There are many KJV Bible verses against drinking alcohol. Although the word “alcohol” is never mentioned in the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the words wine and strong drink are used. Intoxicating beverages were common in Bible times just as they are today, and the Bible has much to say on this topic.
These Bible verses against drinking alcohol are in the order they appear in the Bible. This is not a comprehensive list of all of the verses about wine and strong drink but rather highlights the warnings against indulging in such beverages.
Old Testament Bible Verses Against Drinking Alcohol KJV
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for “wine” is yayin and the Hebrew word for “strong drink” is shekar. Although God allowed His people to drink alcohol, He also had strict rules regarding who and when they could indulge. But He also has many warnings and admonitions throughout the Bible against excessive drinking and drunkenness.
The first mention of the word wine is found in the first book of the Old Testament.
Genesis 9:21
“And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.” (KJV)
The context of this verse is Noah. After the great flood, Noah, his sons, and their wives settled themselves into the new cleansed earth. Noah then planted a vineyard, grew grapes, and made wine. Then he drank his wine, got drunk, and was naked in his tent.
While this verse seems like the effects of drunkenness were very personal and private, the verses that follow describing the actions of drunk Noah, resulted in Noah, after he was sober, pronouncing a curse on his grandson. God never forbade Noah to grow grapes and make wine. But since he did it to the point of excessive drinking, the result was a curse.
Leviticus 10:8-11
“And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.” (KJV)
The priests who were responsible for the tabernacle, the worship facility of God, were never to drink either wine or strong drink when they were working. If they did, God promised to kill them. The service of God was very serious and in this special work, partaking of intoxicating beverages was strictly forbidden.
It is not a good idea to drink alcohol on any job. But an application is for those Christians who today take the service of God seriously, they too should abstain from alcohol.
Proverbs 3:10
“So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” (KJV)
Proverbs is a book of instruction from King Solomon to his son. This verse is the first verse in the book of Proverbs that mentions wine. The Hebrew word for new wine is “tiyrowsh” which means unfermented grape juice.
Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (KJV)
Unlike the blessings of unfermented grape juice, the book of Proverbs has many warnings against drinking fermented wine and other types of alcohol.
In this verse, Solomon used the word for wine yayin, fermented wine, and warned against both the effects of both that and of strong drink.
Proverbs 23:20-21
Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. (KJV)
In this verse, Solomon linked drunkards with gluttons. He did not say it was wrong to eat flesh, but those whose lifestyles are to live solely to eat and drink rather than working will soon become poor.
Proverbs 23:29-35
“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.” (KJV)
This is one of the strongest Bible passages against drinking alcohol. King Solomon wrote this and explained the effects of fermented wine on the body and how it leads to unwise decisions. Perhaps the most foolish decision is that after a person has regained their sobriety, the draw of alcohol is so powerful that they will return to it again despite the fact they know about its devastating effects.
Proverbs 31:4-5
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.” (KJV)
The author of this Bible verse is King Lemuel’s mother. Bible scholars do not know exactly who Lemuel was, it may have been another name for Solomon. Regardless, the advice she gave to her son is applicable and appropriate for today.
The king’s mother told her son not to drink alcohol because it would impair his clear thinking in his kingly duties.
Ecclesiastes 10:17
“Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!” (KJV)
This verse, also penned by King Solomon, is further instruction against intoxicating drinks. He realizes the need and even the pleasure of eating and drinking but instructs rulers to eat and drink out of necessity, rather than for pure pleasure. It is necessary to drink liquids, but it is not necessary to drink alcoholic beverages.
2 Samuel 13:28-29
“Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.” (KJV)
Prince Absalom, one of King David’s sons, hated his brother Amnon. He utilized alcohol, via a party, to get Amnon drunk, and then when he was inebriated, Absalom had him killed. Absalom and Amnon were both half-brothers of King Solomon who wrote the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes which included many warnings against drinking wine and strong drink.
1 Kings 16:8-10
“In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years. And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah. And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.” (KJV)
This is another instance where alcohol was used as an accessory to a murder. Had King Elah, not been tempted by the lure of alcoholic beverages and the pleasures of getting drunk, he may have very well extended his life. But his drinking habits were well known to his servant and his servant used this weakness of his to kill him and then take the throne.
Isaiah 5:11-12
“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.” (KJV)
This verse is the first mention of alcohol from the prophet Isaiah. He pronounced a judgment on those people who give themselves to the practice of drunkenness and mirth. Instead of soberly considering God and His works and doing His will, their days are wasted in the pursuit of carnal pleasures.
Isaiah 5:22
“Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink” (KJV)
Again in the same chapter of Isaiah, the prophet warns against the strong men who insist on drinking wine. He indicates that this will be to their detriment.
Isaiah 28:7
“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.” (KJV)
God has expressly commanded the priests not to drink when they did their service to Him. In the times of the prophets, those prophets who indulged themselves with alcohol, could not correctly receive a clear vision from God and were not able to make good judgments.
Isaiah 62:8-9
“The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured: But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.” (KJV)
This wonderful promise from the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, mentions wine using the Hebrew word tiyrowsh meaning unfermented grape juice. This tasty and nutritious beverage was to be freely enjoyed in God’s courts as opposed to the fermented variety He prohibited.
New Testament Bible Verses Against Drinking Alcohol KJV
The Greek word for “wine” in the New Testament is “oinos”. The New Testament does not seem to make a distinction between fermented and unfermented juice. The only time another Greek word is used for wine is in Acts 2:13 where the Greek word “gleukos” is used for “new wine”. Gleukos is a reference to intoxicating wine.
Mark 14:23-25
“And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (KJV)
In the New Testament, there is no clear division between fermented and unfermented wine.
This context shows Jesus drinking the “fruit of the vine” in the context of what is commonly known as the Last Supper. Jesus and His disciples celebrated this before He was crucified.
Passover bread was to be unleavened. Also according to Exodus 12:15, the Jews were not to have any leaven in their houses during the seven days of the Passover. Since leaven or yeast of some sort is added to grape juice to cause it to ferment and become the wine that we understand today, the liquid that Jesus and His disciples consumed at this last supper was unfermented grape juice.
Luke 7:34
“The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!” (KJV)
Jesus both ate and drank. He was accused of being a winebibber – a drunk – but this was a false accusation. One of His duties was to act as a priest of God His Father as such He was not to drink alcohol. He did drink liquids and probably drank unfermented fresh grape juice.
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.” (KJV)
The apostle Paul told the Christians in Rome not to be drunk. He indicated that if they were they were not living honestly, and certainly they were not being a good testimony of Jesus Christ if they were drunk.
1 Corinthians 3:17
“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (KJV)
Alcohol and wine in excess are not healthy. The body of a Christian is the temple, the dwelling place of God’s Holy Spirit. As such we need to protect our bodies and not purposely injure ourselves with toxic substances such as alcohol.
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.” (KJV)
The concept of Biblical separation is taught in this verse. God through the Apostle Paul said that if someone is called a Christian brother, but is also known as a drunkard, other Christians should not have any company with him. It is indicated that if they do, they are condoning the sinful activities of the drunkard.
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.” (KJV)
This verse says that Christians who are drunkards will not receive an inheritance in God’s kingdom. It does not say that they will not go to heaven. If they have accepted Jesus as their Savior, they will enter heaven after they die. But if they continue to live in sin, including the sin of being drunk, they will not receive any rewards as a Christian.
1 Timothy 5:23
“Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.” (KJV)
Paul advised the pastor Timothy, who seemed to be sickly, to drink wine. This instruction was for Timothy to use wine as medicine. Bible scholars are divided as to exactly what Paul meant. Some say that he told Timothy to drink grape juice, others say that Paul was advising Timothy to drink fermented wine.
Paul was not telling Timothy to get drunk but rather to take his medicine.
Titus 1:7
“For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre” (KJV)
The apostle Paul instructing Titus about the role of a bishop (pastor) in the New Testament church said that he was not to be “given to wine”. Paul did not say that the bishop should never drink wine, especially since he told Timothy in the book before this to drink wine, but rather that the bishop is not addicted, “given” to wine.
Therefore the bishop is not supposed to be a drunk. Again Bible scholars debate whether the wine that Paul refers to is alcohol based or simply fresh grape juice.
Considering the verses both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, it would be a wise thing that a bishop would abstain from all types of alcohol, except in the case where he would need it as medicine.
Bishops in their role of teaching God’s Word and even making judgments, could not do their Godly work if their minds were corrupted with alcohol.
Titus 2:3
“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things” (KJV)
Not only were church leaders like bishops instructed not to be given to wine but also older women who were to function as teachers, the apostle Paul warned that they too should not be drunk.
These Bible verses against drinking alcohol from the King James Bible do not indicate that a Christian should never have a drink containing alcohol. But to avoid the misuse of wine and related drinks, and for a good testimony both to believers and unbelievers, it is far better to abstain.
If you liked this article and the related Bible verses, perhaps you would also like the article about Bible verses on Repentance.
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