Strong's Number: H8248
Original Word: shaqâ
Usage Notes: "to give drink, irrigate, water." This verb is found in ancient Akkadian and Ugaritic, as well as in biblical and modern Hebrew. The word usually occurs in the causative sense, while its much more common counterpart, shatâ, is used primarily in the simple active form, "to drink." In its first occurrence in the biblical text, shaqâ expresses the idea of "to irrigate," or "to water": "But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground" (Gen 2:6). In view of the Mesopotamian background of this passage, both linguistic and agricultural, the Hebrew word for "mist" probably is to be connected with the idea of an irrigation canal or system.
The dry climate of the Middle East makes shaqâ a most important word, since it expresses the act of "irrigating" or "watering" crops (Deut 11:10). God "waters" the earth and cause plants to grow (Psa 104:13-14). Figuratively, He "irrigates" His vineyard, Israel (Isa 27:3). A frequent use of shaqâ is to express the "giving of water to drink" to animals (Gen 24:14, 46; Gen 29:2-3, 7-8,10). Men are given a variety of things to drink, such as water (Gen 24:43), wine (Gen 19:32; Amos 2:12), milk (Judg 4:19), and vinegar (Psa 69:21). In a symbol of divine judgment, God is said to give "poisoned water [kjv, "water of gall"] to drink" to Israel (Jer 8:14; Jer 9:15; Jer 23:15). In this time of judgment and mourning, Israel was not to be given "the cup of consolation to drink" (Jer 16:7).
A healthy person is one whose bones "are moistened" with marrow (Job 21:24; literally, whose bones "are watered" or "irrigated" with marrow).
