שָׁכַר (H7937) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכַר

𐤔𐤊𐤓

shâkar

H7937 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שכר to be(come) drunk, to intoxicate, to be overcome

Definition

To become drunk or intoxicated, especially as the result of consuming fermented drink; to be overcome or affected by alcohol. The verb also extends metaphorically to describe the state of being influenced, overwhelmed, or rendered senseless by other forces (e.g., divine judgment, wrath, or joy).

Semantic Range

to become drunk, to make drunk or intoxicate, to be overwhelmed (metaphorically, e.g. by emotion or divine action), to be filled to excess, to be merry (due to intoxication)

Root / Etymology

The root שׁ־כ־ר (שָׁכַר) broadly conveys the concept of intoxication or inebriation, with the core sense centering on loss of self-control due to drink. The verb derives directly from this root and does not necessarily imply habitual drunkenness but rather the temporary state of being made drunk or overcome. The similarity to, and occasional overlap with, the root שׁ־ק־ה 'to give to drink, to water' is acknowledged in lexica, but שָׁכַר maintains a distinct focus on intoxicating effects rather than simple provision of liquid.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁכַר appears across genres—legal, narrative, prophetic, and poetic—and almost always refers to literal physical intoxication from fermented beverage, such as wine or strong drink. In wisdom and prophetic texts, it is used metaphorically to depict the effects of divine wrath or overwhelming spiritual states, as in 'drunken with fury.' The term does not, in biblical usage, denote habitual drunkenness (for which other terms or longer constructions would be used), but focuses on the momentary act or state of intoxication. English translations often narrow the sense to 'drunken' or 'drunk,' but biblical usage includes both literal and extended, metaphorical uses (e.g., intoxicated by joy, terror, or judgment). Compared to related roots such as רוה ('to be saturated, filled') or שׁקה ('to give to drink'), שׁכר is distinguished by its focus on the result: altered consciousness or behavior. In later idiom, the semantic field would broaden, but in biblical Hebrew, habitual drunkenness and the negative social ramifications of inebriation are generally conveyed through context or additional vocabulary.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to become tipsy; in a qualified sense, to satiate with astimulating drink or (figuratively) influence; (be filled with) drink (abundantly), (be, make) drunk(-en), be merry. (Superlative of שָׁקָה.)

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Root Family

שכר (š-k-r) — to be drunk, to intoxicate, to be overcome

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H3485	יִשָּׂשכָר	in Reward-bringer
H4909	מַשְׂכֹּרֶת	your compensation
H7910	שִׁכּוֹר	drunken one
H7916	שָׂכִיר	as a wage-earner
H7917	שְׂכִירָה	the hire-wage
H7939	שָׂכָר	in his compensation
H7940	שָׂכָר	wage-payment
H7941	שֵׁכָר	the intoxicating drink
H7942	שִׁכְּרוֹן	Drunkenness-townward
H7943	שִׁכָּרוֹן	to intoxication

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H7937-16`	וְ/שִׁכְרוּ֙	veshikheru	`HC/Vqv2mp`	and be drunk	and become drunk	2
`H7937-07`	תִּשְׁכְּרִ֔י	tishekeri	`HVqi2fs`	will be drunken	you will become drunk	2
`H7937-10`	וַ/אֲשַׁכְּרֵ֖/ם	vaashakerem	`HC/Vpi1cs/Sp3mp`	and made them drunk	and I intoxicated them	1
`H7937-12`	וַ/יִּשְׁכָּ֑ר	vayishekar	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and became drunk	and he became drunk	1
`H7937-05`	שַׁכֵּ֑ר	shaker	`HVpa`	makes drunk	to make thoroughly drunk	1
`H7937-11`	וַֽ/יְשַׁכְּרֵ֑/הוּ	vayeshakerehu	`HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms`	and made him drunk	and he intoxicated him	1
`H7937-14`	וְ֠/הִשְׁכַּרְתִּי	vehishekareti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and-I-will-make-drunk	and I will intoxicate	1
`H7937-02`	הַשְׁכִּירֻ֕/הוּ	hashekiruhu	`HVhv2mp/Sp3ms`	make-him-drunk	Intoxicate him	1
`H7937-03`	לְ/שָׁכְרָ֔ה	leshakherah	`HR/Vqc`	to drunkenness	to become drunk	1
`H7937-15`	וְ/הִשְׁכַּרְתִּי/ם֙	vehishekaretim	`HC/Vhq1cs/Sp3mp`	and I will make them drunk	and I will intoxicate them	1
`H7937-13`	וַֽ/יִּשְׁכְּר֖וּ	vayishekeru	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and were merry	and they became drunk	1
`H7937-01`	אַשְׁכִּ֤יר	ashekir	`HVhi1cs`	I will make drunk	I will intoxicate	1
`H7937-09`	וּ/שְׁכֻרַ֖ת	ushekhurat	`HC/Aafsc`	and-drunk	and drunken	1
`H7937-04`	מְשַׁכֶּ֖רֶת	meshakeret	`HVprfsa`	making-drunk	intoxicating one	1
`H7937-06`	שָֽׁכְר֣וּ	shakheru	`HVqp3cp`	they-are-drunk	they became drunk	1
`H7937-17`	יִשְׁכָּר֑וּ/ן	yishekarun	`HVqi3mp/Sn`	they-will-be-drunken	they will become drunk	1
`H7937-08`	תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑י/ן	tishetakarin	`HVti2fs/Sn`	will you be drunk	you will get drunk	1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H7937-12`	Genesis 9:21	וַ/יִּשְׁכָּ֑ר	vayishekar	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and became drunk	and he became drunk
`H7937-13`	Genesis 43:34	וַֽ/יִּשְׁכְּר֖וּ	vayishekeru	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and were merry	and they became drunk
`H7937-01`	Deuteronomy 32:42	אַשְׁכִּ֤יר	ashekir	`HVhi1cs`	I will make drunk	I will intoxicate
`H7937-08`	1 Samuel 1:14	תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑י/ן	tishetakarin	`HVti2fs/Sn`	will you be drunk	you will get drunk
`H7937-11`	2 Samuel 11:13	וַֽ/יְשַׁכְּרֵ֑/הוּ	vayeshakerehu	`HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms`	and made him drunk	and he intoxicated him
`H7937-06`	Isaiah 29:9	שָֽׁכְר֣וּ	shakheru	`HVqp3cp`	they-are-drunk	they became drunk
`H7937-17`	Isaiah 49:26	יִשְׁכָּר֑וּ/ן	yishekarun	`HVqi3mp/Sn`	they-will-be-drunken	they will become drunk
`H7937-09`	Isaiah 51:21	וּ/שְׁכֻרַ֖ת	ushekhurat	`HC/Aafsc`	and-drunk	and drunken
`H7937-10`	Isaiah 63:6	וַ/אֲשַׁכְּרֵ֖/ם	vaashakerem	`HC/Vpi1cs/Sp3mp`	and made them drunk	and I intoxicated them
`H7937-16`	Jeremiah 25:27	וְ/שִׁכְרוּ֙	veshikheru	`HC/Vqv2mp`	and-be-drunk	and become drunk
`H7937-02`	Jeremiah 48:26	הַשְׁכִּירֻ֕/הוּ	hashekiruhu	`HVhv2mp/Sp3ms`	make-him-drunk	Intoxicate him
`H7937-04`	Jeremiah 51:7	מְשַׁכֶּ֖רֶת	meshakeret	`HVprfsa`	making-drunk	intoxicating one
`H7937-15`	Jeremiah 51:39	וְ/הִשְׁכַּרְתִּי/ם֙	vehishekaretim	`HC/Vhq1cs/Sp3mp`	and I will make them drunk	and I will intoxicate them
`H7937-14`	Jeremiah 51:57	וְ֠/הִשְׁכַּרְתִּי	vehishekareti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and-I-will-make-drunk	and I will intoxicate
`H7937-07`	Nahum 3:11	תִּשְׁכְּרִ֔י	tishekeri	`HVqi2fs`	will be drunken	you will become drunk
`H7937-05`	Habakkuk 2:15	שַׁכֵּ֑ר	shaker	`HVpa`	makes drunk	to make thoroughly drunk
`H7937-03`	Haggai 1:6	לְ/שָׁכְרָ֔ה	leshakherah	`HR/Vqc`	to drunkenness	to become drunk
`H7937-16`	Song of Songs 5:1	וְ/שִׁכְר֖וּ	veshikheru	`HC/Vqv2mp`	and be drunk	and become drunk
`H7937-07`	Lamentations 4:21	תִּשְׁכְּרִ֖י	tishekeri	`HVqi2fs`	you will be drunken	you will become drunk

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