sha.av denotes obtaining water from a source, either in a specific act or as the work assigned to water-drawers.

The attested use concerns obtaining water: people come out to a water source, draw for people or animals, provide water already drawn, or are assigned as water-drawers. The same action appears in narrative, instruction, and an imperative for siege preparation.

1. Obtaining water from a source · dominant

   In Genesis 24:11 the feminine plural active participle identifies women coming out at the time for obtaining water, while Genesis 24:19 uses a first-person imperfect in the offer to obtain water for camels. In 1 Samuel 9:11 the infinitive construct occurs as young women come out for this task; Joshua 9:21 uses a masculine plural active participle for people assigned as water carriers. Nahum 3:14 gives the action as a feminine singular imperative in preparation for a siege.

   Genesis 24:11Genesis 24:191 Samuel 9:11Joshua 9:21Nahum 3:14Ruth 2:9

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly renders the action with "draw water" or "drew water"; in Joshua 9:21 it presents the participial designation as "water carriers." Because the APB is a whole-verse translation, these renderings show the verse-level presentation rather than a fixed English equivalent.