What Does the Bible Say About Drunkenness?
Here are 12 Bible verses about drunkenness, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Genesis 9:21
And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
BSBBut when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.
- #2Romans 14:21
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
BSBIt is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
- #3Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
BSBDo not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
- #4Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
BSBWine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
- #5Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
BSBThe acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- #6Luke 21:34
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
BSBBut watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
- #7Romans 13:13
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
BSBLet us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
- #8Galatians 5:21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
BSBand envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- #9Proverbs 23:29-35
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. …
BSBWho has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks. Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast: …
- #10Isaiah 5:11
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
BSBWoe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger into the evening, to be inflamed by wine.
- #111 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
BSBBe sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
- #12Isaiah 5:22
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
BSBWoe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and champions in mixing strong drink,
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).
Drunkenness in Torrey's Topical Textbook
- Forbidden: Eph 5:18
- Caution against: Lu 21:34
- Is a work of the flesh: Ga 5:21
- Is debasing: Isa 28:8
- Is inflaming: Isa 5:11
- Overcharges the heart: Lu 21:34
- Takes away the heart: Ho 4:11
- LEADS TO
- Poverty: Pr 21:17; 23:21
- Strife: Pr 23:29,30
- Woe and sorrow: Pr 23:29,30
- Error: Isa 28:7
- Contempt of God's works: Isa 5:12
- Scorning: Ho 7:5
- Rioting and wantonness: Ro 13:13
- The wicked addicted to: Da 5:1-4
- False teachers often addicted to: Isa 56:12
- Folly of yielding to: Pr 20:1
- Avoid those given to: Pr 23:20; 1Co 5:11
- DENUNCIATIONS AGAINST
- Those given to: Isa 5:11,12; 28:1-3
- Those who encourage: Hab 2:15
- Excludes from heaven: 1Co 6:10; Ga 5:21
- Punishment of: De 21:20; Joe 1:5,6; Am 6:6,7; Mt 24:49-51
- Exemplified
- Noah: Ge 9:21
- Nabal: 1Sa 25:36
- Uriah: 2Sa 11:13
- Elah: 1Ki 16:9,10
- Benhadad: 1Ki 20:16
- Belshazzar: Da 5:4
- Corinthians: 1Co 11:21