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QUESTION: In the Bible, when the word "wine" is used does it mean
real wine or grape juice? Which is the Biblical meaning? Which is
to be served during the Lord's Supper?
ANSWER:
Bible words for wine:
O.T. Usage:
1) SHEKAR: strong drink. Pro.20:1: Strong drink is raging...
2) YAYIN: rendered "wine 133 times and "banqueting" once.
Freely denounced in Prov.23:31f; "look not thou upon the wine when
it is red..."
a. Context: Destruction of Moab. "And gladness is taken
away, and joy out of the fruitfield; and in the vineyards there
shall be no singing, neither joyful noise: no treader shall tread
out wine in the presses; I have made the {vintage} shout to cease"
(Isa.16:10).
3) TIROSH: "WINE" 26X; "new wine" 11X and "sweet wine" once.
Never associated with drunkenness, and is grape juice.
a) Numbers 18:12: "All the best of the oil and all the
best of the wine and of the grain, the first fruits of what they
give to the Lord I give to you." Clyde M. Woods: The Hebrew terms
used here for these staples all refer to new produce before
processing. (p.135).
b) Gesenius: Used of the juice of grapes, Is.65:8
(p.863). "Thus saith the LORD, as the new wine is found in the
cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so
will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all."
NIV:""As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes..."
N.T. Usage:
1) OINOS: "comprehending every sort of wine" (Mc. & Strong,
(X:1014).
a. Barnes on Jno.2:11: "Pliny, Plutarch, and Horace
describe wine as good, or mention that as the best wine, which was
harmless, or innocent...The most useful wine was that which had
little strength; and the most wholesome wine...was that which had
not been adulterated, by the addition of anything to the must or
juice. Pliny expressly says that a good wine was one that was
destitute of spirit (Lib.iv.c.13). The wine referred to here was
doubtless such as was commonly drunk in Palestine. That was the
pure juice of the grape. It was not brandied wine; nor drugged
wine; nor wine compounded of various substances, such as we drink
in this land. The common wine drunk in Palestine was that which
was the simple juice of the grape. We use the word wine now to
denote the kind of liquid which passes under that name in this
country--always fermented, and always containing a considerable
portion of alcohol--not only the alcohol produced by fermentation,
but added to keep it or make it stronger. But we have no right to
take that sense of the word, and go with it to the interpretation
of the Scriptures.
b) Wine by natural fermentation reaches a maximum of 14%
alcohol.
If you have corrections, questions, comments or suggestions about these questions and answers, please contact Leon Mauldin directly at [email protected]
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