Wine in the Bible
Should Christians Drink Alcohol?
Pastor George C. Bruns
The word wine as used in the Scriptures is a generic term much like the words meat and corn.
Meat - food; sometimes it means flesh (Gen. 27:4), sometimes it means vegetable matter (Gen. 1:29).
Corn - grain; sometimes it means wheat (Jn. 12:24), sometimes barley (2 Kings 4:42), etc.
Wine - juice made from a fruit most often grapes; sometimes it means fresh squeezed directly from the grape (2 Chr. 31:5), sometimes it means an artificially processed alcoholic beverage (Gen. 9:21).
Hebrew Words for Wine
Strong's #3196 yayin (yah'-yin)
from an unused root meaning to effervesce; AV-wine 137x, vine 1x, banqueting 1x, winebibbers + 5433 1x; total 140x
1) wine (alcoholic Gen. 9:21; nonalcoholic Gen. 49:11; the context determines which kind it is)
Strong's #8492 tiyrowsh (tee-roshe') or tiyrosh (tee-roshe')
from 3423 in the sense of expulsion; AV-wine 38x; total 38x
1) wine, fresh or new wine, must, freshly pressed wine (always nonalcoholic, Dt. 14:23)
Strong's #7941 shekar (shay-kawr')
from 7937; AV-strong drink 21x, strong wine 1x, drunkard 1x; total 23x
1) strong drink, intoxicating drink, fermented or intoxicating liquor (always alcoholic, Num. 28:7)
Strong's #2561 chemer (kheh'-mer)
from 2560; AV-pure 1x, red wine 1x; total 2x
1) wine (always nonalcoholic, Isa. 27:2)
Greek Word for Wine
Strong's #3631 oinov oinos oy'-nos
a primary word (or perhaps of Hebrew origin, 3196); AV-wine 32, winepress + 3125 1; 33
1) wine (alcoholic, Eph. 5:18; non alcoholic, Rev. 18:13; the context determines the kind)
2) metaph. fiery wine of God's wrath (Rev. 14:10)
Some of the Possible Consequences
of Drinking Alcoholic Beverages
According to the Bible
1. Shameful and immoral behavior producing humiliation (Gen. 9:20-26; Prov. 23:33; Hos. 3:1; Hab. 2:15-16)
2. Incestuous behavior (Gen. 19:30-38)
3. Poor judgment (Gen. 27:25; Isa. 28:7)
4. Spiritual blindness (Isa. 28:7; 56:10)
5. Violation of God's Word concerning His priests and kings (Lev. 10:9; Prov. 31:1-5; Isa. 28:7; Ezek. 44:21 cf. Rev. 1:6; 5:10)
6. Stubborness (Deut. 21:18-20)
7. Rebellion (Deut. 21:18-20)
8. Dishonor to family (Deut. 21:18-20)
9. Damage to an unborn child (Judg. 13:4, 7, 14)
10. Loss of wife's respect (1 Sam. 25:32-38)
11. Violence (2 Sam. 11:13; 13: 28, 29; Prov. 4:17; 23:29-30)
12. Failure to remain alert in the face of danger (1 Kings 20:12-21; Job 1:18, 19)
13. Downfall of leaders (Prov. 31:1-5; 1 Kings 16:8-10)
14. Strife between husband and wife (Esther 1:5-22)
15. Poverty (Prov. 21:17; 23:21)
16. Sorrow (Prov. 23:29-30)
17. Foolish talking (Prov. 23:29-35)
18. Wounds (Prov. 23:29-30)
19. Red eyes (Prov. 23:29-30)
20. Wicked thoughts (Prov. 23:29-33)
21. Produces insecurity (Prov. 23:29-34)
22. Makes a man as a stumbling clod (Prov. 23:29-35)
23. Addictive (Prov. 23:29-35)
24. Vanity (Eccl. 2:3; 12:8)
25. Produces hopelessness (Isa. 22:13)
26. Sacrilege (Dan. 5:3)
27. Alienation of affection (Joel 3:3)
28. Arrogance (Isa. 56:12; Amos 6:1-6)
29. Causes others to stumble (Hab. 2:15-16; Rom. 14:21)
30. No salvation (1 Cor. 6:10; Gal. 5:21)
Admonitions to God's People about drinking alcohol
1. Do not drink it (Lev. 10:9; Prov. 31:1-5; Isa. 28:7; Ezek. 44:21 cf. Rev. 1:6; 5:10)
2. Put off all appearance of evil (Num. 6:3; Rom. 14:16; 1 Thess. 5:22)
3. Abstinence promotes a closer walk with God (Deut. 29:1-6; Num. 6:3; Dan. 1:5, 8, 16; 10:3; Lk. 1:15; Eph. 5:18)
4. Those with godly wisdom do not drink it (Prov. 20:1; Prov. 23:32)
5. Christians should not drink socially (Rom. 13:13; 14:21; Eph. 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:6-7; 1 Tim 3)
6. Christians may use it for medicinal purposes (Prov. 31:6-7; Luke 10:34; 1 Tim. 5:23)
7. Every medical doctor and chemist knows alcohol is a poison. (Prov. 23:31, 32)
Good Mentions of Wine
As found in the Bible
1. Used as an offering (nonalcoholic, Num. 18:12)
2. A blessing of life (nonalcoholic, Gen. 27:28, 37; Dt. 7:13; 11:14; Judg. 9:13; Ps. 4:7; 54:14-15; Prov. 3:10; Isa. 24:7; 65:8; Joel 3:18; Zech. 9:7)
3. An emblem of spiritual blessing (nonalcoholic, Judg. 9:13; Prov. 9:2; Song of Sol. 5:1; 7:9; Isa. 55:1)
4. An emblem of the blood of the atonement (nonalcoholic, Matt. 24:26-28; Mk.14:22-24; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:25-28)
5. As a medicine (alcoholic wine used as an anesthetic, Prov. 31:6-7; alcoholic wine used as an antiseptic, Lk. 10:34; nonalcoholic wine drank as an alternative to impure water, 1 Tim. 5:23)
