WINE OR GRAPE JUICE? THE USE OF THE NOUN יַיִן (YAYIN) IN THE OLD TESTAMENT A Lexical-Semantic and Exegetical Analysis
Željko Stanojević
Independent Researcher in Hebrew Linguistics and Biblical Philology
Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature, Belgrade
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0717-6184
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20173405
Abstract
This study presents a philological, lexical-semantic, and exegetical analysis of the Hebrew noun יַיִן (yayin) in the Old Testament, with particular focus on the long-debated question of whether the term denotes fermented wine exclusively or may also include unfermented grape juice. Through contextual analysis, comparative Semitic linguistics, and examination of ancient translation traditions, the research investigates the semantic range and historical usage of the term within Biblical Hebrew and the wider Northwest Semitic linguistic environment.
Special attention is devoted to the etymology of yayin and its cognates in Akkadian (īnu), Ugaritic (yn), and related Semitic languages, demonstrating the antiquity and semantic continuity of the lexeme across the ancient Near East. The study further analyzes the relationship between yayin and other Hebrew terms associated with grape-derived beverages, particularly תִּירוֹשׁ (tîrôš) and שֵׁכָר (šēkār), in order to clarify the internal lexical distinctions of Biblical Hebrew.
The article examines positive, neutral, and negative contexts of the use of yayin throughout narrative, legal, cultic, poetic, prophetic, and wisdom literature, with special emphasis on passages associated with intoxication, ritual practice, festivity, hospitality, and moral critique. The testimony of the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and related ancient traditions is likewise evaluated as an important witness to the historical understanding of the term.
The analysis demonstrates that יַיִן (yayin) belongs to a stable and clearly defined lexical layer consistently denoting wine as a fermented grape product. More broadly, the study contributes to ongoing discussions in Biblical Hebrew linguistics, Semitic philology, lexical semantics, and Old Testament exegesis by illustrating the importance of contextual and comparative methodology in the interpretation of ancient lexical systems.
Keywords
Biblical Hebrew; yayin; wine in the Bible; grape juice; Old Testament; Hebrew linguistics; Semitic philology; lexical semantics; Biblical exegesis; Septuagint; Vulgate; Akkadian; Ugaritic; Hebrew Bible; wine terminology
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Description
The present study offers a detailed linguistic and philological investigation of the Hebrew noun יַיִן (yayin) in the Old Testament, focusing on its etymology, semantic development, contextual usage, and historical interpretation. Combining lexical-semantic analysis with comparative Semitic evidence and textual exegesis, the research examines how the term functions across different literary strata of the Hebrew Bible.
Particular attention is devoted to the distinction between yayin and related Hebrew terms such as תִּירוֹשׁ (tîrôš) and שֵׁכָר (šēkār), as well as to the evidence of ancient translations including the Septuagint and the Vulgate. The article additionally explores the broader linguistic and cultural background of wine terminology within the Semitic world and addresses modern interpretative debates concerning the meaning of the term.
Rather than approaching the issue through theological presuppositions, the study applies a philological and historical-linguistic methodology grounded in contextual analysis, comparative linguistics, and the internal lexical structure of Biblical Hebrew.
Research Areas
Biblical Hebrew; Old Testament Linguistics; Hebrew Philology; Semitic Studies; Lexical Semantics; Historical Linguistics; Biblical Exegesis
Citation
Stanojević, Željko.
Wine or Grape Juice? The Use of the Noun יַיִן (Yayin) in the Old Testament: A Lexical-Semantic and Exegetical Analysis.
Belgrade: Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature. 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20173406
Related Work
Stanojević, Ž. Hebrejsko-srpski rečnik. Beograd: Rad; Alfa i Omega, 2001.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19176975
Additional Information
Language: English
Type: Research Article
Primary Topics: Biblical Hebrew; Wine Terminology; Lexical Semantics; Semitic Linguistics; Old Testament Exegesis