WINE

A number of Hebrew words are rendered by the English "wine," the most common of which are yayin (134 times) and tirosh (33 times). The basic term for "wine" in the Greek N.T. is oinos (33 times). (a) "Wine" can be a generic term, occasionally referring to fresh grape juice. Isaiah referred to "wine in the presses" (16:10), which obviously is simply the juice of the grape. There were ways in antiquity to preserve juice all year long from fermentation. There is no reason to assume that the "wine" made by Jesus was alcoholic in content (Jn. 2:1ff). (b) Frequently, "wine" refers to a beverage capable of producing intoxication (Eph. 5:18). There are, therefore, many warnings against the indiscriminate use of wine (Prov. 20:1; 21:17; 23:20-21; 30-31; Isa. 5:22; 28:7; Joel 1:5; Amos 6:6; Hab. 2:5; 1 Tim. 3:8; Tit. 2:3). See DRUNKENESS. (c) Wine is sometimes viewed as a substance of medicinal value (Lk. 10:34; 1 Tim. 5:8). (d) The term also may be employed as a symbol of the wrath of God (Jer. 25:15; 51:7; Rev. 14:10; 16:19).