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Genesis 9:21 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֵּ֥שְׁתְּ מִן־ הַיַּ֖יִן וַיִּשְׁכָּ֑ר וַיִּתְגַּ֖ל בְּת֥וֹךְ אָהֳלֽוֹ׃

BSABut when he drankshâthâh [from the cup, partook of] some ofmin its wineyayin [fermented grape juice, intoxicating beverage] he became drunkshâkar [intoxicated, under the influence] and uncovered himselfgâlâh [revealed, laid bare, his nakedness, his shame] insidetâvek [in the midst of, within] his tentʼôhel [nomadic dwelling, place of rest]

Word
Listen & take awayGenesis 9
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 21 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 ('o.ho.Lo) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Genesis 9:21quick helps
In a sentenceNoah drank wine, became drunk, and exposed himself in his tent.
Who is speakingThe narrative describes Noah's actions after planting a vineyard.
Where we areThe events following the flood — a significant moment in Noah's life.
The hard wordשָׁכַר
Take awayThe consequences of Noah's actions led to shame and family conflict.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁתָה 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 — Genesis 9:21

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 — The Incident of Noah's Drunkennessgenerated

20Now Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard.
21But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.
22And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.
23Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.

Genesis 9:21 recounts Noah's actions after the flood, where he drank from the wine he produced and became drunk, leading to a moment of shame. This event sets the stage for subsequent actions by his sons, particularly Ham, who witnessed his father's nakedness, as detailed in Genesis 9:22.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Genesis 6:9This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.
2Genesis 19:32–36Come, let us get our father drunk with wine so we can sleep with him and preserve his line.”
3Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
4Proverbs 23:31–32Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
5Ecclesiastes 7:20Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

The Key Word שָׁכַר, vai.yish.Kargenerated

The verb שָׁכַר (shakar) means to become drunk. It describes the state of being intoxicated and can imply a loss of control or judgment, as seen in warnings against drunkenness in Proverbs 23:20. The parsing indicates it is a sequential imperfect verb, showing that this action occurred in the past.

This word is used in various forms in the Hebrew Bible, often in contexts that caution against excessive drinking. The implications of drunkenness extend beyond mere intoxication, touching on themes of shame and moral failure.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verbs govern the actions in the verse: וַיֵּ֥שְׁתְּ (and he drank), וַיִּשְׁכָּ֑ר (and he became drunk), and וַיִּתְגַּ֖ל (and he uncovered himself). The structure emphasizes the sequence of Noah's actions.

The word order in Hebrew highlights the actions taken by Noah, with the verbs placed prominently to indicate their importance in the narrative.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שָׁכַר as ἐμεθύσθη (emethysthē), which directly conveys the idea of becoming drunk. This choice reflects a straightforward rendering of the Hebrew term without additional interpretive layers.

This translation aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the state of intoxication without altering the narrative's intent.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Genesis 9:21 tells us that Noah drank some wine from his vineyard, became drunk, and uncovered himself in his tent. This incident leads to a significant event involving his son Ham, as seen in Genesis 9:22.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that Noah became drunk?

It means that Noah consumed enough wine to impair his judgment and control, leading to an embarrassing situation.

Why is Noah's exposure significant?

Noah's exposure highlights themes of shame and family dynamics, particularly how his sons reacted to the situation.

What can we learn from Noah's actions?

Noah's actions serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of excessive drinking and the importance of self-control.

How does this event affect Noah's family?

This event leads to conflict within Noah's family, particularly between Ham and his brothers, as seen in the following verses.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What lessons can I learn about the dangers of excessive drinking from Noah's experience?
  2. How do my actions affect those around me, especially my family?
  3. In what ways can I ensure I maintain self-control in challenging situations?
  4. How can I support family members who may be struggling with similar issues?

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

The early commentary from Bede interprets Noah's drunkenness as a significant moment, drawing parallels to themes of suffering and exposure.

BedeCommentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron) c. 673–735
And drinking the wine, he became drunk, and he was naked in his tent. The Lord drank wine when he received the cup of his passion. He was made drunk by drinking when by suffering for us he reached the utmost extremity of death.
Early Church Fathers on Genesis 9 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Genesis 9:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And he drank of the wine, and was drunken,.... Either not being acquainted with the strength of it, as is thought by many; or having been used to weaker liquor, as water; or through the infirmity of

Read John Gill on Genesis 9 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And he drank of the wine, and was drunken. This unhappy incident has been viewed in two ways: (1) As the result of ignorance.

Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 9 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Either through ignorance and inexperience of the nature and strength of that liquor, or through the infirmity of the flesh, which was tempted by its great and, to him, new pleasantness, and by the refreshment he found in it under the weary labours of his body, and the sad thoughts of his mind, for the desolate condition of the world. He was uncovered, either to relieve himself against the heat of the climate and season, or from his negligence and carelessness; which might easily happen, because men’ s garments at that time were loose, as they were in the following ages, when breeches were not in common use, and therefore were peculiarly prescribed to the priests, .

Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 9 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Genesis 9:21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.Ver. 21. And was drunk.] For his own shame, but our learning. Instruunt nos patres tum docentes tum labentes . The best have their blemishes, and a black part, as that cloud had, that conducted Israel out of Egypt; which, while the Egyptians followed, they fell into the sea. And was uncovered within his tent.] One hour’ s drunkenness bewrays that which more than six hundred years’ sobriety had modestly concealed. Well might Solomon say, "Wine is a mocker"; for it mocked Noah with a witness; and exposed him to the mockage of his own bosom-bird. Augustin.

Read John Trapp on Genesis 9 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) He was uncovered is, literally, he uncovered himself. It was no accident, but a wilful breach of modesty.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 9 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 21. He drank of the wine, c.] It is very probable that this was the first time the wine was cultivated and it is as probable that the strength or intoxicating power of the expressed juice was never before known. Noah, therefore, might have drunk it at this time without the least blame, as he knew not till this trial the effects it would produce. I once knew a case which I believe to be perfectly parallel. A person who had scarcely ever heard of cider, and whose beverage through his whole life had been only milk or water, coming wet and very much fatigued to a farmer's house in Somersetshire, begged for a little water or milk. The good woman of the house, seeing him very much…

Read AdamClarke on Genesis 9 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

21. and he drank] The representation is that of the man who first made wine out of grapes, and drinking of it in ignorance was overcome by its potency. No blame is attached to him.

Read Cambridge on Genesis 9 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

21. Was drunken — Here is the first recorded instance of drunkenness, and its revolting consequences.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 9 →

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

But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.

NETBNew English Translation2006

When he drank some of the wine, he got drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

RVARevised Version, American1894

and he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And he drank of the wine, and was drunken, and he was uncovered within his tent.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And he drunke of ye wine and was drunken, and was vncouered in the middes of his tent.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he drank of the wine, and was drunken, and he uncovered himself in his tent.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and drinketh of the wine, and is drunken, and uncovereth himself in the midst of the tent.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and drinks of the wine, and is drunken, and uncovers himself in the midst of the tent.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he drank of the wine, and became drunken; and he uncovered himself within his tent.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He drank some of the wine and became drunk. He was lying uncovered in his tent.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And drinking of the wine was made drunk, and was uncovered in his tent.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He drank some of the wine he'd produced, got drunk, and fell asleep in his tent, naked.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And he took of the wine of it and was overcome by drink; and he was uncovered in his tent.

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.

וַandclauseverbיֵּ֥שְׁתְּhe.drankprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִןsome.ofnoun phraseהַtheיַּ֖יִןwineוַandclauseverbיִּשְׁכָּ֑רhe.became.drunkוַandclauseverbיִּתְגַּ֖לhe.uncovered.himselfprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseת֥וֹךְthe.middlenoun phraseאָהֳלֹֽhis.tentהhis

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 agree on the main actions described in this verse, with all seven words matched. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs by using the form אהלו for 'tent', but the overall meaning remains consistent.

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

וַיֵּ֥שְׁתְּ מִן־ הַיַּ֖יִן וַיִּשְׁכָּ֑ר וַיִּתְגַּ֖ל בְּת֥וֹךְ אָהֳלֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֵּ֥שְׁתְּἔπιενמִן־ἐκהַיַּ֖יִןοἴνουוַיִּשְׁכָּ֑רἐμεθύσθηוַיִּתְגַּ֖לἐγυμνώθηבְּת֥וֹךְἐνאָהֳלֽוֹ׃τῷ

7 of the 7 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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

וישׁת מן היין וישׁכר ויתגל בתוך אהלו

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: אהלו (tent)

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.

Genesis 9:21שָׁתָהand he dranand he drankשָׁתָהמִן־some ofsome ofמִן־יַ֫יִןthe winethe wineיַ֫יִןשָׁכַרand he becaand he became dשָׁכַרגָּלָהand he uncoand he uncovereגָּלָהתָּ֫וֶךְin [the] miin [the] middleתָּ֫וֶךְאֹ֫הֶלtent histent hisאֹ֫הֶלשָׁקָהto water: to water: waterשָׁקָהאָהַלto shineto shineאָהַלמֵןstringstringמֵןשֵׁכָרstrong dristrong drinkשֵׁכָריַ֫יִןwinewineיַ֫יִןרָחַקto removeto removeרָחַקיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַרשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהשָׁעַעto smearto smearשָׁעַעעֶרְוָהnakednessnakednessעֶרְוָהגּוֹלָהcaptivitycaptivityגּוֹלָהגֵּרsojournersojournerגֵּרגּוּרto sojournto sojournגּוּרמוֹעֵדmeetingmeetingמוֹעֵדפֶּ֫תַחentranceentranceפֶּ֫תַח
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 Genesis 9:21

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 drank some of the wine and he became drunk and he uncovered himself in [the] middle of tent his
וַיֵּ֥שְׁתְּvai.Ye.shet and he drank H8354 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
217× 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 to drink, and it's used in many ways, like drinking from a cup or feasting. It's also used to describe being drunk or taking part in a big celebration. We see it in stories like the Last Supper in Matthew 26:27.
Amplified meaning
from the cup, partook of
Tyndale gloss
to drink
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁתָה (shathah) means 'to drink' and can refer to both literal drinking and figurative uses, such as feasting or experiencing God's wrath. It is a primitive root that appears in various forms, including Qal and Niphal, indicating actions like drinking and being drunk. The lexicons note its connection to the Aramaic equivalent שְׁתָה (she.tah), but do not present significant disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁתָה 217 vb. drink

Qal 216

Niph. all which is (may be) drunk

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8354 שָׁתָה drink

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8354 shathah shaw-thaw'

a primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively):--X

assuredly, banquet, X certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk

(X -ard), surely. (Prop. intensive of 8248.)

see HEBREW for 08248

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁתָה (sha.tah) — to drink.

1) to drink

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to drink

1a1a) of drinking cup of God's wrath, of slaughter, of wicked deeds (fig)

1a2) to feast

1b) (Niphal) to be drunk

Aramaic equivalent: she.tah (שְׁתָה "to drink" H8355)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he drank some of the wine and he became drunk and he uncovered himself in [the] middle of tent his
מִן־min- some of H4480 Preposition
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he drank some of the wine and he became drunk and he uncovered himself in [the] middle of tent his
הַיַּ֖יִןhai.Ya.yin the wine H3196 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
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 grape juice, intoxicating beverage
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
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wine

The common Hebrew word for wine is yayin, from a root meaning “to boil up,” “to be in a ferment.” Others derive it from a root meaning “to tread out,” and hence the juice of the grape trodden out. The Greek word for wine is oinos_, and the Latin _vinun. But besides this common Hebrew word, there are several others which are thus rendered.

(1.) Ashishah (2 Sam. 6:19; 1 Chr. 16:3; Cant. 2:5; Hos. 3:1), which, however, rather denotes a solid cake of pressed grapes, or, as in the Revised Version, a cake of raisins.

(2.) ‘Asis, “sweet wine,” or “new wine,” the product of the same year (Cant. 8:2;

The manufacture of wine is carried back in the Bible to the age of Noah, (Genesis 9:20,21) to whom the discovery of the process is apparently, though not explicitly, attributed. The natural history and culture of the vine are described under a separate head. [VINE] The only other plant whose fruit is noticed as having been converted into wine was the pomegranate. (Solomon 8:2) In Palestine the vintage takes place in September, and is celebrated with great rejoicing. The ripe fruit was gathered in baskets, (Jeremiah 6:9) as represented in Egyptian paintings, and was carried to the wine-press. It was then placed in the upper one of the two vats or receptacles of which the winepress was formed, and was subjected to the process of "treading," which has prevailed in all ages in Oriental…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The vine being natural to the soil of Canaan and its vicinity, wine was much used as a beverage, especially at festivals, Es 1:7 5:6 Da 5:1-4 Joh 2:3. As one of the staple products of the Holy Land, it was employed for drink-offerings in the temple service, Ex 20:26 Nu 15:4-10; it was included among the "first-fruits," De 18:4, and was used in the celebration of the Passover, and subsequently of the Lord’s supper, Mt 26:27-29. Together with corn and oil it denoted all temporal supplies,

→ Made from grapes Ge 40:11; 49:11; Isa 25:6; Jer 40:1,12

→ From pomegranates So 8:2

→ Kept in jars Jer 13:12; 48:12

→ In skins (R. V.) Jos 9:4,13; Job 32:19; Mt 9:17; Lu 5:37,38

→ In bottles Jos 9:4,13; Job 32:19; Jer 13:12; 48:12;

and he drank some of the wine and he became drunk and he uncovered himself in [the] middle of tent his
וַיִּשְׁכָּ֑רvai.yish.Kar and he became drunk H7937 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
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
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
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 drank some of the wine and he became drunk and he uncovered himself in [the] middle of tent his
וַיִּתְגַּ֖לvai.yit.Gal and he uncovered himself H1540 Verb · Hithpael · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
186× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to reveal or uncover something, often in a way that's embarrassing or shameful. It can also mean to exile someone, forcing them to leave their home. In some cases, it's used to describe God revealing himself to people.
Amplified meaning
revealed, laid bare, his nakedness, his shame
Tyndale gloss
to reveal: reveal
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word גָּלָה (galah) is a primitive root meaning to uncover or remove, with implications of revealing, disclosing, or going into exile. It encompasses various forms, including reflexive and passive uses, and can refer to both physical uncovering and metaphorical revelation. The word is notably associated with disgraceful exposure and the act of exile.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּלָה 189 vb. uncover, remove

Qal

uncover the ear of one, i.e. reveal to him

intr. remove, depart

go into exile

Niph.

refl.

uncover oneself (one’s nakedness)

discover or shew oneself

pass.

be uncovered (one’s nakedness)

be disclosed, discovered

be removed

Pi.

uncover

disclose, discover, lay bare

make known, shew, reveal

Pu. be uncovered

Hiph. carry away into exile, take into exile

Hoph. carried into exile

Hithp.

was uncovered (naked)

that his heart may reveal itself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1540 גָּלָה uncover, remove .. uncover the ear of one, i.e. reveal to him

. intr. remove, depart

. go into exile

. . refl. . uncover oneself (one’s nakedness)

. discover or shew oneself

. pass. . be uncovered (one’s nakedness)

. be disclosed, discovered

. be removed

. . uncover

. disclose, discover, lay bare

. make known, shew, reveal

. be uncovered

. carry away into exile, take into exile

. carried into exile

. . was uncovered (naked)

. that his heart may reveal itself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1540 galah gaw-law'

a primitive root; to denude (especially in a disgraceful

sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually

stripped); figuratively, to reveal:--+ advertise, appear,

bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity),

depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, X plainly,

publish, remove, reveal, X shamelessly, shew, X surely, tell,

uncover.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶגְלָם (ga.lah) — Heglam.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living before Israel's Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.8.7;

son of: Ehud (H0164);

brother of: Naaman (H5283J), Ahijah (H0281K), Uzza (H5798H) and Ahihud (H0284); also called Heglam (KJV: "removed"; NIV: "deported") at 1Ch.8.7;

Another name of ge.ra (גֵּרָא "Gera" H1617J)

to reveal oneself

גָּלָה (ga.lah) — to reveal: reveal.

: reveal[information]

1) to uncover, remove

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to uncover

1a2) to remove, depart

1a3) to go into exile

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) (reflexive)

1b1a) to uncover oneself

1b1b) to discover or show oneself

1b1c) to reveal himself (of God)

1b2) (passive)

1b2a) to be uncovered

1b2b) to be disclosed, be discovered

1b2c) to be revealed

1b3) to be removed

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to uncover (nakedness)

1c1a) nakedness

1c1b) general

1c2) to disclose, discover, lay bare

1c3) to make known, show, reveal

1d) (Pual) to be uncovered

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hithpael-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hithpael · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vtw3ms
and he drank some of the wine and he became drunk and he uncovered himself in [the] middle of tent his
בְּת֥וֹךְbe.Tokh in [the] middle of H8432 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
418× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the middle or center of something, such as a group of people or a physical space. It can also mean among or between things, as seen in various Bible translations.
Amplified meaning
in the midst of, within
Tyndale gloss
midst
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּ֫וֶךְ (tavek) means 'midst' or 'middle,' indicating a central position or location. It can also imply being 'among' or 'between' things, particularly in contexts involving separation or division. The term appears in various forms, such as 'into' or 'through,' especially after verbs of motion.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תָּ֫וֶךְ 416 subst. midst

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8432 תָּ֫וֶךְ subst. midst

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8432 tavek taw'-vek

from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by

implication) the centre:--among(-st), X between, half, X

(there- ,where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among),

X out (of), X through, X with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּ֫וֶךְ (ta.vekh) — midst.

1) midst, middle

1a) midst, middle

1b) into, through (after verbs of motion)

1c) among (of a number of persons)

1d) between (of things arranged by twos)

1e) from among (as to take or separate etc)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he drank some of the wine and he became drunk and he uncovered himself in [the] middle of tent his
אָהֳלֽוֹ׃'o.ho.Lo tent his H168 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
345× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for a tent, often used to describe the tabernacle or a nomad's home. In Exodus 33:7-11, it refers to the sacred tent where God meets with Moses.
Amplified meaning
nomadic dwelling, place of rest
Tyndale gloss
tent
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֹ֫הֶל (*ohel*) means 'tent' and is derived from a root meaning 'to be conspicuous.' It encompasses various meanings, including a nomad's tent, a dwelling or home, and specifically refers to the sacred tent used for worship, known as the tabernacle. The entries consistently highlight its association with transience and habitation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֹ֫הֶל 343 n.m. tent

tent of nomad

dwelling, habitation

the sacred tent used in worship of God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H168 אֹ֫הֶל tent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

168 'ohel o'-hel

from 166; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a

distance):--covering, (dwelling)(place), home, tabernacle,

tent.

see HEBREW for 0166

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֹ֫הֶל (o.hel) — tent.

: tent

1) tent

1a) nomad's tent, and thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience

1b) dwelling, home, habitation

1c) the sacred tent of Jehovah (the tabernacle)

Also means: o.hel (אֹ֫הֶל ": home" H0168H)

אֹ֫הֶל (o.hel) — tent: home.

: home

1) tent

1a) nomad's tent, and thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience

1b) dwelling, home, habitation

1c) the sacred tent of Jehovah (the tabernacle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

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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