No priest may drink wine before he enters the inner court.
Parallel translations
- WEB Neither shall any of the priests drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
- KJV Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
- NKJV No priest shall drink wine when he enters the inner court.
- NASB Nor shall any of the priests drink wine when they enter the inner courtyard.
- NLT The priests must not drink wine before entering the inner courtyard.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Priests are forbidden to drink wine before entering the inner court to minister.
Overview
Abstaining from wine kept the priests clear-minded and reverent while serving in God's presence (cf. Leviticus 10:9). Ministry before a holy God demands sobriety and full attention. This sober readiness models the alertness and self-control fitting for all who would serve and worship God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Lev 10:9“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.
- Titus 1:7–8As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.
- Luke 1:15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
- 1 Tim 3:8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.
- 1 Tim 5:23Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 44:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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