishqâh) — a less common alternate form of the same root.

Word Details