drink, strong Summary and Overview

(Heb. shekar'), an intoxicating liquor (Judg. 13:4; Luke 1:15; Isa. 5:11; Micah 2:11) distilled from corn, honey, or dates. The effects of the use of strong drink are referred to in Ps. 107:27; Isa. 24:20; 49:26; 51:17-22. Its use prohibited, Prov. 20:1. (See WINE T0003816.)

shechar. Any intoxicating beverage, wine especially from the grape (compare Numbers 28:7 with Exodus 29:40). Strong drink was extracted from other fruit also, as the pomegranate (Song of Solomon 8:2). Beer was made from barley, lupin, skirrett, and other herbs being substituted for hops. Spices were mingled with it (Isaiah 5:22). Cider, or "apple wine," is noticed in the Mishna, Terum, 2, section 2. Honey wine was a mixture of wine, honey, and pepper, also a concoction from the grape called debaash by the Hebrew, by modern Syrians dibs, wine, milk or water being added. Date wine also was made in Egypt. The Speaker's Commentary explains the proverbial phrase, Deuteronomy 29:19, "so that the soul that is drunken with sin carry away that which thirsts for sin." "Drinking iniquity like water himself (Job 15:16), he corrupts others thirsting for it."