Wine

Wine The common Hebrew word for wine is yayin , from a root meaning "to boil up," "to be in a ferment." Others derive it from a root meaning "to tread out," and hence the juice of the grape trodden out. The Greek word for wine is oinos , and the Latin vinun . but besides this common Hebrew word, there are several others which are thus rendered.

(1.) Ashishah (2Sam 6:19; 1Chr 16:3; Cant 2:5; Hos 3:1), which, however, rather denotes a solid cake of pressed grapes, or, as in the Revised Version, a cake of raisins.

(2.) 'Asis, "sweet wine," or "new wine," the product of the same year (Cant 8:2; Isa 49:26; Joel 1:5; 3:18; Amos 9:13), from a root meaning "to tread," hence juice trodden out or pressed out, thus referring to the method by which the juice is obtained. The power of intoxication is ascribed to it.

(3.) Hometz. See VINEGAR.

(4.) Hemer, Deut 32:14 (rendered "blood of the grape") Isa 27:2 ("red wine"), Ezra 6:9; 7:22; Dan 5:1, 2, 4. This word conveys the idea of "foaming," as in the process of fermentation, or when poured out. It is derived from the root hamar , meaning "to boil up," and also "to be red," from the idea of boiling or becoming inflamed.

(5.) 'Enabh, a grape (Deut 32:14). The last clause of this verse should be rendered as in the Revised Version, "and of the blood of the grape ['enabh] thou drankest wine [hemer]." In Hos 3:1 the phrase in Authorized Version, "flagons of wine," is in the Revised Version correctly "cakes of raisins." (Comp. Gen 49:11; Num 6:3; Deut 23:24, etc., where this Hebrew word is rendered in the plural "grapes.")

(6.) Mesekh, properly a mixture of wine and water with spices that increase its stimulating properties (Isa 5:22). Ps 75:8, "The wine [yayin] is red; it is full of mixture [mesekh];" Prov 23:30, "mixed wine;" Isa 65:11, "drink offering" (R.V., "mingled wine").

(7.) Tirosh, properly "must," translated "wine" (Deut 28:51); "new wine" (Prov 3:10); "sweet wine" (Micah 6:15; R.V., "vintage"). This Hebrew word has been traced to a root meaning "to take possession of" and hence it is supposed that tirosh is so designated because in intoxicating it takes possession of the brain. Among the blessings promised to Esau (Gen 27:28) mention is made of "plenty of corn and tirosh." Palestine is called "a land of corn and tirosh" (Deut 33:28; comp. Isa 36:17). See also Deut 28:51; 2Chr 32:28; Joel 2:19; Hos 4:11, ("wine [yayin] and new wine [tirosh] take away the heart").

(8.) Sobhe (root meaning "to drink to excess," "to suck up," "absorb"), found only in Isa 1:22, Hos 4:18 ("their drink;" Gesen. and marg. of R.V., "their carouse"), and Nah 1:10 ("drunken as drunkards;" lit., "soaked according to their drink;" R.V., "drenched, as it were, in their drink", i.e., according to their sobhe).

(9.) Shekar, "strong drink," any intoxicating liquor; from a root meaning "to drink deeply," "to be drunken", a generic term applied to all fermented liquors, however obtained. Num 28:7, "strong wine" (R.V., "strong drink"). It is sometimes distinguished from wine, c.g., Lev 10:9, "Do not drink wine [yayin] nor strong drink [shekar];" Num 6:3; Judg 13:4, 7; Isa 28:7 (in all these places rendered "strong drink"). Translated "strong drink" also in Isa 5:11; 24:9; 29:9; 56:12; Prov 20:1; 31:6; Micah 2:11.

(10.) Yekebh (Deut 16:13, but in R.V. correctly "wine-press"), a vat into which the new wine flowed from the press. Joel 2:24, "their vats;" 3:13, "the fats;" Prov 3:10, "Thy presses shall burst out with new wine [tirosh];" Hag 2:16; Jer 48:33, "wine-presses;" 2Kings 6:27; Job 24:11.

(11.) Shemarim (only in plural), "lees" or "dregs" of wine. In Isa 25:6 it is rendered "wines on the lees", i.e., wine that has been kept on the lees, and therefore old wine.

(12.) Mesek, "a mixture," mixed or spiced wine, not diluted with water, but mixed with drugs and spices to increase its strength, or, as some think, mingled with the lees by being shaken (Ps 75:8; Prov 23:30).

In Acts 2:13 the word gleukos , rendered "new wine," denotes properly "sweet wine." It must have been intoxicating.

In addition to wine the Hebrews also made use of what they called debash , which was obtained by boiling down must to one-half or one-third of its original bulk. In Gen 43:11 this word is rendered "honey." It was a kind of syrup, and is called by the Arabs at the present day dibs. This word occurs in the phrase "a land flowing with milk and honey" (debash), Ex 3:8, 17; 13:5; 33:3; Lev 20:24; Num 13: 27. (See HONEY)

Our Lord miraculously supplied wine at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee (John 1:2-11). The Rechabites were forbidden the use of wine (Jer 35). The Nazarites also were to abstain from its use during the period of their vow (Num 6:1-4); and those who were dedicated as Nazarites from their birth were perpetually to abstain from it (Judg 13:4, 5; Luke 1:15; 7:33). The priests, too, were forbidden the use of wine and strong drink when engaged in their sacred functions (Lev 10:1, 9-11). "Wine is little used now in the East, from the fact that Mohammedans are not allowed to taste it, and very few of other creeds touch it. When it is drunk, water is generally mixed with it, and this was the custom in the days of Christ also. The people indeed are everywhere very sober in hot climates; a drunken person, in fact, is never See n", (Geikie's Life of Christ). The sin of drunkenness, however, must have been not uncommon in the olden times, for it is mentioned either metaphorically or literally more than seventy times in the Bible.

A drink-offering of wine was presented with the daily sacrifice (Ex 29:40, 41), and also with the offering of the first-fruits (Lev 23:13), and with various other sacrifices (Num 15:5, 7, 10). Wine was used at the celebration of the Passover. And when the Lord's Supper was instituted, the wine and the unleavened bread then on the paschal table were by our Lord set apart as memorials of his body and blood.

Several emphatic warnings are given in the New Testament against excess in the use of wine (Luke 21:34; Rom 13:13; Eph 5:18; 1Tim 3:8; Titus 1:7).