Drunkenness

How Nave’s arranged it

• General scriptures concerningDeuteronomy 21:20Deuteronomy 21:21Deuteronomy 29:19–211 Samuel 1:14Psalms 69:12Proverbs 20:1Proverbs 21:17Proverbs 23:20Proverbs 23:21Proverbs 23:29–35Proverbs 31:4–7Isaiah 5:11Isaiah 5:12Isaiah 5:22Isaiah 19:14Isaiah 24:9Isaiah 24:11Isaiah 28:1Isaiah 28:3Isaiah 28:7
• FIGURATIVEPsalms 73:10Psalms 75:8Isaiah 28:8Isaiah 51:17Isaiah 51:21–23Isaiah 63:6Jeremiah 25:15Jeremiah 25:16Jeremiah 25:27Jeremiah 25:28Jeremiah 51:7–9Lamentations 3:15Ezekiel 23:31–34Habakkuk 2:15Habakkuk 2:16
• See Abstinence
• See Drunkard
• See Sobriety
• See Wine
• INSTANCES OF
• NoahGenesis 9:21
• LotGenesis 19:33
• Nabal1 Samuel 25:36
• Uriah2 Samuel 11:13
• Elah1 Kings 16:9

The passages, in Bible order (67)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 9:21

   But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 9:212 voices

   “When Christ says, "I am the true vine," the blood of Christ is assuredly not water but wine. We are redeemed and made alive by his blood. But in the cup it is not wine as such that redeems but his blood. This is declared by the sacrament and testimony of all the Scriptures. For we find this even in Genesis also, in respect of the sacrament prefigured in Noah. That he drank wine was to them a precursor and figure of the Lord's passion.

   “He drank of the wine, etc. - It is very probable that this was the first time the wine was cultivated; and it is as probable that the strength or intoxicating power of the expressed juice was never before known. Noah, therefore, might have drunk it at this time without the least blame, as he knew not till this trial the effects it would produce. I once knew a case which I believe to be perfectly parallel.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 9:21→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 19:33

   So that night they got their father drunk with wine, and the firstborn went in and slept with her father; he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 19:332 voices

   “After these things now that well-known story is related in which it is written that Lot's daughters cunningly lay with their father by stealth. In this matter I do not know if anyone can so excuse Lot as to free him from sin. Nor again do I think he should be so accused that he ought to become party to such serious incest. For I do not find him to have plotted against or to have violently snatched away the chastity of his daughters but rather to have been the victim of a plot and cunningly ensnared.

   “And he perceived not when she lay down, nor when, etc. - That is, he did not perceive the time she came to his bed, nor the time she quitted it; consequently did not know who it was that had lain with him. In this transaction Lot appears to me to be in many respects excusable. 1. He had no accurate knowledge of what took place either on the first or second night, therefore he cannot be supposed to have been drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 19:33→

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3. Deuteronomy 21:20

   and say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he does not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.”

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Deuteronomy 21:21

   Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. So you must purge the evil from among you, and all Israel will hear and be afraid.

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Deuteronomy 29:19–21

   because when such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself, saying, ‘I will have peace, even though I walk in the stubbornness of my own heart.’ This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 29:19–212 voices

   “To add drunkenness to thirst - The words may be rendered, to add thirst to drunkenness, and so the sense may be, that when he hath multiplied his sins, and made himself as it were drunk with them, yet he is not satisfied therewith, but still whets his appetite, and provokes his thirst after more, as drunkards often use means to make themselves thirst after more drink.

   “Compare on the thought Jer 23:17. The secret and presumptuous sinner is meant who flatters himself that all is well and will be well with him, since he follows his own devices and prospers. Compare Psa 73:11 ff. To add drunkenness to thirst - The sense is probably: “Himself, drinking iniquity like water, Job 15:16, he corrupts and destroys others who are thirsting for it or prone to it.” The sense of the whole passage from Deu 29:16 onward to Deu 29:20 may be exhibited thus: “Ye have seen the abominations of idolatry among the pagan.

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 29:19–21→

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6. 1 Samuel 1:12–16

   As Hannah kept on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:12–161 voice

   “This mistaken impression was immediately removed, and, in the words, "God grant," or rather, "will grant," was followed by an invocation which, as Hannah regarded it in the light of a prophecy pointing to the accomplishment of her earnest desire, dispelled her sadness, and filled her with confident hope [1Sa 1:18].

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 1:12–16→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. 1 Samuel 1:14

   and said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine!”

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:142 voices

   “This mistaken impression was immediately removed, and, in the words, "God grant," or rather, "will grant," was followed by an invocation which, as Hannah regarded it in the light of a prophecy pointing to the accomplishment of her earnest desire, dispelled her sadness, and filled her with confident hope [1Sa 1:18].

   “This Hannah does in the first book of Kings [Samuel], portraying a type of the church, [she] prays to God not with a noisy petition but silently and modestly within the very recesses of her heart. She spoke with a hidden prayer but with manifest faith. She did not speak with the voice but with the heart, because she knew that so the Lord hears, and she effectually obtained what she sought, because she asked with faith.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 1:14→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. 1 Samuel 25:36

   When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 25:361 voice

   “But to a mind that is drunk with fury every right thing that is said appears wrong. Whence to Nabal when he was drunk Abigail laudably kept silence about his fault, but, when he had digested his wine, as laudably told him of it. For he could for this reason perceive the evil he had done, that he did not hear of it when drunk.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 25:36→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 2 Samuel 11:13

   Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and he got Uriah drunk. And in the evening Uriah went out to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.

   Verse page →Original language →

10. 1 Kings 16:9

    However, while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk in the house of Arza the steward of his household there, Elah’s servant Zimri, the commander of half his chariots, conspired against him.

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 16:91 voice

    “The conspiracy of Zimri - Elah’s “servant” (i. e., “subject”) - was favored by his position, which probably gave him military authority in the city, by the absence of a great part of the people and of the officers who might have checked him, at Gibbethon 1Ki 16:15, and by the despicable character of Elah, who, instead of going up to the war, was continually reminding men of his low origin by conduct unworthy of royalty. Steward - The office was evidently one of considerable importance. In Solomon’s court it gave the rank of שׂר śar, prince.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 16:9→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. 1 Kings 20:16

    They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 20:162 voices

    “This glorious victory, won so easily, and with such a paltry force opposed to overwhelming numbers, was granted that Ahab and his people might know (1Ki 20:13) that God is the Lord. But we do not read of this acknowledgment being made, or of any sacrifices being offered in token of their national gratitude.

    “drinking himself drunk - Ben-hadad meant probably to mark his utter contempt of his foe. Compare the contempt of Belshazzar Dan 5:1-4.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 20:16→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Esther 1:10

    On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—

    ›Commentary on Esther 1:101 voice

    “He commanded Mehuman - All these are doubtless Persian names; but so disguised by passing through a Hebrew medium, that some of them can scarcely be known. Mehuman signifies a stranger or guest. We shall find other names and words in this book, the Persian etymology of which may be easily traced.

    Everything gathered on Esther 1:10→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Esther 1:11

    to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.

    ›Commentary on Esther 1:112 voices

    “To bring Vashti the queen before the king,.... Not against her will, or by force; but they were sent to let her know it was the king's pleasure that she should come to him immediately: with the crown royal; that is, upon her head, to make her look the more grand and majestic: to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look upon; which was not wisely done, neither was it comely nor safe.

    “To bring Vashti the queen - This command, though contrary to Persian customs, is not out of harmony with the character of Xerxes; and is evidently related as something strange and unusual. Otherwise, the queen would not have refused to come.

    Everything gathered on Esther 1:11→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. Psalms 69:12

    Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of drunkards.

    ›Commentary on Psalms 69:121 voice

    “They that sit in the gate speak against me. The ordinary gossips who meet at the city gates for idle talk make me their theme, the business men who there resort for trade forget their merchandise to slander me, and even the beggars who wait at men's doors for alms contribute their share of insult to the heap of infamy. And I was the song of the drunkard. The ungodly know no merrier jest than that in which the name of the holy is traduced. The flavour of slander is piquant, and gives a relish to the revellers' wine.

    Everything gathered on Psalms 69:12→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. Psalms 73:10

    So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.

    ›Commentary on Psalms 73:101 voice

    “Therefore his people return hither. God's people are driven to fly to his throne for shelter; the doggish tongues fetch home the sheep to the Shepherd. The saints come again, and again, to their Lord, laden with complaints on account of the persecutions which they endure from these proud and graceless men. And waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. Though beloved of God, they have to drain the bitter cup; their sorrows are as full as the wicked man's prosperity.

    Everything gathered on Psalms 73:10→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. Psalms 75:8

    For a cup is in the hand of the LORD, full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours from His cup, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to the dregs.

    ›Commentary on Psalms 75:82 voices

    “For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup. The punishment of the wicked is prepared, God himself holds it in readiness; he has collected and concocted woes most dread, and in the chalice of his wrath he holds it. They scoffed his feast of love; they shall be dragged to his table of justice, and made to drink their due deserts. And the wine is red. The retribution is terrible, it is blood for blood, foaming vengeance for foaming malice. The very colour of divine wrath is terrible; what must the taste be?

    “For - God is here compared to the master of a feast, who then used to distribute portions of meat and drink to the several guests. Red - Such as the best wine of Judea was. Mixture - The wine is mingled not with water, but with strengthening and intoxicating ingredients.

    Everything gathered on Psalms 75:8→

    Verse page →Original language →