Great Fables Concerning Wine
First and most importantly as we approach this vital subject we must realise that when the term “wine” is used in our English version of the Bible it is a broad term including two specific and separate things:
1. Grape juice which is non-alcoholic (unfermented) and is called “wine” in the Bible.
2. An alcoholic drink (fermented) which can intoxicate or make a person drunk is also called “wine” in the Bible.
Those who say that the word “wine” in the Bible always means non-alcoholic grape juice are wrong; but so too are those who say that the term “wine” in the Bible always and only means an alcoholic drink.
In fact 13 different Hebrew and Greek words are used for our one English word “wine” in the Bible. These various Hebrew and Greek words can be broken down into three groupings: i) Those which only mean a fermented drink, like shekhar, ii) Those which only mean an unfermented drink, like tirosh, iii) And those words which can be used for both, like yayin.
The fact that we use one English word to cover thirteen different Greek and Hebrew words should immediately make us very careful in coming to quick unstudied assumptions about wine. sadly most of those who hold strong dogmatic views about what the Bible teachers concerning alcohol don't even know this or consider it never mind study it.
The Hebrew word yayin is used just like our English word wine; both are used in a broad way for alcoholic and non-alcoholic grape juice. The only way to discern what is meant by it when it is used is to study the context which must then be read and tested carefully.
Yayin is the most popular Hebrew (OT) word used for "wine." Sometimes it is approved of, sometimes it is condemned and other times carry a neutral inference.
Let’s take a quick and brief closer look at how the term yayin is used in the Old Testament and as we do please notice it is not just a simple term for alcoholic wine like some presume and promote. It is used in a great variety of ways to mean anything from grapes hanging on a tree to wine in the glass.
Yayin is spoken of as that which is gathered prior to going into the winepress or the
beginning of the fermentation process (Jer.40:10, 12); also while still in the press before coming out (Isa.16:10); and again of that which comes forth from the winepress prior to fermentation (Jer.48:33); in fact even that which is not as yet gathered but rather destroyed is also called yayin (Deut.29:38).
The teaching that says "wine" in the Bible is always an alcoholic (fermented) drink is an utter fable. If this foundational fable is not corrected and exposed then all the teaching built upon it and assumed from it will be terribly wrong.
Further Updates