The Hebrew noun yayin is the primary word for wine in the Old Testament, occurring approximately 140 times. It refers to fermented grape juice and is the most common of several Hebrew terms for wine. The word appears in contexts ranging from joyful celebration to stern warnings about excess.
Yayin holds a dual role in Scripture — it is presented as both a blessing from God that gladdens the heart of man (Psalm 104:15) and a substance that, when abused, leads to folly and destruction (Proverbs 20:1). Wine is integral to Israel's sacrificial system as a drink offering, and it symbolizes abundance in the messianic age. The wisdom literature consistently warns against drunkenness while affirming wine's place in God's good creation when received with thanksgiving and temperance.