In the Bible, the term "drunkard" refers to individuals who habitually engage in excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages, leading to a state of intoxication. The Scriptures consistently portray drunkenness as a vice that leads to moral and spiritual decay, warning believers to avoid such behavior.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament provides several accounts and warnings regarding drunkenness. In Genesis 9:20-21, Noah becomes drunk and lies uncovered in his tent, leading to a shameful incident involving his sons. This early narrative sets a precedent for the negative consequences associated with drunkenness.

Proverbs offers wisdom literature that frequently addresses the dangers of excessive drinking. Proverbs 20:1 states, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise." This verse highlights the deceptive and destructive nature of alcohol when consumed irresponsibly.

Isaiah 5:11 further warns, "Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine." The prophet Isaiah condemns those who prioritize drinking over righteousness, indicating that such behavior leads to woe and judgment.

New Testament References

The New Testament continues to admonish against drunkenness, emphasizing its incompatibility with a life led by the Spirit. In the Epistle to the Romans, Paul instructs believers to live honorably, stating in Romans 13:13 , "Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy."

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 lists drunkards among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." This passage underscores the severity of habitual drunkenness as a barrier to spiritual inheritance.

Ephesians 5:18 contrasts drunkenness with being filled with the Spirit: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." Here, Paul encourages believers to seek spiritual fulfillment rather than the temporary and destructive effects of alcohol.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

The Bible's consistent message is that drunkenness leads to a loss of self-control, moral compromise, and spiritual decline. It is often associated with other sinful behaviors and is seen as a hindrance to living a life that honors God. Believers are called to exercise self-discipline and to avoid situations that may lead to drunkenness.

Practical Considerations

While the Bible does not prohibit the consumption of alcohol outright, it clearly warns against excess and the resulting state of drunkenness. Christians are encouraged to exercise wisdom and moderation, being mindful of their witness to others and their responsibility to live a life that reflects the character of Christ.Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
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1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortionist; with such an one no not to eat.
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Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
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Proverbs 23:21
For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
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Nahum 1:10
For while they be entwined together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
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Proverbs 23:20-21
Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
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1 Corinthians 6:10
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
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Galatians 5:21
Contentions, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
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Joel 1:5
Awake, you drunkards, and weep; and howl, all you drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.
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Psalm 69:12
They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
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3184. methuo -- to be drunken
... Word Origin from methu (wine) Definition to be drunken NASB Word Usage drunk (3),
drunk freely (1), drunkards (1), get drunk (1), made drunk (1). be drunk. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3184.htm - 6k

3183. methusos -- drunken
... Word Origin from methuo Definition drunken NASB Word Usage drunkard (1), drunkards
(1). drunkard. From methuo; tipsy, ie (as noun) a sot -- drunkard. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3183.htm - 6k

5433b. saba -- drunkard
... drunkard. Transliteration: saba Short Definition: drunkards. Word Origin from saba
Definition drunkard NASB Word Usage drunkards (1). 5433a, 5433b. ...
/hebrew/5433b.htm - 5k

7941. shekar -- intoxicating drink, strong drink
... Word Origin from shakar Definition intoxicating drink, strong drink NASB Word Usage
drink (2), drink of strong (1), drink or strong (1), drunkards* (1), liquor ...
/hebrew/7941.htm - 6k

7910. shikkor -- drunken
... Word Origin from shakar Definition drunken NASB Word Usage drunk (4), drunkard
(2), drunkards (3), drunken (1), drunken man (3). drunkard,. ...
/hebrew/7910.htm - 6k

8354. shathah -- to drink
... drink (2), drank (27), drink (138), drink the will certainly (1), drink down (1),
drinkers (1), drinking (18), drinks (9), drunk (11), drunkards* (1), feasted ...
/hebrew/8354.htm - 6k

To the Drunkards.
... LXXVII."To the Drunkards. I place no limit to a drunkard; but I prefer a
beast. From those who are proud in drinking thou withdrawest ...
/.../commodianus/the instructions of commodianus/lxxvii to the drunkards.htm

The Judgment of Drunkards and Mockers
... THE JUDGMENT OF DRUNKARDS AND MOCKERS. ... Verses 9 and 10 are generally taken as
a sarcastic quotation of the drunkards' scoffs at the prophet. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the judgment of drunkards and.htm

Whether Hope Abounds in Young Men and Drunkards?
... OF THE IRASCIBLE PASSIONS, AND FIRST, OF HOPE AND DESPAIR (EIGHT ARTICLES)
Whether hope abounds in young men and drunkards? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether hope abounds in young.htm

Tenth Commandment
... fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves
with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/tenth commandment.htm

Special Efforts
... Her patience was sorely tried when Salvationists thought their well-equipped hall
too good for drunkards' raids, and none the less when soldiers considered any ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/vi special efforts.htm

Isaiah's Discourse
... Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower
of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/iv isaiahs discourse.htm

After this Preface as to the Falsification by Heretics of the ...
... defile themselves with mankind, and thieves, but those also who have done evil of
a less flagrant kind, since it is written; [3122] Neither drunkards nor evil ...
/.../18 after this preface as.htm

The Heinous Sin of Drunkenness
... I know, indeed, that it is a common answer, which drunkards make to those, who,
out of love, would pull them as firebrands out of the fire, we are no body's ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the heinous sin of drunkenness.htm

Internal Foes.
... I do not say that seventy in every hundred are drunkards; I do not know that
one of them is; but they use alcohol. ... nor drunkards . . . ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/the overcoming life/part ii internal foes.htm

Talmage -- a Bloody Monster
... of the dead"going up miles high on human carcasses to find still other peaks far
above, mountain above mountain white with the bleached bones of drunkards? ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/talmage a bloody monster.htm

Drunkards (10 Occurrences)
...Drunkards (10 Occurrences). Matthew 24:49 and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with the drunkards, (WEB WEY NAS NIV). ...
/d/drunkards.htm - 9k

Ephraim's (14 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 28:1 Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading
flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley of ...
/e/ephraim's.htm - 10k

Drunkard (15 Occurrences)

/d/drunkard.htm - 11k

Underfoot (14 Occurrences)
... foot. (See NIV). Isaiah 28:3 The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim
shall be trodden under foot; (See NIV). Lamentations 3 ...
/u/underfoot.htm - 11k

Juice (8 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Joel 1:5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep, And howl all drinking wine, because
of the juice, For it hath been cut off from your mouth. (YLT). ...
/j/juice.htm - 9k

Wine (282 Occurrences)
... of RV, "their carouse"), and Nahum 1:10 ("drunken as drunkards;" lit., "soaked
according to their drink;" RV, "drenched, as it were, in their drink", ie ...
/w/wine.htm - 68k

Works (379 Occurrences)
... shall see the Lord. "Neither adulterers, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards" shall inherit the kingdom of God. Works are "good ...
/w/works.htm - 40k

Inherit (98 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers,
nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God. ...
/i/inherit.htm - 38k

Fading (8 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 28:1 Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading
flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley ...
/f/fading.htm - 9k

Folded (19 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Nahum 1:10 For while they are folded together as thorns, and while they are
drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry. (WBS). ...
/f/folded.htm - 12k

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