Wine in Scripture

The bottomless pit might include the excuses for eating & drinking practices.  I used to blurt, "Jesus made wine", & it’s jolting how quick I was to quote Scriptures that I hardly studied.

TRUTH or False - Jesus got people drunk.

Let’s look again at John 2:1-11.  The governor of the feast, tasted his drink, and told the groom, "…every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now."

I love the Original King James Version because it positions words purposely, almost strategically.  Does John say anyone was drunk at all?  They definitely drank their fill, but from the text alone, it is a stretch to say that their wine was even alcoholic.  

Jesus was here on a mission, so before turning Jesus into a bartender, keep reading. "Well drunk" means the guests had plenty to drink…& that’s all folks!

“Wine” appears 231 times in Scripture:

The New Testament, translated from Greek, uses two words for “wine” (both fermented & unfermented). 

GLEUKOS: Sweet wine, fresh juice 

     Acts 2:13  -- Unfermented

OINOS: Wine (generic) 

     Matthew 9:17 -- unfermented

     Ephesians 5:18 -- fermented.

The Old Testament has 3 Hebrew words for “wine”. 

YAYIN: Intoxicating, fermented wine (Genesis 9:21).

TIROSH: Fresh grape juice (Isaiah 65:8; Proverbs 3:10).

SHAKAR: Intoxicating, intensely alcoholic, strong drink (Numbers 28:7).

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