For posterity, below is a table of all references to alcoholic beverages in the Bible, categorized into positives and negatives. For the record, there are 29 negative references, 75 positive, and 67 neutral.
| Reference | Pro, Con, Neutral | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 9:21,24 | neutral | Noah got drunk off too much wine |
| Genesis 14:18 | pro | Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, blesses Abram with bread and wine |
| Genesis 19:32-35 | con | Lot’s daughters get him drunk so he will impregnate them and their line may continue |
| Genesis 27:25 | neutral | Isaac had wine brought to him, and he drank |
| Genesis 27:28 | pro | Isaac blesses Jacob, citing “an abundance of grain and new wine” in the blessing |
| Genesis 27:37 | pro | Isaac tells Esau he has already blessed Jacob, including “new wine” |
| Genesis 49:11-12 | neutral | In Jacob’s blessings on Judah lineage, foreshadowings of Shiloh’s (Christ) life and work |
| Exodus 29:40 | pro | 1/4 hin used in the drink offering |
| Leviticus 10:9 | neutral | The Aaronic priesthood forbidden from drinking wine during service to God |
| Leviticus 23:14 | pro | 1/4 hin used for a drink offering |
| Numbers 6:3 | neutral | Any taking the vow of the Nazirite is forbidden from drinking wine, strong drink, vinegar, grape juice, and grapes |
| Numbers 6:20 | neutral | After the Nazirite vow is complete, the person may drink wine again |
| Numbers 18:12 | pro | The priest’s portion includes the “best of the fresh wine” |
| Numbers 18:27,30 | neutral | The priests are to make an offering from the tithe to the Lord, including from the wine vat; the rest is theirs |
| Numbers 28:14 | pro | As part of the sacrifice schedule, drink offerings are to be made |
| Deuteronomy 7:13 | pro | As a blessing for following the Lord, He will multiply .. your new wine |
| Deuteronomy 11:14 | pro | The Lord will reward obedience with new wine |
| Deuteronomy 12:17 | neutral | Do not consume the tithe within your gates |
| Deuteronomy 14:23,26 | pro | Celebrate to the Lord in feasting with the congregation by consuming the tithe at the appropriate time; if you cannot come to the feast, sell the tithe for the Lord, and buy that wherewith to celebrate |
| Deuteronomy 15:14 | pro | During the sabbath year, share liberally from your stores with the slaves you set free |
| Deuteronomy 16:13 | pro | Celebrate the Feast of Booths after gathering-in from your threshing floor and wine vat |
| Deuteronomy 18:4 | neutral | The portion of the Levites is to include new wine |
| Deuteronomy 28:39,50 | pro | If you disobey, you will not be able to gather your grapes and make wine – it will be destroyed in the fields by worms and marauders |
| Deuteronomy 29:6 | neutral | During the 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites had neither wine nor strong drink provided for them |
| Deuteronomy 32:14,33,38 | neutral | In the Song of Moses, he recounts the wanderings of the people and the care of the Lord in providing for them; wine used in poetic form |
| Deuteronomy 33:28 | pro | During Moses’ blessings on Israel, they shall dwell securely in a “land of grain and new wine” |
| Judges 9:13 | pro | In a parable, the vine refuses to become king of the plants because he does not want to “leave my new wine, which cheers God and men” |
| Judges 13:4,7,14 | neutral | Samson was set aside as a Nazirite from birth |
| Judges 19:19 | neutral | A Levite explains he has stores to supply himself and his party |
| 1 Samuel 1:14-15 | con | Eli accuses Hannah of being drunk in the temple |
| 1 Samuel 1:24 | pro | Wine brought as part of the dedication of Samuel to the Lord |
| 1 Samuel 10:3 | neutral | One of the men who will meet Saul will be carrying a jug of wine |
| 1 Samuel 16:20 | pro | Jesse sends wine to Saul by way of his son David |
| 1 Samuel 25:18 | pro | Abigail supplies wine to David and his troupe |
| 1 Samuel 25:37 | con | Nabal got himself drunk, and when he arose in the morning, he had a heart attack upon Abigail’s report of David |
| 2 Samuel 13:28 | pro | Amnon’s heart is “merry with wine”, and Absalom conspires to kill him to avenge their sister Tamar |
| 2 Samuel 16:1-2 | pro | Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, supplies wine for David and his family |
| 2 Kings 18:32 | pro | Listed as a benefit to surrendering to the king of Assyria |
| 1 Chronicles 9:29 | pro | Custodians for wine are set aside for the sanctuary |
| 2 Chronicles 12:40 | pro | One of the supplies listed for David’s army, “brought .. wine… There was joy indeed in Israel.” |
| 1 Chronicles 27:27 | pro | Sabdi given charge of the “produce of the vineyards stored in the wine cellars” |
| 2 Chronicles 2:10,15 | pro | Wine is listed as part of the wages/trade for cedar from Tyre for the temple |
| 2 Chronicles 11:11 | neutral | Rehoboam stocks the fortresses with food, oil, and wine |
| 2 Chronicles 31:5 | pro | Israel is blessed with new wine after following Hezekiah’s reforms |
| 2 Chronicles 32:28 | pro | To celebrate God’s answer to his request, Hezekiah builds storehouses for “grain, wine, and oil” |
| Ezra 6:9 | pro | In celebration of God’s deliverance from captivity, wine is to be provided for sacrificing |
| Ezra 7:22 | pro | More details on the wine to be provided for the Israelites’ sacrifices |
| Nehemiah 2:1 | neutral | Nehemiah is the wine cupbearer to Artaxerxes |
| Nehemiah 5:11,15,18 | pro | Wine to be furnished to the builders working on Jerusalem |
| Nehemiah 10:37,39 | pro | Wine to be provided for their tithes, according to the law of God |
| Nehemiah 13:12 | pro | Needed for tithing to God |
| Esther 1:7 | neutral | During the festivities of Ahasuerus, wine is provided according to the king’s bounty as each desires, without compulsion |
| Esther 1:10 | neutral | Ahasuerus wants to show-off his queen’s beauty to his guests at the end of the festival |
| Esther 5:6 | neutral | Esther makes petition of Ahasuerus at a banquet while they are drinking wine |
| Esther 7:(1),2,7-8 | neutral | It is during one of the wine courses that Esther shows Haman to be wicked, and Ahasuerus calls for his execution |
| Job 1:13,18 | neutral | Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking at the eldest’s house when Sabeans attacked them |
| Job 24:11 | pro | Those who do not love the Lord “tread wine presses but thirst” |
| Job 32:19 | neutral | Elihu describes his anger against the older friends of Job and Job himself as being “like unvented wine” |
| Psalm 4:7 | pro | The Lord puts gladness in the heart more than “when their grain and new wine abound” |
| Psalm 60:3 | con | In complaining to God about His forsaking him and his men, David says, “You have given us wine to drink that makes us stagger” |
| Psalm 75:8 | neutral | The wicked will drink-down the well-mixed wine of the Lord’s anger |
| Psalm 78:65 | con | The Lord’s remembrance of Israel likened to a warrior awaking from being “overcome by wine” |
| Psalm 104:15 | pro | The Lord provides “wine which makes man’s heart glad” |
| Proverbs 3:10 | pro | By getting wisdom, “your vats will overflow with new wine” |
| Proverbs 9:2,5 | pro | Wisdom invites you to her by spreading food and wine |
| Proverbs 20:1 | con | A warning about wine and strong drink, “whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise” |
| Proverbs 21:17 | con | A warning that “he who loves wine and oil will not become rich” |
| Proverbs 23:20 | con | A warning to avoid those who are heavy drinkers and gluttonous |
| Proverbs 23:30-31 | con | A warning to avoid “those who linger long over wine” |
| Proverbs 31:4 | con | Rulers and kings must be careful with wine and strong drink or they “will drink and forget what is decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted” |
| Proverbs 31:6 | pro | “Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to him whose life is bitter” |
| Ecclesiastes 2:3 | neutral | Drinking wine for its own sake is futility |
| Ecclesiastes 9:7 | pro | “Drink your wine with a cheerful heart”; enjoy the fruits of your labors |
| Ecclesiastes 10:19 | pro | “Wine makes life merry” |
| Song of Solomon 1:2,4 | pro | The bride loves her groom more than wine |
| Song of Solomon 4:10 | pro | The groom loves his bride more than wine |
| Song of Solomon 5:1 | neutral | The groom has made preparations for his bride |
| Song of Solomon 7:2,9 | pro | The groom praises his bride by extolling her above wine |
| Song of Solomon 8:2 | pro | The bride wishes to give her groom spiced wine to show her love |
| Isaiah 5:11,22 | con | Woes pronounced on those who “pursue strong drink” and whose “wine may inflame them” and who are “heroes in drinking” |
| Isaiah 16:10 | pro | In Moab’s destruction, no “treader treads out wine in the presses” |
| Isaiah 22:13 | neutral | There is a time for drinking, and a time to not drink – to celebrate and to mourn |
| Isaiah 24:7,9,11 | pro | In God’s judgement on the earth, there will be no drinking of wine |
| Isaiah 25:6 | pro | Under God’s favor, the Lord will provide a banquet including “refined, aged wine” |
| Isaiah 27:2 | pro | In the Lord’s deliverance, the “vineyard of wine” will sing |
| Isaiah 28:1,7 | con | Warnings against those who are “overcome”, “reel”, and “stagger” from wine and strong drink |
| Isaiah 29:9 | neutral | Jerusalem will be drunk and stagger, but not from wine or strong drink, but from a “spirit of deep sleep” from the Lord |
| Isaiah 36:17 | pro | See 2 Kings 18:32 |
| Isaiah 49:26 | neutral | In the Lord’s deliverance, the oppressors will become “drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine” |
| Isaiah 51:21 | neutral | The afflicted are drunk, but not with wine |
| Isaiah 55:1 | pro | Mercy is provided freely from God – take it and buy what you want from Him |
| Isaiah 56:12 | con | The disobedient to God say, “let us get wine, and let us drink heavily of strong drink” |
| Isaiah 62:8 | pro | God will deliver Zion, and they will enjoy their new wine in the courts of His sanctuary |
| Isaiah 63:2-3 | neutral | God has trodden the winepress of his vengeance against the wicked |
| Isaiah 65:8,11 | con | The disobedient are preparing mixed wine in sacrifice to false gods |
| Jeremiah 13:12 | con | Israel’s complacency in backsliding will be their downfall |
| Jeremiah 23:9 | con | False prophets trouble Jeremiah so much, he feels like one “overcome with wine” |
| Jeremiah 25:15 | con | God’s wrath is likened to a cup of wine which will make Babylon stagger |
| Jeremiah 31:12 | pro | Israel will be given cause for celebration when God delivers them |
| Jeremiah 35:2,5,68,14 | neutral | The Rechabites won’t drink wine because their fathers commanded them not to, but Judah won’t obey the word of the Lord |
| Jeremiah 40:10,12 | pro | Judah commanded to bring-in their wine even with the Chaldeans about to come upon them |
| Jeremiah 48:33 | pro | God’s judgement has come on Moab and has “made the wine to cease from the wine presses” |
| Jeremiah 51:7 | neutral | Babylon likened to wine that has intoxicated the nations |
| Lamentations 2:12 | pro | Children ask their mothers where the grain and wine has gone because of God’s anger at Israel |
| Ezekiel 27:18 | neutral | Damascus was a customer of Tyre’s because of the wine of Helbon |
| Ezekiel 44:21 | neutral | See Leviticus 10:9 |
| Daniel 1:5 | neutral | Wine is part of the rations from the king’s table for the choice young men of Israel |
| Daniel 1:8,16 | neutral | Daniel and his friends refuse the king’s delicacies to stay as separate from Babylonian culture as possible during their training |
| Daniel 5:1-2,4,23 | neutral | Belshazzar defiles the vessels of the Lord in feasting and praising false gods |
| Daniel 10:2 | neutral | Daniel provides a complete list of what he abstained from during his mourning fast |
| Hosea 2:8-9 | pro | Israel does not realize it is God who gives new wine and oil; He will remove it |
| Hosea 2:22 | pro | When Israel repents, God will return their wine to them |
| Hosea 4:11 | con | God laments Israel, “Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the understanding” |
| Hosea 7:5,14 | con | Ephraim has forsaken God in favor of pleasure |
| Hosea 9:2,4 | pro | God’s judgement on Ephraim includes removal of their wine |
| Hosea 14:7 | pro | Israel’s future blessing will include the restoration their fame like the “wine of Lebanon” |
| Joel 1:5 | con | Drunkards are called to account |
| Joel 1:10 | pro | God’s judgement removes the new wine |
| Joel 2:19,24 | pro | God’s deliverance will restore the new wine |
| Joel 3:3 | con | The nations trade a girl for wine and will be judged |
| Joel 3:13 | neutral | God will tread the winepress of the nations to judge their wickedness |
| Joel 3:18 | pro | Zion’s restoration will have the mountains dripping with “sweet wine” |
| Amos 2:8,12 | neutral | God pronounces judgement on those who have defiled the law: drinking the wrong wine, and forcing the Nazirite to drink wine |
| Amos 5:11 | pro | Unless you seek God, you cannot enjoy the fruits of the vineyard |
| Amos 6:6 | neutral | Woe to those who “drink wine from sacrificial bowls” in Zion |
| Amos 9:13-14 | pro | Israel’s restoration will have the mountains “drip sweet wine” |
| Micah 2:11 | pro | It is the oppressor who “Had told lies and said, ‘I will speak out to you concerning wine and liquor'” |
| Micah 6:15 | neutral | Sowing and reaping will not yield favor with God |
| Habakkuk 2:5 | con | Warning to the haughty, “wine betrays the haughty man” |
| Zephaniah 1:13 | pro | Judgement on Israel will come and the wine will not be drunk |
| Haggai 1:11 | pro | God has withheld the wine until the temple is rebuilt; His priorities must be ours for blessings to come |
| Haggai 2:12,16 | pro | God will bless Israel now that their priorities have been righted |
| Zechariah 9:15 | pro | God will cause Israel to “drink and be boisterous as with wine” against Greece |
| Zechariah 9:17 | pro | When God saves Israel, new wine will return |
| Zechariah 10:7 | pro | In the restoration, Ephraim will be “glad as if from wine” |
| Matthew 9:17 | neutral | Wine storage used in a metaphor for why Jesus’ disciples do not fast |
| Matthew 11:19 | neutral | Jesus is accused of being a wine-drinker |
| Matthew 21:33 | neutral | The winepress is used as a parable device |
| (Matthew 26:27,29) | (neutral) | (Institution of the Lord’s Supper breaking from Passover) |
| Matthew 27:34,48 | neutral | Jesus fulfills His promise to not drink of the fruit of the vine until He will “drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29) |
| Mark 2:22 | neutral | See Matthew 9:17 |
| Mark 12:1 | neutral | See Matthew 21:33 |
| Mark 15:23,36 | neutral | See Matthew 27:34,48 |
| Luke 1:15 | con | John the Baptist is forbidden from ever drinking wine or liquor |
| Luke 5:37-38 | neutral | See Matthew 9:17 |
| Luke 3:39 | pro | Old wine is preferred to new |
| Luke 7:33-34 | neutral | Critics of John the Baptist said he was demonic for not drinking wine; they accused Jesus of being a drunkard for drinking wine |
| Luke 10:34 | pro | The good Samaritan poured wine and oil on the beaten man’s wounds |
| (Luke 22:17,20) | (neutral) | (See Matthew 26:27,29) |
| Luke 23:36 | neutral | See Matthew 27:48 |
| John 2:3,9-10 | pro | Jesus turns water into the best wine at the wedding in Cana |
| John 4:46 | neutral | Back reference to the miracle in John 2:3,9-10 |
| John 19:29-30 | neutral | See Matthew 27:48 |
| Acts 2:13 | con | Mockers accused the apostles of being “full of sweet wine” on Pentecost |
| Romans 14:21-23 | neutral | Paul suggests abstaining from anything that makes a brother stumble, but also demonstrates that faith is a man’s own, and cannot condemn in others what he does himself |
| (1 Corinthians 9:4) | (neutral) | (The apostles have the same right to eat and drink as anyone else) |
| (1 Corinthians 10:31) | (neutral) | (Do everything for God’s glory) |
| (1 Corinthians 11:21) | (neutral) | (Paul condemns eating and drinking to excess during the Communion Table service) |
| Ephesians 5:18 | con | Warning to not be drunk with wine |
| 1 Timothy 3:3,8 | neutral | Pastors and deacons cannot be addicted to much wine |
| 1 Timothy 5:23 | pro | Timothy encouraged to take a little wine for his stomach |
| Titus 1:7 | neutral | See 1 Timothy 3:3 |
| Revelation 6:6 | neutral | The third seal brings an order to not destroy the wine |
| Revelation 6:6 | neutral | The third seal brings an order to not destroy the wine |
| Revelation 14:8 | con | The nations have drunk of Babylon’s wine of immorality |
| Revelation 14:10,19-20 | neutral | God’s wrath is prepared like wine in a winepress |
| Revelation 16:19 | neutral | Babylon drinks the cup of the wine of the fierce wrath of God |
| Revelation 17:2 | con | The nations are drunk with the wine of immorality |
| Revelation 18:3 | con | The nations have drunk the wine of the immorality of Babylon |
| Revelation 18:13 | con | The merchants of earth lament the fall of Babylon and not being to buy from her |
| Revelation 19:15 | neutral | Christ is treading the winepress of His wrath against the nations |
“On the whole, biblical literature displays an ambivalence toward intoxicating drinks, considering them both a blessing from God that brings joy and merriment and potentially dangerous beverages that can be sinfully abused.”*