Drink, Strong
What Was "Strong Drink"?
In the Bible, the term "strong drink" translates the Hebrew word shekhar (and its Greek equivalent sikera). Unlike wine (yayin), which specifically denotes a fermented beverage made from grapes, shekhar served as a comprehensive category for all other intoxicating drinks. These were typically produced through the fermentation of various fruits, grains, and other plant materials. The word itself comes from a root meaning "to be or become drunk," clearly indicating its intoxicating nature. In most biblical passages, "wine and strong drink" are mentioned together as a pair, representing the totality of available alcoholic beverages in the ancient world (Leviticus 10:9; Deuteronomy 14:26; Proverbs 20:1).
Strong Drink in the Biblical Narrative
The concept of strong drink appears across the biblical timeline, from legal codes to prophetic warnings. In the wilderness period, a drink offering of shekhar was specified alongside offerings of wine and grain (Numbers 28:7). The Nazirite vow, a special consecration to God, required complete abstinence from all grape products and strong drink, highlighting its intoxicating power (Numbers 6:1-4). This prohibition was so serious that when the angel announced Samson's birth to his mother, he instructed her to abstain from wine and strong drink throughout her pregnancy (Judges 13:4, 7).
The wisdom literature of Proverbs contains stark warnings about the dangers of strong drink. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1). Another proverb describes the debilitating effects: "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? ... Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine" (Proverbs 23:29-30). The prophets also used strong drink as a metaphor for God's judgment. Isaiah pronounced woe upon those "who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink" (Isaiah 5:22), and described a coming day when "the new wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh" (Isaiah 24:7).
Not all references are negative, however. The law permitted the use of tithe money to buy "wine or strong drink, or anything you desire" to celebrate before the Lord (Deuteronomy 14:26). This suggests a regulated, celebratory use within proper religious and social boundaries.
Production and Ingredients
The Bible gives few specific details about the ingredients used to make strong drink. The most direct reference appears in Song of Solomon 8:2, where the beloved speaks of "spiced wine, the juice of my pomegranate." This implies pomegranate wine was one known variety. Based on historical evidence from surrounding cultures and the agricultural products available in the region, scholars believe strong drink was likely made from a variety of sources:
- Dates: Palm or date wine was probably the most common form, given the abundance of date palms in the Ancient Near East. While not mentioned by name in the Hebrew Bible, it appears frequently in contemporaneous Assyrian and Babylonian texts.
- Grain: Barley and other grains could be fermented into beer-like beverages.
- Honey: Mead, made from fermented honey, was known in the ancient world.
- Other Fruits: Apples, figs, and raisins could also be fermented.
The process likely involved crushing the base ingredient, mixing it with water, and allowing natural yeasts to ferment the sugars into alcohol. Some drinks may have been flavored with spices or herbs. By the time of Jerome (c. 400 AD), sikera was understood as "every kind of drink which can intoxicate, whether made from grain or from the juice of apples, or when honeycombs are boiled down into a sweet and strange drink, or the fruit of palm oppressed into liquor."
Theological and Ethical Significance
The biblical treatment of strong drink presents a balanced and realistic view of intoxicants. Scripture neither promotes total prohibition (outside specific vows like the Nazirite's) nor endorses unrestrained consumption. Instead, it establishes a framework of wisdom, self-control, and respect for the power of alcohol.
First, strong drink, like wine, is recognized as a gift from God's creation that can bring joy and be part of holy celebration (Deuteronomy 14:26; Psalm 104:14-15). However, this gift carries inherent danger because of its power to alter the mind and impair judgment. The consistent pairing of "wine and strong drink" in prohibitions (Leviticus 10:9; Ezekiel 44:21) underscores that all intoxicants share this dangerous potential. Leaders, especially priests and kings, were held to a higher standard regarding their use (Proverbs 31:4-5).
Second, intoxication is repeatedly linked to moral and spiritual failure. It clouds discernment, leads to violence and poverty, and can cause one to "forget what is decreed" (Proverbs 31:5). The New Testament carries this wisdom forward, listing drunkenness among the serious works of the flesh (Galatians 5:21) and urging believers to be filled with the Spirit rather than with wine (Ephesians 5:18).
Ultimately, the biblical witness calls for stewardship and wisdom. It acknowledges the cultural place of fermented drinks while warning forcefully against the sin of drunkenness. This creates a theological principle applicable beyond alcohol: God's good gifts must be received with gratitude and used with discipline, lest they become instruments of harm.
Modern Application and Interpretation
For contemporary readers, understanding "strong drink" helps clarify passages that might otherwise seem to refer only to grape wine. It expands our view of ancient daily life and the specific temptations people faced. When the Bible warns against drunkenness, it is condemning the abuse of all mind-altering intoxicants, not just one type. This principle remains relevant as cultures develop new substances with similar effects.
The biblical model offers a path between the extremes of legalism and license. It affirms the goodness of creation and celebratory feasting while prioritizing clear-minded devotion to God, self-control, and love for one's neighbor. The call to avoid drunkenness is fundamentally a call to spiritual alertness and responsible stewardship of the body and mind, which are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Biblical Context
The term 'strong drink' (shekhar) appears throughout the Hebrew Bible and once in the New Testament (Luke 1:15). It is most frequently paired with 'wine' in legal, wisdom, and prophetic texts. Key appearances include: the Nazirite vow laws (Numbers 6:1-4), priestly conduct regulations (Leviticus 10:9), tithing provisions (Deuteronomy 14:26), wisdom warnings (Proverbs 20:1; 31:4-6), and prophetic judgments (Isaiah 5:11, 22; 24:9; 28:7; 29:9; 56:12). It plays a dual role—as a permitted element of celebration within God's law and as a symbol of excess, folly, and divine judgment when abused.
Theological Significance
Strong drink illustrates a core biblical tension: the goodness of God's creation versus the human propensity for sin. As a created substance capable of bringing joy (Deuteronomy 14:26), it is part of God's provision. Yet its power to intoxicate represents a test of human wisdom and self-control. Its abuse is consistently linked to spiritual dullness, moral failure, and rebellion against God's order. The prohibitions for priests and Nazirites highlight that approaching God's presence requires clarity of mind and intentional holiness. Ultimately, the topic teaches about the responsible stewardship of God's gifts, the importance of sobriety for spiritual discernment, and the need for grace to overcome fleshly desires.
Historical Background
Archaeological and textual evidence from ancient Near Eastern cultures (Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian) confirms the widespread production and consumption of fermented beverages from dates, grains, honey, and various fruits. Date palm wine was likely the most common 'strong drink' in Israel and Judah, given the region's ecology. The Hebrew word shekhar is linguistically related to terms for sugar and intoxication, pointing to its sweet, fermented nature. Extra-biblical sources, such as the 5th-century AD commentary by Jerome, describe sikera as encompassing all intoxicants made from grains, apples, honey, palms, or herbs. This broad category distinguished local, often cheaper, fermented drinks from grape wine, which became a major agricultural product after the Israelite settlement in Canaan.