Determining what God’s Word reveals in the matter of consuming alcoholic beverages can seem a bit daunting to some when they realize that ten different Hebrew words are translated as “wine” in the Old Testament and four different Greek words are translated as “wine” in the New Testament. Though most of these words clearly indicate fermented wine, having an alcoholic content, is being spoken of in the text where they are found some do not.
The Hebrew word most commonly translated as “wine” in the Old Testament is the word yayin (pronounced YAH’ – yin) and does mean fermented, or intoxicating wine. The first occurrence of this word in scripture is found in Genesis 9:21, where we read “And he (Noah) drank of the wine (yayin), and was drunken (Hebrew shikkarown, pronounced shik – kaw – RONE’, meaning intoxicated, drunken). This same word, yayin, is again found in the 19th chapter of Genesis, where the two daughters of Lot in some manner coerced their father to drink this intoxicating beverage in order to make him so drunk he didn’t realize who they were and had sex with them. (See verses 30 through 38).
In Genesis 27, verse 25, we are told that Isaac drank intoxicating wine and, in blessing Esau, he asked God to give Esau plenty of corn and wine (yayin). It is highly doubtful that Isaac would ask God to give Esau something God condemns.
Priests were forbidden to drink intoxicating beverages when going into the tabernacle to perform their priestly duties. (See Leviticus 10:9). Fermented wine was not forbidden them at other times and on other festive occasions. Only those Israelites who took a Nazarite vow were forbidden to drink wine, liquor or strong drinks. (See Numbers 6:1-3), but once the days of their Nazarite vow of separation had been fulfilled “after that the Nazarite may drink wine” (Numbers 6:20).
One of the curses pronounced by God upon the Israelites if they disobeyed Him and broke His commandments or followed after other gods was a curse pronounced upon their vineyards, denying them the wine such vineyards would have produced. (See Deuteronomy 28:39). Again, the word rendered as wine in the above texts is the Hebrew word yayin, fermented, intoxicating wine!
In blessing the Lord for His goodness toward men, the Psalmist wrote,”He waters the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man, that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine (yayin) that makes glad the heart of man…” (See Psalm 104:13-15). Grape juice does not produce such an emotion in man. It is fermented wine that tends to put a person at ease and prompt a jovial spirit in the drinker.
But doesn’t the Bible say, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). It is the one who over indulges in wine or strong drink that is deceived thereby. If someone thinks they can drink several glasses of wine and not exhibit the behavior of a drunk, they are deceived. One or two glasses taken with a meal will not cause someone to reel to and fro and spew vomit on the table. It is the drunkard that is depicted in Proverbs 23:29-35.
“Let no man say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted of God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man” (James 1:13). Now turn to Jeremiah 35. Beginning with verse 1, it says “The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, ‘Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers AND GIVE THEM WINE (YAYIN) TO DRINK!'” If drinking fermented wine is sinful in the eyes of God, then God Himself is guilty of tempting these men to drink wine! “And I (Jeremiah) set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them (at the Lord’s direction), ‘Drink ye wine!’ But they said, ‘We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever..'” (verses 5 and 6).
Actually God was giving the House of Judah an object lesson here. “Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words, says the Lord. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons (250 years previously) not to drink wine, are performed, for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment, notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking, but you have not hearkened unto me. (verses 12 to 14, Jeremiah 35). To be continued…..
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley