One category of life challenge that we often see in the counseling office is when someone has allowed alcohol to become a self-defeating addiction in their life. Drunkenness is the term that the Bible uses to describe someone whom has consumed too much alcoholic beverage (wine or strong drink) and therefore exhibits loss of control of his/her senses or actions. Many times not only is the drinker suffering from the effects of drunkenness, but the consequence of their poor choice affects many of their loved ones as well. We often see drunkenness lead to physical and verbal abuse, loss of employment and an inability to hold onto a job, incarceration, chronic illness and even death. The Bible speaks of drunkenness and is full of exhortations against it as well as examples of what results from drunkenness. Drinking alcohol, even in excess is not considered a disease, instead it is a choice.
Drinking wine in moderation is not considered drunkenness and the Bible has guidelines for this as well. Here are some good KJV Bible verses to study regarding drunkenness and drinking.
And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, And oil to make his face to shine, And bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. (Psalm 104:15)
Biblical Exhortation Against Drunkenness
Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Ephesians 5:15–18 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Some Examples of Results of Drunkenness
Genesis 9:21–22 And he [Noah] drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Proverbs 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: And drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
Isaiah 5:22–23 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, And men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, And take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Isaiah 28:7–8 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, They are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; They err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, So that there is no place clean.
Matthew 24:48–51 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
1 Thessalonians 5:6–7 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
Proper Use and Biblical Instruction for Drinking Alcohol
Wine given as a blessing:
Genesis 14:18–20 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Psalm 104:15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, And oil to make his face to shine, And bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.
A celebration at the yearly feasts:
Deuteronomy 14:26–27 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
Abstinence best if it is a stumbling block:
Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
Jesus drank wine:
Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding celebration:
John 2:10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
Wine is good medicine:
Luke 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
1 Timothy 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
Final Thoughts
The Bible is clear that we should never drink wine or strong drink to the point of drunkenness. The Word of God has many examples that we can learn from regarding the consequences to drinking too much alcohol. Though drinking in excess is absolutely admonished we can also look to the Bible for proper use and instruction when it comes to choosing to drink alcohol in moderation. We even have instruction that we should abstain from wine and strong drink when in the presence of someone who has a tendency to get drunk.
Take a look at this related article: Verses to Help with Addiction
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, King James Version.
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