Simply For Wine Articles

Wine in the Bible

In ancient biblical times, wine was used for both festivity and for medicinal (Luke 10:34; 1 Titus 5:23) purposes.  Even Jesus drank wine on at least some occasions (yes, it was real wine), and his first miracle was turning water into wine.  God blessed the wine making of the Israelites when they obeyed him (Deut. 7:13, also see Prov. 3:10). Yet, the priests of the Israelites were told not to drink wine (Lev. 10:9) and kings and princes are warned against even drinking it (Prov. 31:4).

The Bible actually portrays wine in two different ways, usually depending upon how it is used.  Overall, wine is a symbol of joy, festivity and even the bliss of eternity, but it is also seen as the misery, foolishness and damnation of those who abuse it.  The first mention of wine in the Bible is involved with Noah in a negative light (Gen. 9:21-24) followed by the next mention with Melchizedek and Abraham in a positive light (Gen. 14:18), and so it goes throughout the Bible.

Jesus not only drank wine, but said that it will be drank in the Kingdom of Heaven if we take his saying literally (Mark 14:25).  Generally, wine is not a bad thing in the Bible, but it can become so if it is abused.  We warned of the dangers of drinking wine in excess:

Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (Prov. 20:1).

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, [when] it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, [shalt thou say, and] I was not sick; they have beaten me, [and] I felt [it] not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. (Prov. 23:29-35)

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. (Prov. 31:6)

And it also implies that drunkards may not even make it into heaven (Gal. 5:21).

Overall, though drinking wine in itself is not sinful, wine should never be drunk in excess. And those who have an addiction to it, should avoid it altogether like the holy priests and the wise kings of old.

Common concern and courtesy is also suggested. If you have a family member or friend who has a problem with alcohol, don't drink in front of them. Just because you don't have a problem with wine, doesn't mean they won't.

For more Bible related articles, see BibleCommentator.com

For more information on wine or alcohol addiction, see Alcoholics Anonymous.