19. Other Hebrew Words
Other Hebrew Words
Khemer We extract from Dr. F.R. Lees’ Appendix B of Biblical Commentary the following, pp. 415-418:
Khemer is a word descriptive of the foaming appearance of the juice of the grape newly expressed, or when undergoing fermentation. It occurs but nine times in all, including once a verb, and six times in its Chaldee form of khamar or khamrah. Deuteronomy 32:14; Ezra 6:9; Ezra 7:22; Psalms 75:8; Isaiah 27:2; Daniel 5:1-2; Daniel 5:4; Daniel 5:23.
Liebig says: “Vegetable juice in general becomes turbid when in contact with the air before fermentation commences”—Chemistry of Agriculture, 3d edition. “Thus, it appears, foam or turbidness (what the Hebrews called khemer, and applied to the foaming blood of the grape) is no proof of alcohol being present”—Bible Commentary, Prelim. xvi. note.
Ahsis
Ahsis (sometimes written ausis, asie, osis) is specially applied to the juice of newly-trodden grapes or other fruit. It occurs five times. Song of Solomon 8:2; Isaiah 49:26; Joel 1:5; Joel 3:18, Amos 9:13.
Soveh
Soveh (sometimes written sobe, sobhe) denotes a luscious and probably boiled wine (Latin, sapa). It occurs three times. Isaiah 1:22; Hosea 4:18; Nahum 1:14.
“It is chiefly interesting as affording a link of connection between classical wines and those of Judea, through an obviously common name, being identical with the Greek hepsema, the Latin sapa, and the modern Italian and French sabe—boiled grape-juice. The inspissated wines, called defrutum and syræum, were, according to Pliny (xiv. 9), a species of it. The last name singularly suggests the instrument in which it was prepared—the syr, or caldron”—Bible Commentary, Prelim. xxiii.
Mesek
Mesek (sometimes written mesech), literally, a mixture, is used with its related forms, mezeg and mimsak, to denote some liquid compounded of various ingredients. These words occur as nouns four times, and in a verbal shape five times. Psalms 75:8; Proverbs 23:30; Song of Solomon 7:2; Isaiah 65:11. The verbal forms occur Proverbs 9:2; Proverbs 9:5; also, in Psalms 102:9; Isaiah 19:14.
Ashishas
Ashishas (sometimes written eshishah) signifies some kind of fruit-cake, probably cake of pressed grapes or raisins. It occurs four times, and in each case is associated by the Authorized Version with some kind of drink. 2 Samuel 6:19; 1 Chronicles 16:3; Song of Solomon 2:5; Hosea 3:1.
Shemarim
Shemarim is derived from shamar, to preserve, and has the general signification of things preserved. It occurs five times. In Exodus 12:42, the same word, differently pointed, is twice translated as signifying to be kept (observed). Psalms 75:8, dregs; Isaiah 25:6, fat things; Jeremiah 48:11, lees; Zephaniah 1:12, lees.
Mamtaqqim
Mamtaqqim is derived from mahthaq, to suck, and denotes sweetness. It is applied to the mouth (Song of Solomon 5:16) as full of sweet things. In Nehemiah 8:10, “drink the sweet” mamtaqqim, sweetness, sweet drinks.
Shakar
Shakar (sometimes written shechar, shekar) signifies sweet drink expressed from fruits other than the grape, and drunk in an unfermented or fermented state. It occurs in the Old Testament twenty-three times. Leviticus 10:9; Numbers 6:3 (twice wine and vinegar), 28:7; Deuteronomy 14:26; Deuteronomy 29:6; Judges 13:4; Judges 13:7; Judges 13:14; 1 Samuel 1:15; Psalms 69:12; Proverbs 20:1; Proverbs 31:4; Proverbs 31:6; Isaiah 5:11; Isaiah 5:22; Isaiah 24:9; Isaiah 28:7; Isaiah 29:9; Isaiah 56:12; Micah 2:11. Shakar is uniformly translated strong drink in the Authorized Version, except in Numbers 28:7 (strong wine), and in Psalms 69:12, where, instead of drinkers of shakar, the Authorized Version reads drunkards. (See in category below.)