Reference

Zechariah 9:17

For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.
15

The Lord of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.

16

And the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.

17

For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

Why This Verse Was Tagged

Permissible Use (Moderation)
Multi-Signal Classification
80% relevance

This verse was identified by multiple independent signals: structural patterns, prophetic context, and vocabulary — then validated by a probability model (Snorkel).

Counter-Arguments

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

Symbolic / Non-Fermented Wine

The verse explicitly mentions "new wine" (tirosh in Hebrew), which in biblical contexts often refers to freshly pressed grape juice or unfermented grape must. However, the verse does not explicitly state that this "new wine" is *non-fermented* or that it is being used *symbolically* in a way that excludes fermentation. The cheerfulness it brings could be attributed to either the natural sugars of grape juice or the intoxicating effects of fermented wine. The "goodness" and "beauty" are attribute

Permissible Use (Moderation)

The verse describes the effects of corn and new wine, but does not explicitly state that their use is permissible or that moderation is required. It simply presents them as elements that bring cheer.

Wine vs Strong Drink Distinction

The verse mentions "new wine" but makes no mention of "strong drink" or any other beverage, thus providing no basis for a distinction between wine and strong drink.