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
(2 Samuel 6:19; 1 Chronicles 16:3; The Song of Solomon 2:5; Hosea 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
(The Song of Solomon 8:2; Isaiah 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,
(Deuteronomy 32:14) (rendered "blood of the grape")
(Isaiah 27:2)
("red wine"),
(Ezra 6:9; 7:22; Daniel 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
(Deuteronomy 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
(Hosea 3:1) the
phrase in Authorized Version, "flagons of wine," is in the
Revised Version correctly "cakes of raisins." (Comp.)
(Genesis 49:11; Numbers 6:3; Deuteronomy 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
(Isaiah 5:22; Psalms 75:8) "The wine
[yayin] is red; it is full of mixture [mesekh];"
(Proverbs 23:30)
"mixed wine;"
(Isaiah 65:11) "drink offering" (R.V., "mingled
wine").
7. ersion, "flagons of wine," is in the
Revised Version correctly "cakes of raisins." (Comp.)
(Genesis 49:11; Numbers 6:3; Deuteronomy 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
(Isaiah 5:22; Psalms 75:8) "The wine
[yayin] is red; it is full of mixture [mesekh];"
(Proverbs 23:30)
"mixed wine;"
(Isaiah 65:11) "drink offering" (R.V., "mingled
wine").
7.>Tirosh, properly "must," translated "wine"
(Deuteronomy 28:51) "new wine"
(Proverbs 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
(Genesis 27:28) mention is made of "plenty
of corn and tirosh." Palestine is called "a land of corn and
tirosh"
(Deuteronomy 33:28) comp.
(Isaiah 36:17) See also
(Deuteronomy 28:51)
(2 Chronicles 32:28; Joel 2:19; Hosea 4:11) ("wine [yayin] and new wine
[tirosh] take away the heart").
8. 7.>Tirosh, properly "must," translated "wine"
(Deuteronomy 28:51) "new wine"
(Proverbs 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
(Genesis 27:28) mention is made of "plenty
of corn and tirosh." Palestine is called "a land of corn and
tirosh"
(Deuteronomy 33:28) comp.
(Isaiah 36:17) See also
(Deuteronomy 28:51)
(2 Chronicles 32:28; Joel 2:19; Hosea 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
(Isaiah 1:22; Hosea 4:18) ("their drink;"
Gesen. and marg. of R.V., "their carouse"), and
(Nahum 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.
(Numbers 28:7)
"strong wine" (R.V., "strong drink"). It is sometimes
distinguished from wine, c.g.,
(Leviticus 10:9) "Do not drink wine
[yayin] nor strong drink [shekar];"
(Numbers 6:3; Judges 13:4,7; Isaiah 28:7)
(in all these places rendered "strong drink"). Translated
"strong drink" also in
(Isaiah 5:11; 24:9; 29:9; 56:12; Proverbs 20:1; 31:6)
(Micah 2:11)
(See DRINK, STRONG)
10. Yekebh
(Deuteronomy 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;"
(Joel 3:13) "the fats;"
(Proverbs 3:10) "Thy presses shall burst
out with new wine [tirosh];"
(Haggai 2:16; Jeremiah 48:33) "wine-presses;"
(2 Kings 6:27; Job 24:11)
11. Shemarim (only in plural), "lees" or "dregs" of wine. In
(Isaiah 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
(Psalms 75:8; Proverbs 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
(Genesis 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),
(Exodus 3:8,17; 13:5; 33:3; Leviticus 20:24; Numbers 13:27)
(See HONEY)
Our Lord miraculously supplied wine at the marriage feast in Cana of
Galilee
(John 2:1-11) The Rechabites were forbidden the use of wine
(Jeremiah 35:1)ff The Nazarites also were to abstain from its use
during the period of their vow
(Numbers 6:1-4) and those who were
dedicated as Nazarites from their birth were perpetually to abstain
from it
(Judges 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
(Leviticus 10:1,9-11) "Wine is little used now in the East, from
the fact that Muslims 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 seen", (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
(Exodus 29:40,41) and also with the offering
of the first-fruits
(Leviticus 23:13) and with various other sacrifices
(Numbers 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; Romans 13:13; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Timothy 3:8; Ti 1:7)