Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4400 Vegetation and food  »  4544 wine

Drink made from fermented grape juice, often drunk instead of water in biblical times. Scripture recognises the richness of wine and its value in bringing joy to people; however, it condemns the excessive drinking of wine, and recommends total abstinence in some situations.

Offerings of wine

Numbers 15:5 See also Exodus 29:40; Leviticus 23:12-13; Numbers 28:14; Deuteronomy 32:37-38; 1 Samuel 1:24; Ezra 6:8-10

Tithes and firstfruits of wine

Nehemiah 13:12 See also Numbers 18:11-12; Deuteronomy 12:17; Deuteronomy 14:23-26; Deuteronomy 18:4-5; 2 Chronicles 31:4-5

Wine as a sign of blessing

Genesis 27:28 See also Deuteronomy 7:13; Deuteronomy 11:13-14; Deuteronomy 33:28; 2 Kings 18:31-32; 1 Chronicles 12:40; Psalm 4:7; Proverbs 3:9-10; Jeremiah 31:12; Joel 2:18-24; Joel 3:18; Amos 9:13-14

Lack of wine as a sign of God's displeasure

Jeremiah 48:33 See also Deuteronomy 28:38-51; Isaiah 24:7-9; Joel 1:10; Haggai 2:14-16

Wine as an alternative to water

1 Timothy 5:23 See also Genesis 14:17-18; Judges 19:19; Lamentations 2:12; Matthew 27:48 pp Mark 15:36 pp Luke 23:36 pp John 19:28-29

Wine with meals

Genesis 27:25 See also Ruth 2:14; Job 1:18-19; Proverbs 9:1-6; Isaiah 22:13

The pleasant taste and effects of wine

Isaiah 25:6 See also Judges 9:12-13; Psalm 104:14-15; Ecclesiastes 9:7; Ecclesiastes 10:19; Songs 1:2-4; Songs 4:10; Songs 7:8-9

The dangers of drinking wine

Proverbs 20:1 See also Genesis 9:20-27 Noah; Genesis 19:30-38 Lot and his daughters; 1 Samuel 1:13-15; 2 Samuel 13:28; Esther 1:10-12; Isaiah 28:1,7; Hosea 7:3-5; Joel 1:5; Nahum 1:9-10; Acts 2:1-21; Ephesians 5:18

The irresponsibility of wine drinkers

Proverbs 21:17 See also Proverbs 23:19-21,29-35; Proverbs 31:4-7; Ecclesiastes 2:3; Isaiah 5:11-12,22-23; Isaiah 22:13; Isaiah 56:12; Micah 2:11

Abstinence from wine

Leviticus 10:9 See also Numbers 6:1-21; Judges 13:2-7; Jeremiah 35:1-19; Ezekiel 44:21; Daniel 1:3-16; Daniel 10:1-3; Amos 2:11-12; Luke 1:11-17; Luke 7:33

Stores of wine

2 Chronicles 32:28 See also 1 Chronicles 9:29; 1 C 27; 2 Chronicles 11:11-12; Nehemiah 10:37-39

Wine stewards

Esther 1:7-8 See also Genesis 40:1-13; Nehemiah 1:11-2:1

Trade in wine

Joel 3:3 See also Revelation 18:11-13

Jesus Christ's miracle of water turned into wine

John 2:1-11

Drugged wine

Matthew 27:34 pp Mark 15:23

Metaphorical use of wine

Psalm 75:8 God's wrath is often pictured as a cup of wine to be drunk. See also Genesis 49:11-12; Job 32:19; Psalm 60:3; Psalm 78:65; Proverbs 4:17; Isaiah 55:1 quenching spiritual thirst; Jeremiah 23:9; Jeremiah 25:15; Jeremiah 48:11; Jeremiah 51:7 illustrating judgment and the moral decadence of Babylon the Great; Revelation 14:8-10; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:1-2; Revelation 18:3

Wine as a symbol of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ

Luke 22:20 pp Matthew 26:27-28 pp Mark 14:23-24 pp 1 Corinthians 11:25-26

See also

4410  banquets
4435  drinking
4458  grape
4534  vine
4536  vinegar
4538  vineyard
4546  winepress
4548  wineskin
7350  drink offering
7933  Lord's Supper