Why Is Alcohol Called Spirits In The Bible?
Alcohol has been an integral part of human civilization for thousands of years, being used for religious, medical, and recreational purposes. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Alcohol is called “spirits” in the Bible because some biblical authors viewed intoxicating beverages as allowing communication with spiritual beings or the deceased.
In this comprehensive article, we will explore the linguistic, cultural, and religious background behind the biblical terminology referring to alcoholic beverages as “spirits.”
The Etymology of “Spirits” for Alcoholic Beverages
Early Indo-European Root Words
The word “spirit” originated from Old French “espirit”, rooted in Latin “spiritus” meaning “breath” or “breathing”. This traces back to the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root “*peys-“, meaning “to blow”, also giving rise to words like “inspire”, “respire”, and “perspire”.
Ancient people observed that a dying person’s last breath left their body, so the words for “breath” and “soul/spirit” became closely intertwined across Indo-European languages like Latin, Sanskrit, Greek, and Germanic tongues.
This linguistic link between breath/wind and spirits/supernatural beings appears in ancient Hebrew and Greek as well. Greek “pneuma” means breath, spirit, or wind. The Hebrew word “ruach” has the same triple meaning – so even wine could be poetically called “spirits” due to bubbles perhaps seen as the wine’s breath or carbonation releasing like an exhale, especially in highly alcoholic drinks that could “inspire” drunkenness.
Translation of Hebrew and Greek Words for Wine and Strong Drinks
The ancient Israelites and early Christians wrote about and drank various kinds of fermented drinks. According to biblical scholar Dr. Joel McDurmon, Hebrew has around 12 words referring to alcoholic beverages like yayin (wine), shekar (strong drink), asis (sweet wine), sobe (drink offering).
Meanwhile, Koine Greek, the language of the New Testament, contains words for wine like oinos or gleukos (new wine/must).
In the process of translating the original text into English, the King James Version often rendered mentions of wine or strong drink using the word “spirits”. For example, the Hebrew phrase “yayin v’shekar” meaning “wine and liquor” appears about 20 times in the Old Testament, including this line in Proverbs 20:1:
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (KJV)
Here, the KJV says “strong drink” rather than simply transliterating the Hebrew “shekar”. Calling it “spirits” evokes alcoholic strength and intoxicating effects on both body and mind. Today we might just say “liquor” but King James English sounds more poetic.
The Mystical Nature of Potent Potables
Throughout history and across many cultures, alcohol’s ability to induce altered states of consciousness has imbued it with spiritual and supernatural qualities. Before the science of fermentation was understood, the “spirits” inhabiting wine or strong drinks seemed mysterious and mystical.
Holy books and mythology reinforced the divine origins of alcohol, like this Sumerian hymn from around 1800 BC:
When the first alcoholic drink was created in the mountains from the tears of the gods…
Calling liquor “spirits” in the Bible carries nuances of the supernatural, divine origins, and the metaphorical “breathing in” of holy power when drinking or libations. The takeaway is that “spirits” as applied to alcohol beautifully captures both literal breathing bubble effects of fermentation and also hints at the transcendent qualities venerated throughout human history.
Cultural Role of Alcohol in the Ancient Near East
Religious and Medical Uses of Alcohol
Alcohol has a long history of use in religious and medical practices in the Ancient Near East. Wine was seen as a gift from the gods and was used in rituals and offerings in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Israelite religion.
The coded laws of Hammurabi from 1754 BC included rules for tavern keepers and drinking houses, showing that alcoholic beverages were an established part of society.
In ancient Egypt, wine was offered to gods like Ra and Osiris. Beer was the national drink and consumed daily. The Ebers Papyrus from 1550 BC includes medical uses of beer as an antibiotic and for pain relief. In Mesopotamia, breweries existed in temples dedicated to the goddess Ninkasi.
Wine and beer were used in religious rituals and offerings to gods. Gods like Dumuzi were associated with viticulture and the annual grape harvest.
In ancient Israelite religion, wine was used in sacrifices and offerings. According to the Bible, Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine when he blessed Abram in Genesis 14:18. Wine is seen as a gift from God in passages like 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.”
Yet, drunkenness was discouraged in the Bible (Proverbs 20:1).
Medicinally, alcohol was used as an antiseptic for wounds, an analgesic, and to fight infections. Ancient Egyptian medical texts recommend beer or wine for ailments like stomach disorders. Alcohol helped preserve other ingredients in medicinal recipes as well.
Alcohol as Gateway to the Spiritual Realm
Alcoholic beverages were seen as connectors to the spiritual realm in multiple Ancient Near Eastern religions. Consuming alcohol could facilitate communication with gods, induceprophetic states, or symbolize spiritual ideas.
In ancient Egypt, drunkenness was condemned but intoxication could also bring divine visions. Priestesses of the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet may have used alcohol in ritual practices. Excessive drinking was thought to unleash the goddess’s destructive power.
The Book of the Dead includes spells for becoming an “akh” spirit through drinking beer and wine.
Similarly in ancient Mesopotamia, priestesses of Inanna/Ishtar likely performed ecstatic rituals under the influence of alcohol. Myths associate Inanna with the “food of life” and “water of life,” possibly referring to beer and wine.
The Epic of Gilgamesh includes a description of Enkidu becoming more civilized through consuming alcohol.
The Greek historian Herodotus wrote that the Persians made important decisions while drunk so that they would later seem guided by divine providence. However, the Zoroastrian religion that developed in Persia discouraged alcohol use because of its association with the pre-Zoroastrian religious practices it opposed.
The ancient Israelites condemned drunkenness but accepted the moderate use of alcohol. The prophets sometimes entered prophetic states through music and alcohol as seen in the cases of Elisha (2 Kings 3:15) and Samuel (1 Samuel 1:14-15).
Overall, wine in moderation was considered a gift from God, but excess was warned against.
Biblical Depictions of Alcohol and Spirits
Old Testament Warnings Against Overindulgence
The Old Testament contains several warnings against excessive drinking and drunkenness. While alcohol itself is not condemned, there are multiple passages that caution against overindulging. For example, Proverbs 20:1 states “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”
This warns that overconsumption of alcohol can lead to poor judgement and foolish behavior. Isaiah 5:11 is more direct, stating “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.”
Here, overindulgence in alcohol to the point of drunkenness is portrayed as sinful behavior. Perhaps the strongest Old Testament statement comes in Proverbs 23:29-35, which vividly describes the woes that come with excessive drinking like woe, sorrow, strife, complaints, and wounds without cause.
While the Old Testament recognizes alcohol as one of God’s gifts, it consistently warns against overuse and intoxication.
New Testament Analogies Using Wine and Spirits
In the New Testament, wine and spirits are often used symbolically and analogically without condemnation. One of Jesus’ first miracles was turning water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana (John 2:1-11). This seems to bless wine as part of celebration and joy.
Jesus later uses wine as an analogy for His sacrificial blood during the Last Supper, instituting the sacrament of Communion in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 26:27-29, Mark 14:23-25, Luke 22:17-18). Wine is connected to the “new covenant” in Christ’s blood.
In another analogy, Jesus speaks of wineskins and wine, teaching that His new teachings cannot be constrained by old paradigms (Matthew 9:14-17). The abundant wine at the messianic banquet is also used as an eschatological image of the Kingdom of God (Isaiah 25:6).
And the famous first miracle of Pentecost was the disciples speaking in foreign tongues after being accused of drunkness on “new wine” (Acts 2:1-21). Overall, the New Testament uses wine in positive analogies for Jesus’ ministry, sacrificial blood, and the joyous blessings of God’s Kingdom.
Theological Views on Calling Alcohol “Spirits”
Literal Interpretations
Some theologians take a literal approach when interpreting biblical references to alcohol as “spirits.” They believe that the Bible is referring to actual spiritual beings or supernatural forces connected to alcoholic beverages.
Other literal interpretations focus more on the intoxicating qualities of alcohol itself. They see “spirits” as a reference to the change in mental and emotional state that comes from drinking alcoholic beverages.
So calling it spirits emphasizes how it can alter someone’s mood, behavior, and perception – sometimes with volatile effects.
Metaphorical Views
In contrast to literal views, some biblical scholars see calling alcohol “spirits” as metaphorical language. Here, spirit is just a symbolic term used to describe alcohol’s intoxicating impact on people.
Within this perspective, phrases like those in Proverbs 20:1 are viewed more as metaphorical warnings about the dangers of excessive drinking. The reference to “spirits” speaks to alcohol’s ability to influence, overpower, or impair one’s normal faculties of self-control and sobriety.
Other metaphorical takes take a more positive or mystical view. They see calling alcohol “spirits” as a way to symbolize how drinking wine can lift one’s mood, prompt joy and laughter, inspire creativity, or promote social bonding.
So “spirits” beautifully captures how alcohol’s effects seem to imbue a supernatural vivacity or energy at times. But the term remains metaphorical rather than literal.
In the end, determining whether biblical references to alcohol as “spirits” should be taken literally or metaphorically remains an open question among theologians. But creative reflection on the topic can aid spiritual growth and wisdom.
Conclusion
To conclude, the Bible refers to alcoholic beverages as “spirits” based on linguistic convention but also due to the mystical connections between intoxication and accessing the spiritual realm. The ancients viewed alcohol as allowing communion with gods, angels and the deceased so this terminology permeated Scripture as well, especially when warning against drunkenness.
