Reference

Judges 13:7

Total AbstinenceWine vs Strong Drink Distinction
“But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.”
5

For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

6

Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:

7

But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.

8

Then Manoah intreated the Lord, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.

9

And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.

Why This Verse Was Tagged

Total Abstinence
Keyword Match
80% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Wine vs Strong Drink Distinction
Keyword Match
80% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Total Abstinence

The verse does not present abstinence as an ideal for all people, but rather as a specific requirement for a Nazarite vow. The command is given to the mother of the future Nazarite, not as a general principle for all believers.

Wine vs Strong Drink Distinction

The verse lists "wine" and "strong drink" as two distinct items, but it does not explicitly define or differentiate their properties or implications beyond both being prohibited. The prohibition applies equally to both, suggesting a shared category of intoxicating beverages rather than distinct substances with different implications.

Total Abstinence
Total Abstinence

Cross-References

Judges 13:4Thematic

“Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:”

Judges 13:4Thematic

“Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:”

Judges 13:14Thematic

“She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.”

Jeremiah 35:6Thematic

“But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:”

Lamentations 4:7Thematic

“Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:”

1 more cross-reference available — Upgrade to Scholar

Thematic Connections

Total AbstinenceWine vs Strong Drink Distinction

Private Study Note