Count
How many times does the Bible mention wine?
Words translated 'wine' or 'strong drink' appear more than 230 times across the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Wine is mentioned more often than the word for 'prayer' in many translations and is among the most frequently named substances in the Bible.
The finding
mentions of "wine and strong drink"
approximately, across all related vocabulary; varies by translation
Hebrew yayin (יַיִן, 'wine'), tirosh (תִּירוֹשׁ, 'new wine'), shekar (שֵׁכָר, 'strong drink'), and related fermentation vocabulary across the Pentateuch, prophets, and writings.
Greek oinos (οἶνος, 'wine') primarily, with one occurrence of gleukos (γλεῦκος, 'sweet/new wine') at Acts 2:13.
Notable examples
- First mention: Noah plants a vineyard and becomes drunk on its wine (Genesis 9:20-21).
- Wine appears in the very first miracle of Jesus in the Gospel of John — turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11). The text describes six stone water jars, each holding 'twenty to thirty gallons.'
- Wine is paired with bread as the elements of Passover and, in the Gospels, of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-20).
- Proverbs 20:1 (BSB): 'Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by them is not wise.'
- 1 Timothy 5:23 (BSB): 'Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.'
- The vineyard appears as a metaphor for Israel in Isaiah 5, and 'I am the vine' is used by Jesus in John 15:1-8.
The finding
Wine and strong drink — referenced through Hebrew yayin, tirosh, and shekar in the Old Testament and Greek oinos in the New — appear more than 230 times across the biblical canon. Wine is one of the most frequently named substances in the Bible, more often referenced than:
- “Prayer” (around 110 occurrences in many translations)
- “Faith” (around 250 occurrences, slightly more)
- “Repentance” (around 100 occurrences)
It is paired with bread as the elements of celebration, sacrifice, and — in Christian tradition — the Last Supper.
A breakdown of the vocabulary
The Bible does not use a single word for “wine.” Several distinct Hebrew and Greek terms are translated with various English words depending on context:
| Word | Language | Approximate count | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| יַיִן (yayin) | Hebrew | 140+ | Standard term for fermented grape wine |
| תִּירוֹשׁ (tirosh) | Hebrew | 38 | Often “new wine”; may refer to wine in early stages of fermentation |
| שֵׁכָר (shekar) | Hebrew | 23 | ”Strong drink,” a separate fermented beverage |
| οἶνος (oinos) | Greek | 32 | Standard NT term, used in Gospels and Pauline letters |
| γλεῦκος (gleukos) | Greek | 1 (Acts 2:13) | “Sweet wine” or “new wine” |
The figure “more than 230” is the combined count across these terms in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament.
Notable examples
- First mention: Noah plants a vineyard after the flood and becomes drunk on its wine (Genesis 9:20–21).
- First miracle in John: Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11). The narrative specifies six stone water jars, each holding “twenty to thirty gallons” — somewhere between 120 and 180 gallons of wine in total.
- Passover and the Last Supper: Wine is the element of the cup in the Passover meal and in the Last Supper accounts (Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, 1 Corinthians 11:23–26).
- Wisdom-literature warnings: Proverbs 20:1, 23:29–35, and 31:4–7 address the dangers and proper uses of wine.
- Pauline pastoral instruction: 1 Timothy 5:23 advises “a little wine” for medicinal reasons. Ephesians 5:18 contrasts drunkenness with being filled with the Spirit.
- Vineyard imagery: Isaiah 5:1–7 (the song of the vineyard), John 15:1–8 (“I am the vine”), and the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16).
Related entries
- What does the Bible say about alcohol? — every passage commonly cited
- How many times does the Bible mention money?
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