Lexical Summary mishteh: banquet, feast, feasting Original Word: מִשְׁתֶּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance banquet, drank, drink, feasted, From shathah; drink, by implication, drinking (the act); also (by implication) a banquet or (generally) feast -- banquet, drank, drink, feast((-ed), -ing). see HEBREW shathah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shathah Definition a feast, drink NASB Translation banquet (16), banquets (1), drank (2), drink (3), drinking (1), feast (15), feasting (7), where they were drinking (1), which he drank (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִשְׁתֶּה45 noun masculineGenesis 21:8 1 feast; 2 drink; — absolute ׳מ Genesis 19:3 +; construct מִשְׁתֵּה 1 Samuel 25:36 +; suffix מִשְׁתָּיו Daniel 1:5 + (Ges§§ 93 ss), etc.; — 1 feast, banquet (occasion for drinking, drinking-bout), 1 Samuel 25:36 (twice in verse); Isaiah 5:12; Jeremiah 51:39 (figurative), Job 1:5; Esther 2:18; Esther 5:14; Esther 8:17; Esther 9:19; lasting seven days Judges 14:12,17 (wedding-feast, compare Genesis 29:27, and see BenzArchaeology 143; Ency. Bib. 2949 NowArchaeology i. 163); עָשָׂה ׳מ give or make a feast (sometimes + ל person) Genesis 19:3; Genesis 26:30 (both J), Genesis 21:8; Genesis 40:20 (both E), Judges 14:10; 2 Samuel 3:20; 1 Kings 3:15; Esther 1:3 8t. Esther; Job 1:4 + 2 Samuel 13:27 (twice in verse) ᵐ5 Th We Dr and modern; מִשְׁתֵּה הַיַּיִן Esther 5:6; Esther 7:2,7, בֵּית מִשְׁתֶּה Jeremiah 16:8; Ecclesiastes 7:2, בֵּית מִשְׁתֵּה הַיַּיִן Esther 7:8; ׳יוֺם מ וְשִׂמְחָה Esther 9:17,18, compare Esther 9:22; of ׳יs banquet for all peoples Isaiah 25:6 (figurative of Messianic blessings); figurative also in תָּמִיד ׳טוֺבלֵֿב מ Proverbs 15:15. 2 drink (late): וָשֶׁמֶן ׳מַאֲכָל וּמ Ezra 3:7; suffix יֵין מִשְׁתָּיו Daniel 1:5,8; מִשְׁתֵּיהֶם Daniel 1:16; מִשְׁתֵּכֶם Daniel 1:10. II. שׁתה (√ of following; "" of שׁית; = set, sit). [מִשְׁתֵּי so ᵑ7] noun masculine feast (as Biblical Hebrew מִשְׁתֶּה]; — emphatic בֵּית מִשְׁתְּיָא Daniel 5:10. Topical Lexicon Overviewמִשְׁתֶּה (mishtêh) refers to a festive gathering marked by abundant food and drink. Its forty-six Old Testament uses range from intimate family celebrations to national festivals, from settings of covenant loyalty to scenes of royal excess. Together they reveal how a meal can reinforce covenant, express joy, expose folly, or serve as the stage on which God advances His redemptive purposes. Distribution across Scripture • Patriarchs: Genesis 19:3; 21:8; 26:30; 29:22; 40:20; 43:34 Cultural and Historical Context In the Ancient Near East, the shared meal ratified treaties, celebrated life events, and displayed royal power. Mishtêh events regularly featured wine, placing sobriety or excess in bold relief. While Israel had three pilgrimage “feasts” (ḥag), mishtêh is a broader social term. It overlaps with but is not identical to the Mosaic festivals. Family and Life-cycle Celebrations 1. Weaning Feast of Isaac (Genesis 21:8). The birth-promise relished in a public meal that celebrated covenant fidelity. Hospitality and Protection Lot “prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate” (Genesis 19:3). The meal both welcomed strangers and set the stage for God’s rescue of Lot’s household. Hospitality, when guided by righteousness, becomes a conduit of salvation. Covenant and Reconciliation Meals • Isaac and Abimelech: “He prepared a feast for them, and they ate and drank” (Genesis 26:30). Shared food sealed peace, demonstrating that covenant extends beyond words to tangible fellowship. Royal Splendor and Political Display Solomon, awakened by his dream, “came to Jerusalem … and he held a feast for all his servants” (1 Kings 3:15). At the Temple dedication he “held a feast seven days, and seven more days” (1 Kings 8:65). Such banquets showcased God-given prosperity and knit the nation to its king. Warning against Excess Nabal, “holding a feast in his house like that of a king … was very drunk” (1 Samuel 25:36). His death the next morning reminds readers that drunken revelry can precede divine judgment. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes contrast wise and foolish feasting: • “Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife” (Proverbs 17:1). Mishtêh in Esther: Banquets of Divine Reversal Esther’s narrative revolves around twelve mishtêh scenes. The Persian king’s ostentatious banquet (Esther 1:3–8) leads to Vashti’s removal; Esther’s two banquets (Esther 5:4–6; 7:1–2) expose Haman’s plot. The Jews later “held a day of feasting and joy” (Esther 9:17-22). God, though unnamed, is clearly orchestrating deliverance through the timing and setting of each feast. Prophetic and Eschatological Overtones Jeremiah depicts Babylon’s downfall in feasting imagery: “While they are inflamed with wine, I will prepare a feast for them and make them drunk, that they may rejoice and then sleep forever” (Jeremiah 51:39). The false security of the wicked contrasts with the promised Messianic banquet (Isaiah 25:6) where “the Lord of Hosts will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples.” Mishtêh thus anticipates the consummation when God gathers redeemed nations to His table (Matthew 8:11). Theological Themes 1. Joy as Gift: “Every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:13). Practical Ministry Implications • Use shared meals to strengthen congregational life and welcome outsiders, reflecting the hospitality of Abraham’s household. Conclusion Mishtêh portrays the full spectrum of human feasting—from righteous celebration to reckless indulgence—while consistently highlighting God’s presence and purpose. Each occurrence invites believers to receive joy as a gift, to honor covenant commitments, and to look forward to the ultimate feast where Christ Himself is Host and Provision. Forms and Transliterations בְּמִשְׁתֵּ֣ה במשתה הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֑ה הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֖ה הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֜ה הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֥ה הַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ המשתה וּמִשְׁתֶּ֖ה וּמִשְׁתֶּ֜ה ומשתה כְּמִשְׁתֵּ֣ה כמשתה מִמִּשְׁתֵּ֣ה מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה מִשְׁתֵּ֥ה מִשְׁתֵּיהֶ֑ם מִשְׁתֵּיהֶ֗ם מִשְׁתֵּיכֶ֑ם מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה מִשְׁתֶּ֥ה מִשְׁתֶּ֨ה מִשְׁתֶּֽה׃ מִשְׁתָּ֑יו מִשְׁתָּ֔יו ממשתה משתה משתה׃ משתיהם משתיו משתיכם bə·miš·têh bemishTeh bəmištêh ham·miš·teh hammishTeh hammišteh kə·miš·têh kemishTeh kəmištêh mim·miš·têh mimishTeh mimmištêh miš·tāw miš·tê·hem miš·tê·ḵem miš·teh miš·têh mishTav mishTeh mishteiChem mishteiHem mištāw mišteh mištêh mištêhem mištêḵem ū·miš·teh umishTeh ūmištehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 19:3 HEB: וַיַּ֤עַשׂ לָהֶם֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה וּמַצּ֥וֹת אָפָ֖ה NAS: and he prepared a feast for them, and baked KJV: and he made them a feast, and did bake INT: his house prepared A feast unleavened and baked Genesis 21:8 Genesis 26:30 Genesis 29:22 Genesis 40:20 Judges 14:10 Judges 14:12 Judges 14:17 1 Samuel 25:36 1 Samuel 25:36 2 Samuel 3:20 1 Kings 3:15 Ezra 3:7 Esther 1:3 Esther 1:5 Esther 1:9 Esther 2:18 Esther 2:18 Esther 5:4 Esther 5:5 Esther 5:6 Esther 5:8 Esther 5:12 Esther 5:14 Esther 6:14 46 Occurrences |
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