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
With the burnt offering or sacrifice of each lamb, you are to prepare a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering.
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
and all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storerooms.
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
May God give to you the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth — an abundance of grain and new wine.
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
Joy and gladness are removed from the orchard and from the fields of Moab. I have stopped the flow of wine from the presses; no one treads them with shouts of joy; their shouts are not for joy.
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 parallels Mark 15:36, Luke 23:36, John 19:28–29
Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
Wine with meals
Genesis 27:25 See also Ruth 2:14; Job 1:18–19; Proverbs 9:1–6; Isaiah 22:13
“Serve me,” said Isaac, “and let me eat some of my son’s game, so that I may bless you.” Jacob brought it to him, and he ate; then he brought him wine, and he drank.
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; Song of Solomon 1:2–4, Song of Solomon 4:10, Song of Solomon 7:8–9
On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all the peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine.
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, Isaiah 28:7; Hosea 7:3–5; Joel 1:5; Nahum 1:9–10; Acts 2:1–21; Ephesians 5:18
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
The irresponsibility of wine drinkers
Proverbs 21:17 See also Proverbs 23:19–21, Proverbs 23:29–35, Proverbs 31:4–7; Ecclesiastes 2:3; Isaiah 5:11–12, Isaiah 5:22–23, Isaiah 22:13, Isaiah 56:12; Micah 2:11
He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
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
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.
Stores of wine
2 Chronicles 32:28 See also 1 Chronicles 9:29, 1 Chronicles 27:27; 2 Chronicles 11:11–12; Nehemiah 10:37–39
He also made storehouses for the harvest of grain and new wine and oil, stalls for all kinds of livestock, and pens for the flocks.
Wine stewards
Esther 1:7–8 See also Genesis 40:1–13; Nehemiah 1:11–2:1
Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty. By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.
Trade in wine
Joel 3:3 See also Revelation 18:11–13
They cast lots for My people; they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink.
Jesus Christ's miracle of water turned into wine
Drugged wine
Matthew 27:34 parallel Mark 15:23
they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it.
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
For a cup is in the hand of the LORD, full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours from His cup, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to the dregs.
Wine as a symbol of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ
Luke 22:20 parallels Matthew 26:27–28, Mark 14:23–24, 1 Corinthians 11:25–26
In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.