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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMcClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Drink
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(the verb is expressed in Hebrews by the cognate terms ùָׁ÷ָä , shakah', and
ùָׁúָä , shathah'; Greek ðßíù ). The drinks of the Hebrews were:
1. Water (q.v.);
2. Wine (q.v.);
3. Artificial liquor ( ùֵׁëָø , óßêåñá , "strong drink" SEE SHEKAR;
4. Vinegar (q.v.).
As drinking utensils, they made use of various forms of vessels:
1, the cup (q.v.), the most general term ( ëּåֹñ );
2, the goblet ( ëַּôּåֹø , covered tankard) or "basin" (q.v.), from which the fluid was poured into the chalice ( âָּáַéò , bumper, comp. Jer_35:5) and bowl ( îִæְøָ÷ , mixing-cup, cratera);
3, the mug ( öִôִּçִú , "cruse") or pitcher; and,
4, the saucer ( ÷ִùְׂåָä ÷ָùָׂä , patera) or shallow libation dish (q.v.) Horns were probably used in the earliest times. SEE BEVERAGE.
The term "drink" is frequently used figuratively in the Scriptures (see Thomson, Land and Book, 1:496). The wise man exhorts his disciple (Pro_5:15) to "drink water out of his own cistern;" to content himself with the lawful pleasures of marriage, without wandering in his affections. To eat and drink is used in Ecc_5:18, to signify people's enjoying themselves; and in the Gospel for living in a common and ordinary manner (Mat_11:18). The apostles say they ate and drank with Christ after his resurrection; that is, they conversed, and lived in their usual manner, freely, with him (Act_10:41). Jeremiah (Jer_2:18) reproaches the Jews with having had recourse to Egypt for muddy water to drink, and to Assyria, to drink the water of their river; that is, the water of the Nile and of the Euphrates; meaning, soliciting the assistance of those people. To drink blood signifies to be satiated with slaughter (Eze_39:18). Our Lord commands us to drink his blood and to eat his flesh (John 6): we eat and drink both figuratively in the Eucharist. To drink water by measure (Eze_4:11), and to buy water to drink (Lam_5:4), denote extreme scarcity and desolation. On fast- days the Jews abstained from drinking during the whole day, believing it to be equally of the essence of a fast to suffer thirst as to suffer hunger. SEE FAST.