The Hebrew verb שתה (shâthâh) means "to drink." The verb שתה (shâthâh) is used for both humans and animals as can be seen in Jonah 3:7, "No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink (ישתו) water." Metaphorically, שתה (shâthâh) can describe destruction or slaughter. Zechariah 9:15 is an example of this grim poetic use in association with war, "The LORD of hosts will protect them, and they shall devour and tread down the slingers; they shall drink (ושתו) their blood like wine." Interestingly, Psalm 50:13 is the only occurrence of the verb שתה (shâthâh) in association with God and comes in a rhetorical question in about the purpose of sacrifices, "Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink (אשתה) the blood of goats?"
Thursday, April 13, 2023