I. WINE, denoting properly the fermented juice of the grape, is used in the A. V. as the rendering of several HEBREW and GREEK WORDS. To these our attention must, in the first place, be directed.
yayin, according to Gesenius, from 1'14, an unused root, having the force of fervendi, ePstuena'i ; according to Ftirst, from in, like the Arable Aeth. 141, Greek FoTros, et sic porro ceteris in linguis, Arm. gini; Lat. Vinum ; Eng. Wine ; LXX. olvos, ao-rcds, -yXefitcos. Others take the word to be of Indo-European extraction, from the root we, to weave, or wan, to love. The meaning of the word, therefore, is regarded by some as uncertain, but apparently without reason, as Gesenius is clearly right in his derivation of it.
This word, the most commonly employed in the O. T. Scripture for wine, occurring about 142 times, is also the most comprehensive, including, like the corresponding English word, wines of all sorts, although used also in a more restricted sense, to denote red wine. That yayin was intoxicating admits of no question. Noah planted a vineyard, and drank of the yayin and was drunken (Gen. ix. 21) ; Nabal drank yayin and was very drunken (r Sam. xxv. 36, 37) ; the drunkards of Ephraim ' were overcome with yayin' (Is. xxviii. 1), or rather knocked down, or, as Gill paraphrases it, smitten, beaten, knocked down with it as with a hammer, and laid prostrate on the ground, where , they lie fixed to it, not able to rise.' Jeremiah says : am like a drunken man, and like a man whom yayin hath overcome ' (xxiii. 9).
But, although intoxicating, yet it was not only permitted to be drunk, but was also used for sacred purposes, and is spoken of as a blessing. Thus, in Jacob's blessing on Judah : His eyes shall be red with yayin, and his teeth white with milk' (Gen. xlix. 12). So in God's promise to restore his people to their own land I will bring again the captivity of my people . . . and they shall plant vineyards and drink the yayin thereof' (Amos iv. 19). Drink thy yayin,' says the preacher, with a merry heart, for God now accepteth thy works' (Eccles. ix. 7). The Nazarite, at the ex piration of his vow, was permitted to drink yayin (Num. vi. 13-20) ; the Israelites were permitted to drink yayin at their feasts (Dent. xiv. 24-26) ; yayin
was used in the sacred service of Jehovah, being poured out as a drink-offering to him (Exod. xxix.
; Lev. xxiii. 13 ; Num. xv. 5). Hence, it not only maketh glad the heart of man' (Ps. civ. 15), but also cheereth both God and man ' (Judg. ix. r3) ; its cheering effects being symbolically trans ferred to the Divine Being.
The intoxicating quality of yayzn Dr. Tattam confirms by Rabbinical testimony. The Mishna, in the treatise on the Passover, informs us that four cups of wine were poured out, and blessed, and drunk by each of the company at the eating of the Paschal Lamb ; and that water was also mixed with the wine, because it was considered too strong to be drunk alone. Pesachim, cap. vii. 13 ; x. r. In Hieros. Shabb. fol. xi. 1, we read, 'it is commanded that this rite be performed with red wine.' Babylon. Shabb. fol. lxxvii. r : Sharon wine is of famous report, with which they mix two parts of water.' Babylon. Beracoth. fol. 1. : Their wine (r) was very strong, and not fit for drinking without being mixed with water.' The Gemara adds : The i cup of blessing is not to be blessed until it is mixed with water.' The yerusalem Talmud says, It became a man nobly to entertain his wife and children (at the Passover), that at this feast they might be merry with wine,' i".' To meet the objection, How can intoxication be hindered ? the Rabbins replied, Because wine be- I tween eating does not intoxicate a man.' Hieros. Taint.' (Dr. Tattam's reply to a Pamphlet by Rev. W. Ritchie on the Scripture Testimony against In toxicating Wine, pp. 8, 9.) 2. en+n, Tirosh, from to possess, 'Mus tum, novum vinum ita dictum quia inebriat, brum occupat ' (Ges. Thes. 633). So Furst, t= uvis expressum, a. v. VI!? occupare, acqui rere, comparare' (Concord. 525. 2). Dr. Lees, it is true, says that it is so called because- it consti stituted one of the most valuable possessions of the Jews ' (Temp. Quest. p. 114). The word occurs about 34 times in the Bible (rendered in the LXX. by three distinct terms, orpos, ugucti.ea), some times in connection with yayin, sometimes with oil, and sometimes with words denoting the edible productions of the earth.