Strong Drink — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Any intoxicating liquor. It was forbidden to Levites who were entering the tent of meeting (Lv 10:9); to those taking the Nazirite vow (Nm 6:3; Jgs 13:4-14); to kings and rulers (Prv 31:4); and to John the Baptist (Lk 1:15). The writer of Proverbs 20:1 suggests that the wise man does not become intoxicated by it. Isaiah pronounces woe on those addicted to it (Is 5:11, 22 OET ISA 5:11 · OET ISA 5:22). Strong drink was used as a libation in the Levitical sacrifice (Nm 28:7) and was permitted in the menu of the feast at the time of tithing (Dt 14:26).

Show passage in OET: LEV 10:9

OET-RV LEV 10:9

9 “Neither you or your sons should drink wine or strong drink when you’re going to go into the sacred tent so that you won’t die. This regulation is permanent and for future generations.

OET-LV LEV 10:9

9 Wine and_strong _drink do _not drink you and_sons _of_your with_you when_go_you(pl) into the _tent _of meeting and_not you(pl)_will _die a _regulation _of perpetuity to_generations _of_your(pl).

Show passage in OET: NUM 6:3

OET-RV NUM 6:3

3 they must keep away from wine and strong drink, and even vinegar made from wine or strong drink, plus they mustn’t drink grape juice or eat either grapes or raisins.

OET-LV NUM 6:3

3 From_wine and_strong _drink he _will _keep _separate vinegar _of wine and_vinegar _of strong _drink not he _will _drink and_all juice _of grapes not he _will _drink and_grapes fresh and_dry not he _will _eat.

Show passage in OET: JDG 13:4–14

OET-RV JDG 13:4

4 Now take care that you surely don’t drink wine or strong drink, and that you don’t eat anything prohibited by our rules,

OET-RV JDG 13:5

5 because you’ll definitely become pregnant and will give birth to a son. His hair must never be cut because he’ll be a Nazirite to God from his conception. He will begin to rescue Yisrael (Israel) from the oppression of the Pelishtim.”

OET-RV JDG 13:6

6 Then the woman went and explained to her husband, “A man of God came to me. He looked like one of God’s messengers—extremely terrifying—so I didn’t like to ask him where he’d come from, and he didn’t tell me his name.

OET-RV JDG 13:7

7 Then he told me, ‘You’re definitely pregnant and you’ll give birth to a son. So now, you mustn’t drink wine or strong drink, and you mustn’t eat anything prohibited by our rules, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from conception until the day of his death.’ ”

OET-RV JDG 13:8

8 Then Manoah prayed to Yahweh, “Oh please, my master, please let the man of God that you sent before, come back to us again so he can instruct us about what we must do for this boy who’s going to be born.”

OET-RV JDG 13:9

9 The true God listened to Manoah’s request, and God’s messenger came to the woman again when she was sitting out in the field, but her husband Manoah wasn’t with her,

OET-RV JDG 13:10

10 so she quickly ran and told her husband, “Look. The man has appeared again who came to me that day.”

OET-RV JDG 13:11

11 So Manoah followed his wife, and when he came to the man, he asked him, “Are you the man who spoke to my wife before?”
¶ “Yes, it was me,” he replied.

OET-RV JDG 13:12

12 “Now may your words come true,” said Manoah. “How should we bring up the boy, and what will his work be?”

OET-RV JDG 13:13

13 “Your wife must carefully follow everything I told her,” Yahweh’s messenger replied.

OET-RV JDG 13:14

14 “She mustn’t eat or drink anything that comes from the grapevine. She mustn’t drink wine or strong drink, and she mustn’t eat anything prohibited by our rules. She must do everything that I’ve instructed her.”

OET-LV JDG 13:4