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1 Samuel 1:14 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ עֵלִ֔י עַד־ מָתַ֖י תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑ין הָסִ֥ירִי אֶת־ יֵינֵ֖ךְ מֵעָלָֽיִךְ׃

BSAand saidʼâmar to herʼêl Howʻad longmâthay [till when, for how much time] will you be drunkshâkar [intoxicated, under the influence] Put awayçûwr [remove, turn aside] your wineyayin [fermented drink]

Word
Listen & take away1 Samuel 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 14 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (me.'a.La.yikh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Samuel 1:14quick helps
In a sentenceEli questions Hannah about her state, urging her to stop drinking.
Who is speakingEli, the high priest, addressing Hannah.
Where we areIn the temple, during a moment of misunderstanding.
The hard wordתִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑ין
Take awayThe call to remove wine signifies a plea for clarity.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectעֵלִי verbאָמַר The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 1 Samuel 1:14

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Eli's Confrontation with Hannahgenerated

13Hannah was praying in her heart, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk
14and said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine!”
15“No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman oppressed in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; for all this time I have been praying out of the depth of my anguish and grief.”

1 Samuel 1:14 captures a moment where Eli, the high priest, misinterprets Hannah's silent prayer as drunkenness. This misunderstanding leads to a direct question about her state, reflecting the tension between spiritual fervor and external appearances. The surrounding verses highlight Hannah's deep emotional struggle and her commitment to prayer, contrasting Eli's initial judgment with her true devotion.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Joshua 22:12–20And when they heard this, the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh to go to war against them.
2Job 8:2“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
3Psalm 62:3How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you throw him down like a leaning wall or a tottering fence?
4Proverbs 6:9How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
5Matthew 7:1–3“Do not judge, or you will be judged.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑ין, tish.ta.ka.Ringenerated

The verb שָׁכַר (shakar) means to become drunk or intoxicated. It is used in the Hithpael form here, indicating a state of being under the influence. This word is not just about consuming alcohol; it also encompasses the broader implications of losing control due to intoxication.

Eli's question, תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑ין, directly challenges Hannah's behavior, implying that her actions are inappropriate for a woman of God. The use of this verb underscores the seriousness of Eli's misunderstanding and his concern for proper conduct in the temple.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses drunk for תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑ין.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is וַיֹּ֤אמֶר, and he said, which governs the entire sentence. It introduces Eli's direct speech to Hannah, establishing the context of the dialogue.

The structure includes a direct address to Hannah, followed by a question about her state and a command regarding her wine. This flow emphasizes Eli's authority and concern, while also highlighting the misunderstanding of Hannah's actions.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וַיֹּ֤אמֶר as εἶπεν, which is a straightforward rendering of 'he said.' This choice reflects a direct correspondence between the Hebrew and Greek in terms of speech.

The Greek word for תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑ין is μεθυσθήσῃ, indicating a similar focus on the state of drunkenness, though the Greek construction does not carry the same nuance of the Hithpael form.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Samuel 1:14 shows Eli confronting Hannah, mistaking her silent prayer for drunkenness. He asks how long she will remain in this state and commands her to put away her wine. This moment highlights the tension between Eli's authority and Hannah's genuine devotion.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Eli mean by asking Hannah how long she will be drunk?

Eli is questioning Hannah's behavior, suggesting that her actions are inappropriate for a woman in the temple.

What is the significance of Eli telling Hannah to put away her wine?

This command reflects Eli's concern for proper conduct in the temple and his misunderstanding of Hannah's situation.

How does Hannah respond to Eli's accusation?

Hannah clarifies that she is not drunk but is deeply distressed and pouring out her soul to the LORD.

Why is this interaction important in the context of Hannah's story?

It highlights the challenges Hannah faces in her pursuit of God and sets the stage for her eventual blessing and the birth of Samuel.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can misunderstandings affect our perceptions of others' actions in spiritual contexts?
  2. In what ways can we ensure that we approach others with compassion rather than judgment?
  3. What can we learn from Hannah's response to Eli about handling accusations?
  4. How does this passage encourage us to seek God earnestly, even in the face of misunderstanding?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

The early Church Fathers commented on this verse, often reflecting on the implications of Eli's misunderstanding and the nature of true devotion.

Gregory the DialogistCommentary on 1 Kings, Book 1, Chapter 1 c. 540–604
29. The wine with which Anna was drunk would have been digested, if the holy Church, overcome by the threats of the Jews, had grown lukewarm from the fervor of preaching.
Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 1 →

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Samuel 1:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Eli said unto her, how long wilt thou be drunken?.... What, every day drunk? what, continually in this wicked practice? when will it be stopped?

Read John Gill on 1 Samuel 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Samuel 1 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Come not before the Lord in thy drunkenness, but go and sleep it out, and repent of this thy sin.

Read Matthew Poole on 1 Samuel 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Samuel 1:14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.Ver. 14. How long wilt thou be drunken?] Eli sat there for the purpose to see good order observed: and seeing Hannah’ s strange and uncouth gestures, knowing also that she was newly risen from a feast, he suspected that all was not well. Put away thy wine from thee.] Go, sleep out thy drunkenness, and this alienation of thy mind, caused by a too liberal use of wine, which thou shouldst rather do, quam ut turpiter eructes coram Iehovah, than do on this sort.

Read John Trapp on 1 Samuel 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(14) And Eli said unto her.—The LXX. or Septuagint attempts to soften the harshness of the high priest to Hannah by inserting before Eli the word “servant,” or “young man,” thus suggesting that the hard, unjust words were spoken by an attendant. But it is clear that the English Version represents the true text here, for in the next verse Hannah replies directly to Eli with the simple words “No, my lord.”

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Samuel 1 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

and said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine!”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

and said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine!”

NETBNew English Translation2006

So he said to her, “How often do you intend to get drunk? Put away your wine!”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Eli said to her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And Eli sayde vnto her, Howe long wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy drunkennesse from thee.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Eli said to her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And Eli saith unto her, 'Until when are thou drunken? turn aside thy wine from thee.'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And Eli says to her, “Until when are you drunken? Turn aside your wine from you.”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And 'Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from off thee.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine.”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And said to her: How long wilt thou, be drunk? digest a little the wine, of which thou hast taken too much.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

“Do you have to come here drunk?” he asked. “Get rid of your wine!”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And Eli said to her, How long are you going to be the worse for drink? Put away the effects of your wine from you.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיֹּ֤אמֶרhe.saidprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֵלֶ֨יtoהָ֙hersubjectעֵלִ֔יEliclauseclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַדuntilמָתַ֖יwhen?verb phrase · verbתִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑יwillןyou.be.drunkclauseverbהָסִ֥ירִיremovenoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseיֵינֵ֖wineךְyourprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseמֵfromעָלָֽיִwithךְyou

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with 8 of the 10 words matched. This shows a consistent understanding of the events, though the Septuagint's word order and articles differ.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ עֵלִ֔י עַד־ מָתַ֖י תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑ין הָסִ֥ירִי אֶת־ יֵינֵ֖ךְ מֵעָלָֽיִךְ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרεἶπενאֵלֶ֙יהָ֙αὐτῇעֵלִ֔יηλιעַד־ἕωςמָתַ֖יπότεתִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑יןμεθυσθήσῃהָסִ֥ירִיπεριελοῦיֵינֵ֖ךְσου

8 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

1 Samuel 1:14אָמַרand he saidand he saidאָמַראֶלto herto herאֶלעֵלִיEliEliעֵלִיעַדuntiluntilעַדמָתַיwhen?when?מָתַישָׁכַרwill you bewill you be druשָׁכַרסוּרremoveremoveסוּראֵתthe object the object markאֵתיַ֫יִןwine yourwine yourיַ֫יִןעַלfrom with yfrom with youעַלעָלָהto ascend:to ascend: riseעָלָהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדשָׁקָהto water: to water: waterשָׁקָהעַלheightheightעַלכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫החָפְנִיHophniHophniחָפְנִיפִּינְחָסPhinehasPhinehasפִּינְחָסמָתַיhowhowמָתַיעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶבאָבַלto mournto mournאָבַלשָׁעַעto smearto smearשָׁעַעיַ֫יִןwinewineיַ֫יִןשְׂמֹאלleftleftשְׂמֹאלבָּמָהhigh placehigh placeבָּמָה
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 1 Samuel 1:14

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he said to her Eli until when? will you be drunk ! remove the object marker wine your from with you
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.mer and he said H559 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to her Eli until when? will you be drunk ! remove the object marker wine your from with you
אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙'e.Lei.ha to her H413 Preposition · suffix
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3fs
and he said to her Eli until when? will you be drunk ! remove the object marker wine your from with you
עֵלִ֔י'e.Li Eli H5941 Noun proper masculine
33× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Eli was a high priest in the Bible, mentioned in 1 Samuel. He was the father of Hophni and Phinehas, and played a significant role in the story of Samuel. The name Eli means 'ascension'.
Tyndale gloss
Eli
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵלִי (Eliy) refers to Eli, a high priest and judge of Israel during the time of the United Monarchy, first mentioned in 1 Samuel 1:3. The name is derived from a root meaning 'lofty' or 'ascension.' Eli was a descendant of Aaron and the father of Hophni and Phinehas.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵלִי n.pr.m. Eli, priest at Shiloh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5941 עֵלִי

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5941 `Eliy ay-lee'

from 5927; lofty; Eli, an Israelite high-priest:--Eli.

see HEBREW for 05927

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵלִי (e.li) — Eli.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.1.3;

father of: Hophni (H2652), Phinehas (H6372H)

§ Eli = "ascension"

descendant of Aaron through Ithamar and high priest and judge of Israel when Samuel entered service as a child

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpm — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

e'-li (`eli):

A descendant of Ithamar, the fourth son of Aaron, who exercised the office of high priest in Shiloh at the time of the birth of Samuel. For the first time in Israel, Eli combined in his own person the functions of high priest and judge, judging Israel for 40 years (1Sa 4:18). The incidents in Eli's life are few; indeed, the main interest of the narrative is in the other characters who are associated with him. The chief interest centers in Samuel. In Eli's first interview with Hannah (1Sa 1:12 ff), she is the central figure; in the second interview (1Sa 1:24 ff), it is the child Samuel. When Eli next appears, it is as the father of Hophni and Phinehas, whose worthless and licentious lives had profaned their priestly…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Eli

Ascent, the high priest when the ark was at Shiloh (1 Sam. 1:3, 9). He was the first of the line of Ithamar, Aaron’s fourth son (1 Chr. 24:3; comp. 2 Sam. 8:17), who held that office. The office remained in his family till the time of Abiathar (1 Kings 2:26, 27), whom Solomon deposed, and appointed Zadok, of the family of Eleazar, in his stead (35). He acted also as a civil judge in Israel after the death of Samson (1 Sam. 4:18), and judged Israel for forty years.

His sons Hophni and Phinehas grossly misconducted themselves, to the great disgust of the people (1 Sam.…

(ascension), a descendant of Aaron through Ithamar, the youngest of his two surviving sons. (Leviticus 10:1,2,12) comp. 1Kin 2:27 with 2Sam 8:17; 1Chr 24:3 (B.C. 1214-1116.) he was the first of the line of Ithamar who held the office of high priest. The office remained in his family till Abiathar was thrust out by Solomon, (1 Kings 1:7; 2:26,27) when it passed back again to the family of Eleazar int he person of Zadok. (1 Kings 2:35) Its return to the elder branch was one part of the punishment which had been denounced against Eli during his lifetime, for his culpable negligence. (

A high priest of the Jews, the first in the line of Ithamar, 1Sa 2:27. He was also a judge of Israel forty years, and was eminent for piety and usefulness, but criminally negligent of family discipline. For this the judgments of God fell upon his house, 1Sa 3:11-18. In battle with the Philistines his two sons were slain, and Israel defeated; but it was the capture of the ark of God that broke his heart, 1Sa 4:1-22. The divine threatening was fully performed in the day of Abiathar, which see.

and he said to her Eli until when? will you be drunk ! remove the object marker wine your from with you
עַד־'ad- until H5704 Preposition
1,261× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Tyndale gloss
till
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while

prep.

of space

Of time

Of degree

conj.

until

While

Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus

of space

Of time

Of degree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

. conj. . until

. While

. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5704 `ad ad

properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or

conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,

or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,

while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,

at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),

(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,

till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — till.

prep

1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as

1a) of space

1a1) as far as, up to, even to

1b) in combination

1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)

1c) of time

1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end

1d) of degree

1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like

conj

2) until, while, to the point that, so that even

Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and he said to her Eli until when? will you be drunk ! remove the object marker wine your from with you
מָתַ֖יma.Tai when? H4970 Particle
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means 'when' or 'how long', often used to ask about time or duration, like in Genesis when asking how long a task will take.
Amplified meaning
till when, for how much time
Tyndale gloss
how
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָתַי (mathay) is an adverb meaning 'when?' It is derived from an unused root that suggests extension, particularly in relation to time. The word is used interrogatively to ask about timeframes, such as 'how long?' or 'until when?'. It appears in contexts that require a temporal inquiry.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָתַי 43 interrog.adv. when?

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4970 מָתַי when?

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4970 mathay maw-thah'ee

from an unused root meaning to extend; properly, extent (of

time); but used only adverbially (especially with other

particle prefixes), when (either relative or

interrogative):--long, when.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָתַי (ma.tay) — how.

1) when?

1a) with prep

1a1) against when?, until when?, how long?, after how long?

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTi
and he said to her Eli until when? will you be drunk ! remove the object marker wine your from with you
תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑יןtish.ta.ka.Rin will you be drunk ! H7937 Verb hithpael imperfect second person feminine singular · suffix
19× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To become drunk or intoxicated, as warned against in Proverbs 23:20. This word describes the state of being under the influence. It is used in various forms, including making someone drunk or being merry.
Amplified meaning
intoxicated, under the influence
Tyndale gloss
be drunk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁכַר (shakar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be or become drunk. It covers various forms, including making oneself or others drunk, and can also imply causing someone to be helpless. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical forms, such as Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁכַר] vb. be, or become, drunk, drunken

Qal become drunken

Pi. make drunken

Hiph. id.: i.e. make princes helpless

Hithp. how long wilt thou make thyself drunken [a drunken spectacle]?

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7937 שָׁכַר be, or become, drunk, drunken .become drunken

. make drunken

. id.: i.e. make princes helpless

. how long wilt thou make thyself drunken [a drunken spectacle]?

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7937 shakar shaw-kar'

a primitive root; to become tipsy; in a qualified sense, to

satiate with a stimulating drink or (figuratively)

influence:--(be filled with) drink (abundantly), (be, make)

drunk(-en), be merry. (Superlative of 8248.)

see HEBREW for 08248

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכַר (sha.khar) — be drunk.

1) to be or become drunk or drunken, be intoxicated

1a) (Qal) to become drunken

1b)(Piel) to make drunken, cause to be drunk

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to be drunk

1d) (Hithpael) to make oneself drunk

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hithpael-Imperf-2fs | Suff — Verb hithpael imperfect second person feminine singular · suffix
HVti2fs/Sn
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Drunk

The first case of intoxication on record is that of Noah (Gen. 9:21). The sin of drunkenness is frequently and strongly condemned (Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Eph. 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:7, 8). The sin of drinking to excess seems to have been not uncommon among the Israelites.

The word is used figuratively, when men are spoken of as being drunk with sorrow, and with the wine of God’s wrath (Isa. 63:6; Jer. 51:57; Ezek. 23:33). To “add drunkenness to thirst” (

and he said to her Eli until when? will you be drunk ! remove the object marker wine your from with you
הָסִ֥ירִיha.Si.ri remove H5493 Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person feminine singular
300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To turn aside or remove is the meaning of this verb, used in various forms throughout the Bible. It can mean to depart, avoid, or put something away, and is often used in the context of turning away from sin or wrongdoing, as seen in the actions of prophets and leaders in the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
remove, turn aside
Tyndale gloss
to turn aside: remove
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סוּר (sur) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn aside or depart. It encompasses a range of actions including removal, avoidance, and coming to an end. The word can be used in various forms, such as causing something to turn aside or be taken away. It appears in contexts involving both literal and figurative departures.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סוּר and [שׂוּר] 300 vb. turn aside

Qal

turn aside, out of one's course

depart

of lifeless things = be removed

= come to an end

Pô‛lēl he turned aside my ways (my steps)

Hiph.

cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

rarer uses

Pô‛lēl be taken away, removed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5493 סוּר, שׂוּר turn aside .. turn aside, out of one's course

. depart

. of lifeless things = be removed

. = come to an end

.he turned aside my ways (my steps)

. . cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

. rarer uses

.be taken away, removed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5493 cuwr soor

or suwr (Hosea 9:12) {soor}; a primitive root; to turn off

(literal or figurative):--be(-head), bring, call back,

decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), X grievous,

lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away,

down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, X be sour, take

(away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: remove.

: remove

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: depart.

: depart

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: turn aside.

: turn_aside/deflect

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Impv-2fs — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person feminine singular
HVhv2fs
and he said to her Eli until when? will you be drunk ! remove the object marker wine your from with you
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to her Eli until when? will you be drunk ! remove the object marker wine your from with you
יֵינֵ֖ךְyei.Nekh wine your H3196 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
141× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for wine, 'yayin', refers to fermented wine and its effects, including intoxication. It is often mentioned in the Bible in the context of banquets and feasts, such as in the book of Esther.
Amplified meaning
fermented drink
Tyndale gloss
wine
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יַ֫יִן (yayin) means 'wine' and is associated with fermentation and intoxication. It appears in various contexts, including banqueting. The word is derived from an unused root that suggests the idea of effervescence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יַ֫יִן 141 n.m. wine

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3196 יַ֫יִן wine

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3196 yayin yah'-yin

from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as

fermented); by implication, intoxication:--banqueting, wine,

wine(-bibber).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יַ֫יִן (ya.yin) — wine.

wine

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2fs
and he said to her Eli until when? will you be drunk ! remove the object marker wine your from with you
מֵעָלָֽיִךְ׃me.'a.La.yikh from with you H5921 Preposition · preposition · suffix
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Rd/Sp2fs — Preposition · preposition · suffix
HR/Rd/Sp2fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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