Symbols and Similitudes: Wine
Jump to: Nave'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Wine holds a significant place in the biblical narrative, serving as a symbol and similitude with various meanings throughout Scripture. It is often associated with joy, blessing, and abundance, yet it also carries warnings against excess and moral decay.

Joy and Celebration

Wine is frequently depicted as a symbol of joy and celebration. In the Old Testament, it is a part of festive occasions and offerings. Psalm 104:15 states, "wine that gladdens the heart of man," highlighting its role in bringing joy and gladness. Similarly, Ecclesiastes 9:7 encourages, "Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved your works."

Blessing and Prosperity

Wine is also a symbol of blessing and prosperity. In Genesis 27:28 , Isaac blesses Jacob, saying, "May God give to you the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth—an abundance of grain and new wine." This blessing underscores wine as a sign of divine favor and material abundance. The Promised Land is described as a place of vineyards and wine, indicating prosperity (Deuteronomy 8:7-8).

Covenant and Sacrament

In the New Testament, wine takes on profound sacramental significance. At the Last Supper, Jesus uses wine as a symbol of the new covenant in His blood. Matthew 26:27-28 records, "Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'" Here, wine becomes a central element in the institution of the Lord's Supper, representing the sacrificial blood of Christ.

Judgment and Wrath

Conversely, wine can symbolize judgment and wrath. The prophets often use the imagery of a cup of wine to depict God's judgment upon nations. Jeremiah 25:15 declares, "Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it." This metaphor illustrates the severity of divine judgment and the inescapable consequences of sin.

Warning Against Excess

Scripture also warns against the dangers of excessive wine consumption. Proverbs 20:1 cautions, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise." The New Testament echoes this warning, urging believers to avoid drunkenness. Ephesians 5:18 advises, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."

Transformation and New Life

Wine is a symbol of transformation and new life, as seen in Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana, where He turns water into wine (John 2:1-11). This act signifies the transformative power of Christ and the inauguration of a new covenant, filled with grace and truth.

In summary, wine in the Bible is a multifaceted symbol, representing joy, blessing, covenant, judgment, and transformation. It serves as a reminder of both the goodness of God's creation and the moral responsibilities that accompany its use.
Nave's Topical Index
Jeremiah 25:15-17
For thus said the LORD God of Israel to me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it.
Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 26:27
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink you all of it;
Nave's Topical Index

Mark 14:23
And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
Nave's Topical Index

Luke 22:17
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Of the Sacraments.
... plebeian by a ring, so we wear our symbols to distinguish ... These similitudes are
applicable to the secondary reason ... if not received in faith, just as wine and oil ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 14 of the sacraments.htm

Introduction.
... admits into the number almost all similitudes indiscriminately ... into Babylon, and
profanely used as a wine cup in ... to the language of dramatic symbols rather than ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/introduction.htm

Clement of Alexandria.
... quoted, 384-385, 403. Similitudes in instruction, use of, 281. ... Symbols, Pythagorean,
in philosophic proverbs, 450. ... Wine, how used by Christians, 243. ...
/.../clement/who is the rich man that shall be saved/clement of alexandria.htm

Of the Ordering of all the virtues through the Seven Gifts of the ...
... sacraments, with their forms and outward symbols, than with ... reverence, often drinks
of the wine, and often ... and recognise God in ghostly similitudes, and also ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter lxiii of the ordering.htm

Formula Concordi??.
... judicis; h??c enim dignitas solis sacris literis debetur: sed duntaxat pro religione
But the other symbols and other ... with the same, as wine and poison are mixed ...
/.../schaff/the creeds of the evangelical protestant churches/formula concordiae.htm

Letter Lv. Replies to Questions of Januarius.
... devoutness of spirit, we accept similitudes adapted to ... prescribed, such as water,
bread, wine, and oil ... like manner, whensoever illustrative symbols are borrowed ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter lv replies to questions.htm

Of the Five Sacraments, Falsely So Called. Their Spuriousness ...
... the most part, lights the tapers, who pours wine and water ... the patena with the host,
as symbols of the ... All the parables and similitudes in Scripture will be so ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 19 of the five.htm

Dialogue i. --The Immutable.
... He shall wash his robe in wine and his ... called Himself a vine, dignified the visible
symbols by the ... invented the ogdoads and tetrads and similitudes are proved ...
/.../theodoret/the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/dialogue i the immutable.htm

Resources
Does the Bible contain allegory? | GotQuestions.org

Is Christmas a pagan holiday? | GotQuestions.org

When the Bible is translated into English, how do the translators decide what punctuation to use? | GotQuestions.org

Symbols: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Symbols

Symbols and Similitudes of the Divine Presence, the Pillar of Cloud

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: A Dove

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: A Seal

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: A Voice

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Abundant

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Cleansing By

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Cloven Tongues

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Comforting

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Consecrating

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Earnest

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Fertilizing

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Fire

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Guiding

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Healing

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Illuminating

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Imperceptible

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Impressing

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Incomprehensible

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Oil

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Powerful

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Purifying

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Rain and Dew

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Refreshing

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Reviving

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Searching

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Sensible in Its Effects

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Speaking

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Vivifying

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Warning

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Water

Symbols and Similitudes of the Holy Spirit: Wind

Symbols and Similitudes: A Boiling Pot

Symbols and Similitudes: A Siege

Symbols and Similitudes: A Vine

Symbols and Similitudes: Almond Rod

Symbols and Similitudes: Basket of Fruit

Symbols and Similitudes: Being Mute

Symbols and Similitudes: Belt

Symbols and Similitudes: Bottles

Symbols and Similitudes: Bow-Shot by Joash

Symbols and Similitudes: Bow-Shot by Jonathan

Symbols and Similitudes: Bread

Symbols and Similitudes: Breaking of a Potter's Vessel

Symbols and Similitudes: Canaan, of the Spiritual Rest

Symbols and Similitudes: Ceremonially Unclean Food

Symbols and Similitudes: Change of Domicile

Symbols and Similitudes: Childhood

Symbols and Similitudes: Circumcision, of the Covenant of Abraham

Symbols and Similitudes: Cooking

Symbols and Similitudes: Darkness, of God's Inscrutability

Symbols and Similitudes: Death

Symbols and Similitudes: Eating and Drinking in Fear

Symbols and Similitudes: Eating Bread With Alertness

Symbols and Similitudes: Ephah

Symbols and Similitudes: Ezekiel's Beard

Symbols and Similitudes: Food

Symbols and Similitudes: Good and Bad Figs

Symbols and Similitudes: Handwriting on the Wall

Symbols and Similitudes: Harvest

Symbols and Similitudes: Invitation to Approach

Symbols and Similitudes: Isaiah's Children

Symbols and Similitudes: Jeremiah's Deeds of Land

Symbols and Similitudes: Jonah

Symbols and Similitudes: Lapping Water

Symbols and Similitudes: Manna

Symbols and Similitudes: Marrying a Whore

Symbols and Similitudes: Men Meeting Saul

Symbols and Similitudes: Mourning Forbidden

Symbols and Similitudes: Nakedness

Symbols and Similitudes: Offering Water to Drink

Symbols and Similitudes: Passover, of the Sparing of the Firstborn, and of the Atonement Made by Christ

Symbols and Similitudes: Posture

Symbols and Similitudes: Praying Toward the Temple

Symbols and Similitudes: Rain and Thunder

Symbols and Similitudes: Rainbow

Symbols and Similitudes: Roll

Symbols and Similitudes: Sacrificial Animals

Symbols and Similitudes: Salt

Symbols and Similitudes: Sanctuary

Symbols and Similitudes: Shadow on Ahaz' Sun-Dial

Symbols and Similitudes: Sticks and Staves

Symbols and Similitudes: Tabernacle

Symbols and Similitudes: The Book Thrown Into the Euphrates River

Symbols and Similitudes: The Bronze Serpent, of Christ

Symbols and Similitudes: The Plumb-Line

Symbols and Similitudes: The Rock That Was Struck

Symbols and Similitudes: The Rock That Was Struck, of Christ

Symbols and Similitudes: The Sprinkled Blood, of the Covenant

Symbols and Similitudes: The Star in the East

Symbols and Similitudes: The Tearing of the Curtain in the Temple

Symbols and Similitudes: The Torn Altar

Symbols and Similitudes: The Whole System of Mosaic Rites

Symbols and Similitudes: Thunder on Mount Sinai

Symbols and Similitudes: Trees of Life and Knowledge

Symbols and Similitudes: Two Sticks

Symbols and Similitudes: Waving the Wave offering and Lifting up the Heave offering

Symbols and Similitudes: Wine

Symbols and Similitudes: Wine, of the Atoning Blood

Symbols and Similitudes: Wounding

Symbols and Similitudes: Yokes

Related Terms

Asherah (40 Occurrences)

Writing (194 Occurrences)

Golden (86 Occurrences)

Calf (39 Occurrences)

Matrix (4 Occurrences)

A (102073 Occurrences)

Symbol (8 Occurrences)

Images (158 Occurrences)

Money (284 Occurrences)

Symeon (5 Occurrences)

Bind (68 Occurrences)

Jeroboam (96 Occurrences)

Ezekiel (4 Occurrences)

Hellenism

Hellenist

Sanctification (13 Occurrences)

Omega (3 Occurrences)

Operation (8 Occurrences)

Gershonites (17 Occurrences)

Gershon (23 Occurrences)

Imagery (5 Occurrences)

Impress (6 Occurrences)

Idolatry (14 Occurrences)

Trumpets (52 Occurrences)

Table (125 Occurrences)

Tie (18 Occurrences)

Represent (10 Occurrences)

Education (4 Occurrences)

Dust (182 Occurrences)

Pharaoh (245 Occurrences)

Phylacteries (2 Occurrences)

Phenicia (1 Occurrence)

Picture (6 Occurrences)

Ceremony (3 Occurrences)

Chambers (68 Occurrences)

Creature (73 Occurrences)

Creeds

Alpha (3 Occurrences)

Adoration

Alphabet (2 Occurrences)

Symbolic (2 Occurrences)

Ashe'rim (19 Occurrences)

Aramaic (12 Occurrences)

Sacraments

Hail (42 Occurrences)

Revelation (52 Occurrences)

Urim (8 Occurrences)

Mountain (298 Occurrences)

Thummim (6 Occurrences)

Antichrist (4 Occurrences)

Type (12 Occurrences)

Sanctuary (250 Occurrences)

Queen (59 Occurrences)

Hezekiah (124 Occurrences)

Apocalyptic

Literature (2 Occurrences)

Semites

Chariot (102 Occurrences)

Exaltation (9 Occurrences)

Semitic

Language (112 Occurrences)

Josiah (51 Occurrences)

Eucharist

Supper (17 Occurrences)

Languages (36 Occurrences)

Place (9195 Occurrences)

Archaeology

Nehelamite (4 Occurrences)

Creed

Minor (2 Occurrences)

Astronomy

Minds (137 Occurrences)

King (25505 Occurrences)

Asia (22 Occurrences)

Hebrew (37 Occurrences)

Strength (517 Occurrences)

Mighty (514 Occurrences)

Rome (12 Occurrences)

Symbols and Similitudes: Waving the Wave offering and Lifting up the Heave offering
Top of Page
Top of Page