Wine: Fermented
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Wine, a fermented beverage made from grapes, holds significant cultural, religious, and symbolic importance throughout the Bible. It is mentioned frequently in both the Old and New Testaments, serving various roles from a symbol of blessing and abundance to a cautionary element against excess and moral decay.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, wine is often associated with joy and celebration. Psalm 104:14-15 (BSB) states, "He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart." This passage highlights wine as a gift from God, intended to bring joy and sustenance.

Wine also plays a role in religious rituals and offerings. In Exodus 29:40 (BSB), wine is included in the drink offerings presented to God: "With the first lamb, offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering." This indicates its sacred use in worship and sacrifice.

However, the Old Testament also warns against the dangers of excessive wine consumption. Proverbs 20:1 (BSB) cautions, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise." This reflects the potential for wine to lead to moral and social pitfalls when consumed irresponsibly.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, wine continues to hold a place of importance. One of the most notable references is the miracle at the wedding in Cana, where Jesus turns water into wine (John 2:1-11, BSB). This act not only underscores the celebratory nature of wine but also signifies the inauguration of Jesus' public ministry and the new covenant.

Wine is also central to the Last Supper, where Jesus uses it as a symbol of His blood in the institution of the Lord's Supper. In Matthew 26:27-28 (BSB), Jesus says, "Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'" Here, wine becomes a profound symbol of redemption and the new covenant between God and humanity.

The New Testament, like the Old, advises moderation. Ephesians 5:18 (BSB) warns, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." This admonition emphasizes the importance of self-control and the pursuit of spiritual fulfillment over physical indulgence.

Symbolism and Cultural Context

Throughout the Bible, wine symbolizes various spiritual truths. It represents joy, abundance, and divine blessing, as seen in the imagery of the Promised Land flowing with "milk and honey" and abundant vineyards (Deuteronomy 8:7-9, BSB). Wine also serves as a metaphor for God's wrath and judgment, as in Revelation 14:10 (BSB), where those who worship the beast "will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger."

In biblical times, wine was a staple of daily life, often safer to drink than water due to its fermentation process. It was typically diluted with water for regular consumption, which helped prevent intoxication. This cultural context is essential for understanding the biblical perspective on wine, as it was both a common beverage and a potent symbol.

Conclusion

Wine in the Bible is a multifaceted element, rich with symbolic meaning and practical significance. It is celebrated as a divine gift and a symbol of joy and covenant, yet it is also approached with caution due to its potential for misuse. The biblical narrative presents wine as a complex and integral part of human experience, reflecting both the blessings and responsibilities bestowed upon humanity by God.
Nave's Topical Index
Leviticus 10:9
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest you die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
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Numbers 6:3
He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
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Numbers 28:7
And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shall you cause the strong wine to be poured to the LORD for a drink offering.
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Deuteronomy 14:26
And you shall bestow that money for whatever your soul lusts after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul desires: and you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you, and your household,
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Deuteronomy 29:6
You have not eaten bread, neither have you drunk wine or strong drink: that you might know that I am the LORD your God.
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Proverbs 23:31,32
Look not you on the wine when it is red, when it gives his color in the cup, when it moves itself aright.
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Mark 2:22
And no man puts new wine into old bottles: else the new wine does burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
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Greek
1098. gleukos -- sweet new wine
... Akin to glukus; sweet wine, ie (properly) must (fresh juice), but used of the more
saccharine (and therefore highly inebriating) fermented wine -- new wine. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1098.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
3196. yayin -- wine
... From an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication,
intoxication -- banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber). 3195, 3196. yayin. 3197 . ...
/hebrew/3196.htm - 6k

8492. tirosh -- must, fresh or new wine
... roshe'}; from yarash in the sense of expulsion; must or fresh grape-juice (as just
squeezed out); by implication (rarely) fermented wine -- (new, sweet) wine. ...
/hebrew/8492.htm - 6k

Library

Evil Habits and Injurious Indulgences.
... That Timothy had some stomach trouble is very evident from this text. We are not
ready to admit that it was fermented wine Paul advised him to use. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter xiv evil habits and.htm

The First Miracle.
... The fermented wine, at first mild, and then diluted with water, was a drink as used,
that had no intoxicating power unless used in enormous quantities.2. New ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the first miracle.htm

The Final Disillusion
... Of course, they abstained from all flesh, flesh being the dwelling-place of the
Dark God, and also from fermented wine, which they called "the devil's gall ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/ii the final disillusion.htm

Of the Matter of this Sacrament (Eight Articles)
... (4) Whether it is unleavened or fermented bread? (5) Whether the matter of this
sacrament is wine from the grape? (6) Whether water should be mixed with it? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of the matter of this.htm

From the Flood to Abraham
... planted a vineyard. On one occasion at least he fell under the intoxicating
influence of the fermented wine. This man upon whom ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter iii from the flood.htm

Annunciation to Zacharias of the Birth of John the Baptist.
... 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord [compare verse 6], and he shall
drink no wine nor strong drink. [Strong drink is any other fermented liquor. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/v annunciation to zacharias of.htm

He that Doubteth is Damned if He Eat, Because He Eateth not of ...
... (A.) The drinking of wine, and beer, and other fermented intoxicating liquors.
In the present aspect of the temperance cause, is ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/he that doubteth is damned.htm

In Reply to the Questions as to his Authority, Jesus Gives the ...
... from them ran through the orifice to the trough below, from which it was taken and
stored in leather bottles until it fermented and formed wine], and built a ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cviii in reply to the 3.htm

Women who Witnessed the Fall of Rome
... When the populace had clamored before Augustus for free wine as well as bread ... dispensed,
at a small cost to the inhabitants of Rome, the fermented vintage of ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/vii women who witnessed the.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... The mud of the Nile, heated to excess by the burning sun, fermented and brought ... Wine
that maketh man glad, the bee who works for him in the flowers secreting ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

Resources
Did Jesus change the water into wine or grape juice? | GotQuestions.org

Did Jesus drink wine/alcohol? | GotQuestions.org

Should wine or grape juice be used for communion? | GotQuestions.org

Wine: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Alcohol

Alcoholism

Wine

Wine in Bottles

Wine in Excess: Forbidden

Wine in Excess: Impairs the Health

Wine in Excess: Impairs the Judgment and Memory

Wine in Excess: Inflames the Passions

Wine in Excess: Infuriates the Temper

Wine in Excess: Leads to Remorse

Wine in Excess: Leads to Sorrow and Contention

Wine in Skins (Rv)

Wine in Times of Scarcity, Was Mixed With Water

Wine of Abominations

Wine of Staggering (Rv)

Wine of the Abominations of the Apostasy

Wine of the Blessing of the Gospel

Wine of the Blood of Christ

Wine of the Divine Judgments

Wine of the Joy of Wisdom

Wine of the Joys of Spiritual Matters

Wine of the Wrath and Judgments of God

Wine of Violence and Rapine

Wine Press

Wine Press in Vineyards

Wine Press of the Judgments of God

Wine Press: General Scriptures Concerning

Wine Press: Treading The, of the Sufferings of Christ

Wine Press: Trodden With Joy and Shouting

Wine used at Meals

Wine was Kept in Bottles

Wine was Made of The Juice of the Grape

Wine was Made of The Juice of the Pomegranate

Wine was Stored in Cellars

Wine was Used for Drink offerings in Idolatrous Worship

Wine was Used for Drink offerings in the Worship of God

Wine was Used: As a Beverage from the Earliest Age

Wine was Used: As a Medicine

Wine was Used: At all Feasts and Entertainments

Wine with Corn and Oil, Denoted all Temporal Blessings

Wine: Abstinence from of Daniel

Wine: Abstinence from of the Courtiers of Ahasuerus

Wine: Abstinence from of Timothy

Wine: Admonitions Against the Use of

Wine: An Article of Extensive Commerce

Wine: Banquets of

Wine: Cellars For

Wine: Cheap Wine (Like Vinegar) Given to Jesus at the Crucifixion

Wine: Cheering God and Man

Wine: Commerce In

Wine: Consequence of Putting (When New), Into Old Bottles

Wine: Custom of Giving to Persons in Pain or Suffering, Mixed With

Wine: Custom of Presenting to Travellers

Wine: Denied to the Israelites in the Wilderness, So That They Could Know That the Lord Was Their God

Wine: Fermented

Wine: First Fruits of, to be offered to God

Wine: First Mention of

Wine: First Mode of Making, Notice

Wine: Forbidden to Kings

Wine: Forbidden to Nazarites

Wine: Forbidden to Nazarites During Their Separation

Wine: Forbidden to Priests While on Duty

Wine: Forbidden to the Priests While Engaged in the Tabernacle

Wine: from Pomegranates

Wine: Generally Made by Treading the Grapes in a Press

Wine: Given by Melchizedek to Abraham

Wine: Given in Abundance to the Jews when Obedient

Wine: Gladdening the Heart

Wine: Improved by Age

Wine: Inflames the Eyes

Wine: Intoxication from the Use of

Wine: Intoxication From: Ahasuerus

Wine: Intoxication From: Amnon

Wine: Intoxication From: Falsely Charged Against the Disciples

Wine: Intoxication From: Joseph and his Brothers

Wine: Intoxication From: Kings of Israel

Wine: Intoxication From: Lot

Wine: Intoxication From: Nabal

Wine: Intoxication From: Noah

Wine: Kept in Jars

Wine: Made by Jesus at the Marriage Feast in Cana

Wine: Made from Grapes

Wine: Making Mirthful

Wine: Many Kinds of

Wine: Medicinal Use of

Wine: New

Wine: Offered With Sacrifices

Wine: Often Spiced to Increase Its Strength

Wine: Old

Wine: Places Celebrated For: Assyria

Wine: Places Celebrated For: Canaan in General

Wine: Places Celebrated For: Helbon

Wine: Places Celebrated For: Lebanon

Wine: Places Celebrated For: Moab

Wine: Places Celebrated For: Possessions of Judah

Wine: Recommended by Paul to Timothy

Wine: Red, Most Esteemed

Wine: Refined

Wine: Refining of, Alluded To

Wine: Sacramental Use of

Wine: Samson's Mother Forbidden to Drink

Wine: Sometimes Mixed With Milk As a Beverage

Wine: Strengthening

Wine: Sweet, Esteemed for Flavour and Strength

Wine: Symbolical of the Blood of Jesus

Wine: The Jews Frequently Deprived of, As a Punishment

Wine: The Jews Frequently Drank, to Excess

Wine: The Love of Christ to be Preferred To

Wine: The Rechabites Never Drank

Wine: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Wine: Water Miraculously Turned Into

Related Terms

Wine-skins (7 Occurrences)

Wine-press (11 Occurrences)

Wine-servant (8 Occurrences)

Wine-vat (7 Occurrences)

Wine-drinking (4 Occurrences)

Wine-presses (4 Occurrences)

Wine-vats (2 Occurrences)

Wine-vine (2 Occurrences)

Wine-servants (2 Occurrences)

Wine-bottles (2 Occurrences)

Wine-crusher (2 Occurrences)

Wine-drinker (2 Occurrences)

Wine-tank (1 Occurrence)

Wine-store (1 Occurrence)

Wine-flasks (1 Occurrence)

Wine-offerings (1 Occurrence)

Wine-cup (1 Occurrence)

Wine-bibber (2 Occurrences)

Wine-cellars (1 Occurrence)

Wine-fat (1 Occurrence)

Wine-crushing (1 Occurrence)

Wine-cakes (1 Occurrence)

Wine-bibbers (1 Occurrence)

Wine-skin (2 Occurrences)

Bottles (12 Occurrences)

Vat (7 Occurrences)

Burst (33 Occurrences)

Beer (15 Occurrences)

Skins (27 Occurrences)

Vinegar (11 Occurrences)

Pours (21 Occurrences)

Presses (12 Occurrences)

Strong (736 Occurrences)

Bottle (28 Occurrences)

Stagger (20 Occurrences)

Safe (388 Occurrences)

Spilled (6 Occurrences)

Bacchus

Saved (183 Occurrences)

Spice (25 Occurrences)

Vintage (14 Occurrences)

Preserved (27 Occurrences)

Plentiful (17 Occurrences)

Bunches (7 Occurrences)

Addicted (9 Occurrences)

Scent (6 Occurrences)

Split (36 Occurrences)

Sour (15 Occurrences)

Spilt (2 Occurrences)

Awaking (24 Occurrences)

Pouring (21 Occurrences)

Bitter (203 Occurrences)

Agape

Vine-gardens (41 Occurrences)

Quarter (33 Occurrences)

Bowls (47 Occurrences)

Shouts (34 Occurrences)

Poured (155 Occurrences)

Appetite (22 Occurrences)

Victuals (32 Occurrences)

Summer (28 Occurrences)

Younger (39 Occurrences)

Pomegranate (11 Occurrences)

Mirth (18 Occurrences)

Bread-maker (8 Occurrences)

Brawler (3 Occurrences)

Clusters (12 Occurrences)

Contributions (19 Occurrences)

Cracked (6 Occurrences)

Adulteries (10 Occurrences)

Storerooms (10 Occurrences)

Cana (4 Occurrences)

Asses (68 Occurrences)

Vineyards (55 Occurrences)

Basins (33 Occurrences)

Vines (39 Occurrences)

Soothing (40 Occurrences)

Kine (24 Occurrences)

Provisions (41 Occurrences)

Wine: Denied to the Israelites in the Wilderness, So That They Could Know That the Lord Was Their God
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