עָסִיס
must or fresh grape-juice (as just trodden out)
Definition
The Hebrew word עָסִיס (ʻâçîyç) refers to freshly pressed grape juice, specifically the sweet, unfermented juice that flows from grapes immediately after treading. It is often translated as 'must' or 'new wine' and represents the pure, initial product of the harvest. In some contexts, like Song of Solomon 8:2, it symbolizes a delightful, refreshing drink, while in prophetic passages such as Joel 3:18 and Amos 9:13, it becomes a powerful image of divine blessing and agricultural abundance in the messianic age.
Biblical Usage
This word is used five times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic and prophetic books. It appears in Song of Solomon 8:2 as a metaphor for a sweet, desirable drink. In the prophets, it is a key symbol of God's provision: Isaiah 49:26 uses it in a judgment context, Joel 1:5 laments its absence during a locust plague, and Joel 3:18 and Amos 9:13 both portray its abundant flow as a sign of future restoration and blessing from the Lord.
Etymology
The noun עָסִיס is derived from the root verb עָסַס (ʻâçaç, H6072), which means 'to press' or 'to tread.' This root directly connects the word to the physical process of treading grapes in a winepress to extract the juice. The meaning is thus firmly anchored in the agricultural practice of winemaking, emphasizing the fresh, unprocessed state of the liquid.
Semantic Range
עָסִיס carries significant theological weight as a symbol of God's covenantal blessing and eschatological abundance. Its use in prophetic visions (Joel 3:18, Amos 9:13) transforms a simple agricultural product into a powerful sign of restoration, prosperity, and divine favor in the promised future. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting how biblical writers used tangible, cultural imagery to convey spiritual promises of God's generous provision.
In ancient Israel, עָסִיס was the immediate, sweet product of the grape harvest, consumed fresh or allowed to ferment into wine. Its value lay in its purity and direct connection to the land's fertility. The modern concept of 'juice' is similar, but for ancient readers, this word evoked the entire harvest season, the communal work of treading grapes, and the tangible evidence of God's blessing on the crops.
יַיִן (yayin, H3196) — The general term for wine, which can be fermented. עָסִיס is its fresh, unfermented state. תִּירוֹשׁ (tîyrôsh, H8492) — Often translated as 'new wine' or 'must,' it can overlap with עָסִיס but sometimes implies a slightly more processed or stored product.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →