Topical Bible: Wine: Made from Grapes

◄ Wine: Made from Grapes ►

Jump to: Nave's • Greek • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Wine, a fermented beverage made primarily from grapes, holds significant cultural, religious, and symbolic importance throughout the Bible. It is mentioned frequently in both the Old and New Testaments, serving various roles from a symbol of blessing and abundance to a cautionary element against excess and moral decay.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, wine is often associated with joy and celebration. Psalm 104:14-15 states, "He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart." Here, wine is depicted as a gift from God, intended to bring gladness and enhance human life.

Wine also plays a role in religious rituals and offerings. In Exodus 29:40 , wine is included as part of the drink offering: "With the first lamb, offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering." This inclusion underscores its sacred use in worship and sacrifice.

However, the Old Testament 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." This highlights the potential for wine to lead individuals away from wisdom and righteousness when consumed irresponsibly.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, wine continues to hold a place of importance. One of the most notable references is the miracle at the wedding in Cana, where Jesus turns water into wine (John 2:1-11). This act not only demonstrates Jesus' divine power but also signifies the joy and abundance of the new covenant.

Wine is also central to the Last Supper, where Jesus uses it as a symbol of His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. In Matthew 26:27-28 , Jesus says, "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.'" This establishes wine as a key element in Christian sacramental practice, particularly in the Eucharist or Communion.

The New Testament, like the Old, advises moderation. Ephesians 5:18 instructs, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." This verse contrasts the physical effects of wine with the spiritual fulfillment found in the Holy Spirit, encouraging believers to seek spiritual rather than worldly intoxication.

Symbolism and Cultural Context

Throughout the Bible, wine symbolizes various aspects of life and faith. It represents joy, celebration, and divine blessing, as well as the potential for moral failure when misused. The cultivation of vineyards and the production of wine were integral to the agrarian society of ancient Israel, making wine a familiar and accessible element in daily life and religious practice.

In biblical symbolism, wine often signifies the abundance of God's provision and the richness of His blessings. It is used metaphorically to describe the prosperity of the land (Deuteronomy 33:28) and the joy of the Messianic age (Amos 9:13-14).

Conclusion

Wine, made from grapes, is a multifaceted element within the biblical narrative, reflecting both the blessings of God's creation and the moral responsibilities of His people. Its presence in scripture serves as a reminder of the balance between enjoying God's gifts and maintaining spiritual discipline.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 40:11
And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 49:11
Binding his foal to the vine, and his ass's colt to the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 25:6
And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make to all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 40:1,12
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive to Babylon.
Nave's Topical Index

Greek

3631. oinos -- wine
... wine. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: oinos Phonetic Spelling:
(oy'-nos) Short Definition: wine Definition: wine. 3631 -- made from grapes. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3631.htm - 6k

Library

Whether Wine of the Grape is the Proper Matter of this Sacrament?
... sacrament can be made from must. Nevertheless entire grapes ought not to be mixed
with this sacrament, because then there would be something else besides wine. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether wine of the grape.htm

The Wine of Prayer
... The grapes from which the best Wine of Prayer is made come from the Valley of
Sore Temptation. That is not a pleasant place, by any means. ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter twelve the wine of.htm

The Cross and the Winepress.
... When they had made their winepress, they filled the bag with grapes, nailed it ... pestle,
and put in motion the side arms, in order to make the wine flow. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter lv the cross and.htm

How by Holy Complacency we are Made as Little Infants at Our ...
... is to her a cluster of grapes, but of Cyprian grapes, [228] that is ... by the sun's
heat changes its colour, becomes a grateful wine, and is made good for food ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ii how by holy.htm

Whether in this Sacrament the Substance of the Bread and Wine ...
... made use of in this sacrament, inasmuch as they denote ecclesiastical unity, as
"one bread is made from many grains and wine from many grapes," as Augustine ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether in this sacrament the.htm

How the vine of the Priest of Rieti, Whose House St Francis ...
... of St Francis, the vine, though despoiled of its grapes, produced an abundance of
wine, so in the same way many Christians, whose sins had made them barren of ...
/.../ugolino/the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter xix how the vine.htm

Further Proofs of the Same Proposition, Drawn from the Promises ...
... years; [4739] and not only was he not made lord of ... what way did he inherit much corn
and wine here, he ... every one of the clusters ten thousand grapes, and every ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxiii further proofs of the.htm

Bread and Wine
... You know how bread is made. ... By the wine at communion Christ meant to teach us that
just as the ... must be attached to the stalk before there can be grapes, so you ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/bread and wine.htm

Whether the Matter of this Sacrament is Bread and Wine?
... effect with regard to the whole Church, which is made up of many believers, just
"as bread is composed of many grains, and wine flows from many grapes," as the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the matter of this.htm

The Morning-Meal in the Pharisee's House - Meals and Feasts among ...
... To these we should add wine spiced, either with pepper, or with absinthe; and what
is described as vinegar, a cooling drink made either of grapes that had not ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii the morning-meal in.htm