wine

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that are translated as “wine” in English is translated into Pass Valley Yali as “grape juice pressed long ago (= fermented)” or “strong water” (source: Daud Soesilo). In Guhu-Samane it is also translated as “strong water” (source: Ernest L. Richert in The Bible Translator 1965, p. 198ff. ), in Noongar as “liquor” (verbatim: “strong water”) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang), in Hausa as ruwan inabi or “water of grapes” (with no indication whether it’s alcoholic or not — source: Mark A. Gaddis), or in Papantla Totonac and Coyutla Totonac as “a drink like Pulque” (for “Pulque,” see here ) (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 169ff. ).

In Swahili, Bible translations try to avoid local words for alcoholic drinks, because “drinking of any alcohol at all was one of the sins most denounced by early missionaries. Hence translators are uncomfortable by the occurrences of wine in the Bible. Some of the established churches which use wine prefer to see church wine as holy, and would not refer to it by the local names used for alcoholic drinks. Instead church wine is often referred to by terms borrowed from other languages, divai (from German, der Wein) or vini/mvinyo (from ltalian/Latin vino/vinum). Several translations done by Protestants have adapted the Swahili divai for ‘wine,’ while those done by Catholics use vini or mvinyo.” (Source: Rachel Konyoro in The Bible Translator 1985, p. 221ff. )

The Swahili divai was in turn borrowed by Sabaot and was turned into tifaayiik and is used as such in the Bible. Kupsabiny, on the other hand, borrowed mvinyo from Swahili and turned it into Finyonik. (Source: Iver Larsen)

In Nyamwezi, two terms are used. Malwa ga muzabibu is a kind of alcohol that people specifically use to get drunk (such as in Genesis 9:21) and ki’neneko is used for a wine made from grapes (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext).

In some Hindi translations (such as the Common Language version, publ. 2015 ), one term (dākharasa दाखरस — grape juice) is used when that particular drink is in the focus (such as in John 2) and another term (madirā मदिरा — “alcohol” or “liquor”) when drunkenness is in the focus (such as in Eph. 5:18).

In Mandarin Chinese, the generic term jiǔ (酒) or “alcohol(ic drink)” is typically used. Exceptions are Leviticus 10:9, Numbers 6:3, Deuteronomy 29:6, Judges 13:4 et al., 1 Samuel 1:15, and Luke 1:15 where a differentiation between weak and strong alcohol is needed. The Mandarin Chinese Union Version (2010) translates that as qīngjiǔ lièjiǔ (清酒烈酒) and dànjiǔ lièjiǔ (淡酒烈酒), both in the form of a Chinese proverb and meaning “light alcohol and strong drink.” (Source: Zetzsche)

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about wine in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also proceeds from the vine / anything that comes from the grapevine and wine (Gen 27:28).

Translation commentary on Numbers 6:2 - 6:3

Say to the people of Israel introduces a quote within a quote that continues until the end of verse 21. God tells Moses what to say to the Israelites.

When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite …: The text clearly makes the point that women as well as men can become Nazirites, and that the instructions apply to both. The masculine forms that follow in the rest of this section (for example, he and himself) are meant to refer to the women as well as the men. This may be awkward in some receptor languages. If so, translators may follow New Revised Standard Version, which uses third person plural pronouns to refer to both men and women (for example, “they” and “themselves”), as long as it is clear that this section involves individual people. For most of the section Good News Translation uses second person singular pronouns (for example, “you” and “yourself”), which some languages may find helpful.

Makes a special vow renders two Hebrew verbs. The first verb is palaʾ, whose meaning is not quite certain. It seems to refer to some extraordinary activity, so a better rendering here is “makes an exceptional/extraordinary vow” (Nije Fryske Bibeloersetting). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “explicitly utters … a vow,” which is more speculative, so we do not recommend it as a model.

As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, the Hebrew word for Nazirite (nazir) means “one separated” or “one consecrated.” It implies a special devotion to the LORD’s service. So this term does not just refer to a person who makes a promise or swears an oath. Translators should avoid this wrong meaning, especially in some receptor languages where a similar term already exists. The term Nazirite may be transliterated, which most translations do (so Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). If translators adopt this solution, the word Nazirite can be explained in the glossary or in a footnote.

To separate himself to the LORD: The Hebrew verb rendered separate himself comes from the same root as the word for Nazirite. As the following verses show, this dedication takes the form of abstinence as an outward symbol of the person’s dedication to God. The Nazirite must keep away from certain things. Separate himself or “set himself apart” expresses better the meaning of the verb here and the wordplay on it than “dedicate yourself” in Good News Translation.

He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink: Separate himself renders the same Hebrew verb as in the previous clause. Wine is fermented grape juice. It is known in most parts of the world, but in areas where it is not, translators may use a loanword (for example, waini in Tonga, vinyo in Chewa, and vino in Russian) or a descriptive expression, such as “fermented fruit juice” or “fermented juice from the fruit growing on vines.” In these languages it will also be helpful to add a glossary entry on the expression for wine. We do not recommend a local cultural substitute, such as palm wine, since grape wine is an important term in the Bible. It should not be confused with beer or other drinks that are made from grains such as corn or barley. In this context the Hebrew word for strong drink refers to any other intoxicating drinks, such as “beer” (Good News Translation) or something stronger. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh renders wine and strong drink as “wine and any other intoxicant.” Another possible model is “wine and any other alcoholic drinks.”

He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink: Vinegar made from wine or strong drink refers to alcoholic drinks that have been fermented to the point of becoming sour. Water was sometimes mixed with wine vinegar for a refreshing, thirst-quenching drink.

And shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried: A Nazirite must not eat or drink anything made from grapes, including grape juice, fresh grapes, and dried grapes (that is, raisins).

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .