σίκερα
síkera
G4608 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An alcoholic beverage, specifically a strongly fermented drink made from sources other than grapes such as grain, dates, or honey; in biblical usage, a drink distinct from wine and noted for its intoxicating effects. The term is used to refer generally to any potent alcoholic drink except grape wine.
Semantic Range
strong drink, intoxicating beverage, non-grape fermented liquor, strong liquor, beer or mead-type beverages
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from Hebrew שֵׁכָר (shekar), meaning a strong or intoxicating drink. Entered Greek as a transliterated loanword to designate non-wine alcoholic beverages familiar in Near Eastern cultures.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word σίκερα appears in Koine Greek as a transliteration of the Hebrew term שֵׁכָר (shekar), often paired in Hebrew with 'wine' to distinguish between fermented grape wine and other intoxicating beverages. In the LXX, σίκερα occurs sparsely, usually in passages paralleling Hebrew prohibitions regarding certain Nazarite or priestly regulations (e.g., Numbers 6:3; Leviticus 10:9). In Luke 1:15, it describes part of the ascetic lifestyle of John the Baptist. Unlike Greek οἶνος (wine), σίκερα never refers to grape wine, and its scope likely encompassed beers, meads, or fruit-based liquors. The English translation 'strong drink' reflects historical rendering but may obscure the broadness of the term's referents in ancient contexts. In Hellenistic and Roman settings, native Greek terminology such as κρᾶμα or ζύθος often described non-wine alcoholic drinks, but σίκερα was reserved for Semitic contexts. The term does not carry a religious or ethnic connotation on its own but is notable in prohibiting texts related to ritual purity or special vows.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (שֵׁכָר); an intoxicant, i.e. intensely fermented liquor:--strong drink.
Root Family
σίκερα (síkera) — intoxicating drink, strong liquor
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4608-01 |
σίκερα | sikera | N ACC N SG |
strong drink | strong liquor | strong liquor | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4608-01 |
Luke 1:15 | σίκερα | sikera | N ACC N SG |
strong drink | strong liquor | strong liquor |