Subject: did the wine from the water make you dr |
Bible Note: I stand corrected on the number of word translated "wine". However, the 3 principal words that concern us in the Old Testament are yayin (03196) wine, tiyrowsh (08492) sweet wine, and shekar (07941) strong drink. According to Rabbinic tradition (Talmud and Mishna) the product of the grape vine was called shekar from pressing until it was 40 days old (and already intoxicating). From 40 days old untill it was 3 years old it was yayin (and now totally intoxicating) and after this it was called shekar. There are places where the context does not indicate the intoxicating value of these beverages but I do not know of any example where they are CLEARLY not alcoholic. I do not know where you found the information that says they used wine skins to slow fermentation. Please let me know your source as this is something I would like to follow up myself. In the New testament there are 2 words, Oinos and Gleukos, that relate to wine. The other 2 words are derivatives of oinos. At the time of Pentecost in Acts there was no way they could have HAD freshly squeezed juice. By then the 'gleukos' must have been at least partially fermented. Certainly the 2 derived words, paroinos and oinophlugia seem to refer to a fermented wine, possibly very strongly fermented. Which brings us back to 'oinos'. In fact, as you mention, this could refer to anything from freshly squezed grape juice to fermented wine. It seems the ancients did not understand the mechanics of fermentation (that yeast caused it to take place) but they certainly knew that something changed that fresh juice into wine. If wine is not always alcoholic (though in the case of the Hebrew word 'Yayin' this cannot be supported) neither is it always NOT alcoholic. The wine Jesus made at Cana was not only alcoholic wine, but the best alcoholic wine ever. The master of ceremonies testifies to this. I am writing from work so some of my material is not at hand and my memory is not always perfect. I will try to remember to bring in better documentation and update this posting tomorrow. Tim Sheaby |