Word Research
Word Study: "Wine" (Meaning, Symbolism & Prophetic Significance
Wine is one of the most symbolically rich elements in Scripture—representing both joy and divine wrath, covenant blessings and spiritual deception. From the wedding at Cana to the wine of Babylon’s wrath, the Bible presents wine as a sign of celebration, judgment, and prophetic fulfillment.
The Literal Use of "Wine" in Scripture
📖 Genesis 9:21 – “And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.”
📖 Psalm 104:15 – “And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.”
📖 John 2:9-10 – “When the ruler of the feast had tasted the wine that was made, and knew not whence it was… but thou hast kept the good wine until now.”
🔹 Wine is commonly associated with celebrations and blessings, but also with moral failure.
🔹 It is both a physical drink and a symbol of deeper spiritual truths.
🔹 Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine—showing wine as a sign of divine joy and transformation.
🔥 The Bible’s use of wine is complex—it is both a gift and a potential stumbling block.
The Prophetic & Symbolic Use of "Wine"
🔥 In prophecy, wine is more than just a drink—it represents belief systems, spiritual influence, and doctrinal teachings that shape nations and individuals.
The Bible presents two distinct kinds of wine:
📖 Revelation 17:2 – “With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
🔹 Wine as a symbol of truth and Christ’s covenant: Jesus used wine to represent His blood, sealing the New Covenant (Luke 22:20). This signifies true doctrine, redemption, and spiritual nourishment.
🔹 Wine as a symbol of deception and false belief systems: Babylon’s wine represents spiritual intoxication—a corrupt doctrine that blinds nations, leading them away from God’s truth. This is the belief system of compromise, idolatry, and rebellion.
📖 Isaiah 29:9-10 – “They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep.”
🔹 False teachings and worldly ideologies act like intoxicating wine—dulling spiritual discernment and leading people into deception.
🔹 God’s people are called to reject Babylon’s wine and drink instead from the cup of truth—aligning with Christ’s kingdom and His eternal covenant.
📖 Revelation 14:8 – “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
🔥 Wine in prophecy is not just about a substance—it represents a system of thought, a belief system that either leads to truth or deception. The question is: Which cup will we drink from?
Wine as a Symbol of Joy & Covenant
🔥 Wine in the Bible is also a representation of divine joy, covenant, and spiritual fulfillment. It is tied to God’s provision, abundance, and the ultimate fulfillment found in Christ.
📖 Ecclesiastes 9:7 – “Drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.”
📖 Luke 22:20 – “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
📖 John 2:9-10 – “Thou hast kept the good wine until now.”
🔹 Wine represents joy and celebration in Scripture—given by God as a gift of abundance.
🔹 The most significant use of wine in the New Testament is at the Last Supper, where Jesus declared it the symbol of His covenant.
🔹 The miracle at Cana (John 2) foreshadowed the ultimate transformation in Christ—the best wine (salvation) comes through Him.
📖 Isaiah 55:1 – “Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
🔹 This passage connects wine with the free gift of God’s grace—contrasting with Babylon’s wine, which brings deception.
🔹 Those who drink of Christ’s wine (His blood, covenant, and truth) receive eternal joy.
🔥 There are two cups in Scripture—the wine of joy and salvation in Christ, and the wine of wrath and deception in Babylon. Which will we drink?
Application: How Should Believers View Wine?
🔥 Beyond its physical use, wine in Scripture represents spiritual realities—either as a covenant blessing or as a deceptive influence leading to destruction. The question is not just about drinking wine, but about which spiritual wine we partake in.
📖 1 Corinthians 10:21 – “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.”
📖 Ephesians 5:18 – “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
📖 Revelation 18:3-4 – “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication… Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.”
🔹 Believers are called to drink from the cup of Christ—His covenant, truth, and spiritual fulfillment.
🔹 The world offers a counterfeit wine—false doctrines, empty pleasures, and deception.
🔹 Being “drunk” in Scripture often represents being overcome by false teachings or worldliness, rather than being filled with the Holy Spirit.
📖 Matthew 26:29 – “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
🔥 Our true calling is not to earthly indulgence, but to the ultimate cup of joy with Christ in His coming Kingdom. The question remains: Which cup will we drink from—Babylon’s deception or Christ’s eternal truth?
Final Thought: Which Cup Will We Drink?
📖 Revelation 19:15 – “And he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
🔥 The Bible presents two cups—one of joy and salvation, the other of wrath and judgment.
🚀 Which cup will we drink from? The choice is ours.
“But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” – Matthew 26:29
Wine In English
Wine
Wine In Hebrew
יַיִן (Yayin) – Strong’s H3196 – Fermented wine, intoxicating drink
תִּירוֹשׁ (Tirosh) – Strong’s H8492 – New wine, freshly pressed grape juice
Wine In Greek
οἶνος (Oinos) – Strong’s G3631 – Wine, fermented or unfermented grape product
Word Count
The word “Wine” is used a total of 231 times. 144 times in the Old Testament and 90 times in the New Testament.