23 Bible Verses About Alcohol

Navigating the topic of alcohol can feel like walking a tightrope. On one hand, it’s a common part of social gatherings and celebrations. On the other, it can lead to challenges and struggles if not approached with care. Whether you’re someone who enjoys a glass of wine with dinner or you’re exploring sobriety, understanding what the Bible says about alcohol can offer valuable insights.

The Bible doesn’t shy away from discussing alcohol, and it provides a balanced perspective that encourages both enjoyment and caution. It’s not about drawing hard lines but about understanding the heart behind the message. These 23 Bible verses about alcohol will guide you through the wisdom and warnings found in Scripture, helping you make informed and thoughtful choices. So, let’s dive in and explore what the Bible has to say about this age-old topic.

23 Bible Verses About Alcohol

Verses About Moderation
Verses About Drunkenness
Verses About Wine as a Blessing
Verses About Warnings Against Excess
Verses About Alcohol in Religious Context

The Bible often speaks to the importance of moderation in all things, including the consumption of alcohol. The wisdom literature, such as Proverbs, frequently highlights the value of self-control and balance. This approach encourages individuals to enjoy the gifts of creation responsibly, without allowing them to become a stumbling block. The emphasis is on maintaining a clear mind and a steady heart, ensuring that one’s actions remain aligned with spiritual principles.

Proverbs 20:1: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

1 Timothy 3:8: “In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.”

Titus 2:3: “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.”

1 Peter 4:3: “For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.”

Proverbs 23:20–21: “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”

Drunkenness is depicted in the Bible as a state that leads to poor judgment and moral compromise. Stories like that of Noah and Lot illustrate the potential consequences of overindulgence, serving as cautionary tales about the loss of dignity and the vulnerability that can accompany excessive drinking. The scriptures often associate drunkenness with a loss of self-control, urging believers to remain vigilant and sober-minded.

Ephesians 5:18: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:19–21: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Isaiah 5:11: “Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine.”

Proverbs 23:29–30: “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.”

Wine is sometimes portrayed as a symbol of joy and celebration, a gift to be enjoyed in the right context. In the Psalms and other poetic books, wine is described as something that gladdens the heart, reflecting the abundance and blessings of life. The miracle at the wedding in Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine, underscores the idea of wine as a sign of divine generosity and festivity.

Psalm 104:14–15: “He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.”

Ecclesiastes 9:7: “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.”

Amos 9:14: “I will bring my people Israel back from exile. They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.”

John 2:9–10: “And the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, ‘Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.’”

The Bible contains numerous warnings against excess, particularly when it comes to alcohol. These admonitions serve as reminders of the dangers that come with overindulgence, such as strife, poverty, and spiritual decline. The prophets and apostles alike caution against letting any substance take control, urging believers to remain steadfast and disciplined in their walk of faith.

Proverbs 23:31–32: “Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.”

Isaiah 28:7: “And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.”

Habakkuk 2:15: “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies.”

Proverbs 31:4–5: “It is not for kings, Lemuel—it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.”

Hosea 4:11: “to prostitution; old wine and new wine take away their understanding.”

Alcohol has played a role in various religious contexts throughout biblical history. From the offerings in the temple to the Last Supper, where wine was used as a symbol of the new covenant, alcohol has been part of sacred rituals and ceremonies. These instances highlight the potential for alcohol to be part of meaningful spiritual practices, provided it is approached with reverence and respect.

1 Timothy 5:23: “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.”

Numbers 6:3: “They must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins.”

Luke 7:33–34: “For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’”

Deuteronomy 14:26: “Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice.”

Judges 13:4: “Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean.”