שָׁתָה

From the study of Joel 3:3

Range of meaning

Shatah means to drink, often wine, at feasts or drinking-bouts (Gen 9:21; Amos 2:8; 6:6).

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT make it purpose: 'that they might drink'. BSB 'for wine to drink' is similar. The Hebrew uses the ordinary narrative 'and then' form: 'and they drank'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Amos 2:8 has a similar charge: in the house of their god they drink wine bought with fines. Amos 6:6 attacks those who 'drink wine by the bowlful'. In both, drinking stands for careless excess paid for by others' suffering.

From the study of Proverbs 5:15

Range of meaning

To drink, whether literally (water, wine) or as a picture: to 'drink' violence (Prov 4:17), to drink God's wrath (Isa 51:17), to take in fully. In wisdom poetry and love poetry, drinking and eating are polite but clear pictures for sexual pleasure.

Against the English

Every English version has 'drink', which is accurate. The only risk is a reader who takes the verse as advice about water, or who misses that 'drink' is a command, not a grudging permission.

Used elsewhere in the period

Prov 9:17: Folly's invitation, 'stolen water is sweet'. Prov 30:20: the adulteress 'eats and wipes her mouth'. Prov 7:18 uses a related verb (rawah, 'drink deeply, be soaked') for 'let us drink our fill of love'. Song 5:1: 'eat, friends, drink, be drunk with love'. Egyptian love songs also use drinking and water for love.

From the study of Esther 3:15

Range of meaning

To drink, especially wine at a feast. In Esther, closely tied to the noun mišteh, 'drinking-feast, banquet'.

Against the English

All versions say 'to drink'. That is accurate, but readers may miss that it echoes a theme running through the whole book.

Used elsewhere in the period

Esther has about twenty feasts and drinking scenes: Ahasuerus's banquets (ch. 1), Esther's two banquets (chs. 5 and 7) where Haman falls, and the feasts of Purim (9:17–19). Greek writers (Herodotus 1.133) record that Persians debated serious matters while drunk.