The Bible’s View on Drinking Alcohol/Wine. Should Christians?

When we read the Bible in certain translations we come across certain English words that have two or more different Greek/Hebrew words in the original text. They sometimes use one English word throughout scripture for the multiple different Greek or Hebrew words that have a different meaning. If we don’t read the original words and their meaning. Then things can begin to be misrepresented or interpreted.

Let me explain so things are a little clearer. When the English word wine is used in the old testament there are different verses that have different Hebrew words. Each of these Hebrew words have different meanings. One Hebrew word is yayin and the other is tiyrosh but both are considered “wine” in English. Do you know the difference between the two?

Here is an example of the English word “wine” which is the Hebrew word yayin in one context of scripture and tiyrosh in the other.

• Proverbs 23:29-35 (KJV)  Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?  30  They that tarry long at the wine [yayin]; they that go to seek mixed wine.  31  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.  32  At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.  33  Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.  34  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.  35  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.
• Psalms 4:6-8 (KJV)  There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.  7  Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine [tiyrosh] increased.  8  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

When these two verses are read side by side the context seems drastically different. Although both are mentioned as “wine” in the KJV.

In Proverbs 23:29-35 wine is referring to the Hebrew word yayin.

• Yayin according to the Strong’s definition means to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication intoxication: – banqueting, wine, wine [-bibber].
• In other words, this is more commonly known as fermented wine or alcoholic wine. A wine that can get you drunk.

Verse 31 says to not even look upon this type of wine. Why? Let’s look at some characteristics of this type of wine.

• This alcoholic wine bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. This type of wine is bitter and has a “bite” to it going down. Also after drinking it will take a toll on the body. (Hangover)
• People who drink this alcoholic wine have redness of the eyes.
• People who drink this alcoholic wine begin to see strange women or things. In other words, when sober people may have some standards set for what they’re attracted to. However, when you drink this alcoholic wine those standards drop and they’re more open to being attracted to things they previously weren’t. The person’s judgment becomes perverted or more susceptible to things of the flesh.
• This alcoholic wine will cause people’s hearts to utter perverse things. Basically you will begin to think and believe perverse or twisted things.
• People who drink this alcoholic wine will be like one lying down in the middle of the sea or lying on top of a mast. This can mean being unsteady, dizzy, or vulnerable to disaster.
• People who drink this alcoholic wine will say who stricken me or beat me cause they didn’t feel the initial punch. When people wake up after getting drunk they have a hangover as if they were physically beaten up.
• People who drink this alcoholic wine will typically seek it again. Even after all the negative above things have happened.

This type of wine is alcoholic also known as fermented. The scripture advises staying away from this type of “mixed” wine. Verse 31 says it like this, “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.”

In Psalms 4:6-8 wine is referring to the Hebrew word tiryosh.

• Tiryosh according to the Strong’s definition means in the sense of expulsion; must or fresh grape juice (as just squeezed out); by implication (rarely) fermented wine: – (new, sweet) wine.
• In other words, this is more commonly known as unfermented wine or non-alcoholic aka grape juice.

In this context of scripture its in reference to God’s goodness. About how God has put gladness in his heart. He references another time he was glad when God caused their corn and wine to increase. He goes on to speak of God causing him to lay down in peace and sleep well. Also about how God causes him to dwell in safety.

This type of wine is referring to grape juice and God is ok with people drinking that.

Yayin (Wine) and Tiryosh (Wine) are not the only types of wine/alcohol in the Old Testament. There also is another type “wine” mentioned called Shekar. So what is the Strong’s Definition for Shekar?

Shekar is only mentioned one time in the Old Testament as “Wine” as far as I’m aware. It’s usually referenced as “Strong Drink” in multiple different places. So what’s this word mean?

• Shekar according to the Strong’s definition means an intoxicant, that is, intensely alcoholic liquor: – strong drink, + drunkard, strong wine.
• In other words, this is more commonly known as a strong fermented beverage or alcoholic drink. This can be a variety of different alcoholic drinks such as vodka, gin, rum, tequila, etc. This also can be in reference to a very strong alcoholic wine.

Here are some verses using the Hebrew word Shekar.

• Proverbs 20:1 (KJV)  Wine [yayin] is a mocker, strong drink [shekar] is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
• Micah 2:10-11 (KJV)  Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.  11  If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine [yayin] and of strong drink [shekar]; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
• Isaiah 28:7-8 (KJV)  But they also have erred through wine [yayin], and through strong drink [shekar] are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink [shekar], they are swallowed up of wine [yayin], they are out of the way through strong drink [shekar]; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.  8  For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.

Since God thought this was important enough to go into the Bible we should find it important enough to read and hear His wisdom concerning it. It’s clear here that this strong drink aka Shekar is not something believers should be deceived by. The word of God states those who are deceived by alcoholic wine [yayin]/strong drink [shekar] are not wise. Scripture goes on to say that it will destroy you to believe the people who lie about it and claim its ok. The Bible states even if its a “priest” or a “prophet” who drinks this, that they are in error and their vision and judgment is incorrect!

Do you believe a man walking in the spirit and falsehood, who lies and prophesy concerning alcohol by saying its ok is correct? Do you trust the vision/judgment of the priest or prophet who err because of alcohol? Do you believe alcohol is a mocker and whoever is deceived because of it, is not wise? Do you agree with what the scriptures say above? Do you believe your feelings and emotions know more about the subject of alcohol than God’s Word/Scripture? If you don’t believe those scriptures above why not? Take those verses and ask God to reveal to you His wisdom concerning it! Rely on God and trust in Him to lead you and guide you to the truth about this.

What’s interesting with this word Shekar (Strong Alcoholic Drink) is that it’s very close to another similar Hebrew word called Shakar. So whats Shakar mean?

• Shakar according to the Strong’s definition means to become tipsy; in a qualified sense, to satiate with a stimulating drink or (figuratively) influence. (Superlative of H8248.): – (be filled with) drink (abundantly), (be, make) drunk (-en), be merry.
• In other words, this is more commonly known as getting tipsy/drunk from an alcoholic drink. It’s also used in some instances to be merry, not necessarily due to a drink or alcohol.

If you drink Shekar (Strong Alcohol) you get Shakar (Drunk/Tipsy)! Let’s take a look at some verses with Shakar.

• Jeremiah 25:27-29 (KJV)  Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken [shakar], and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.  28  And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.  29  For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.
• Jeremiah 48:25-26 (KJV)  The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the LORD.  26  Make ye him drunken [shakar]: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision. 
• Jeremiah 51:6-9 (KJV)  Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.  7  Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’S hand, that made all the earth drunken [shakar]: the nations have drunken of her wine [yayin]; therefore the nations are mad.  8  Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.  9  We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
• Lamentations 4:21-22 (KJV)  Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken [shakar], and shalt make thyself naked.  22  The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.
• Habakkuk 2:15-16 (KJV)  Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken [shakar] also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!  16  Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.

As you can see from above these are dealing with getting drunk as the topic. God’s stance is clearly not ok with it. The good news is that’s part of the reason why Jesus came. We are the joy that was set before Him! He wants to help us in all areas of our lives even with a victory over alcohol! He came to set us free from sins and overcome it by the blood of the lamb!

• Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
• Revelation 12:11 (KJV)  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.