Lexical Summary shethi: drunkenness Original Word: שְׁתִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance drunkenness From shathah; intoxicaion -- drunkenness. see HEBREW shathah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shathah Definition a drinking, drinking bout NASB Translation drunkenness (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. שְׁתִי noun [masculine] drinking, drinking-bout; — Ecclesiastes 10:17. Topical Lexicon Definition and Occurrenceשְׁתִי (sheti, Strong’s H8358) denotes drunkenness or a bout of excessive drinking. The single canonical occurrence is Ecclesiastes 10:17, where it is contrasted with eating “for strength.” The setting is royal leadership, highlighting the moral difference between disciplined nourishment and unrestrained indulgence. Context in Ecclesiastes 10:17 Ecclesiastes pictures two kinds of rulers. One eats “at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness”. The rare term sheti caps the negative alternative. Drunkenness is presented as the antithesis of wisdom, undermining both personal vigor and national wellbeing. In a book that constantly probes what gives life meaning “under the sun,” the verse suggests that self-control, not self-gratification, marks a truly blessed land. Drunkenness and Leadership 1. Moral clarity Proverbs 31:4-5 warns rulers that intoxicants cloud judgment. Isaiah 28:7 indicts priests and prophets who “reel with strong drink,” illustrating how impaired discernment corrupts worship as well as governance. 2. Social responsibility Ecclesiastes ties a leader’s private habits to public consequences. A court given to sheti dissipates resources, fosters injustice, and strips the populace of stability (cf. 1 Kings 16:9-10; Hosea 7:5). 3. Covenant fidelity Israel’s kings were to embody Torah ideals (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). Intemperance—symbolized here by sheti—betrays covenantal obligations, reflecting failure to love God with heart, mind, and strength. Broader Scriptural Witness • Proverbs 20:1: “Wine is a mocker… whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” Together these passages show consistency from Old to New Testament: intoxication dulls spiritual perception, weakens moral fiber, and invites divine displeasure. Historical and Cultural Insights Ancient Near Eastern banquets often displayed power and luxury. Royal excess with wine appears in extra-biblical records and in Scripture (Esther 1:10; Daniel 5:1-4). Against that backdrop, Ecclesiastes 10:17 stands out as a counter-cultural call to restrained feasting that serves physical “strength” (Hebrew geburah) rather than selfish sheti. Ministry Implications • Personal discipleship The rarity of sheti underscores its seriousness: even isolated indulgence can compromise testimony. Christian leaders today mirror the ancient warning—self-control authenticates ministry (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7). • Corporate life Congregations flourish when gatherings encourage sober joy rather than fleshly escape. The Lord’s Supper, for instance, demands reverence, not sheti (1 Corinthians 11:21-22). • Societal witness A restrained lifestyle models the kingdom ethic of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), offering a corrective to cultures that equate celebration with excess. Theological Trajectory Sheti embodies a broader biblical motif: humanity’s misuse of God’s good gifts. Wine gladdens the heart (Psalm 104:15), yet when the heart rules instead of God, blessing mutates into bondage. Ecclesiastes drives the reader toward the conclusion that true fulfillment is “to fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)—a life where physical appetite is governed by reverence, not by sheti. Summary Though appearing only once, שְׁתִי provides a strategic lens on leadership, wisdom, and discipleship. Scripture consistently contrasts Spirit-filled sobriety with the destructive folly of drunkenness, urging God’s people to steward every gift—food, drink, authority—for strength in service to the Lord rather than self-indulgence. Forms and Transliterations בַשְּׁתִֽי׃ בשתי׃ ḇaš·šə·ṯî ḇaššəṯî vashsheTiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ecclesiastes 10:17 HEB: בִּגְבוּרָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א בַשְּׁתִֽי׃ NAS: for strength and not for drunkenness. KJV: for strength, and not for drunkenness! INT: strength for drunkenness 1 Occurrence |
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