Proverbs 23:29-30 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
‘They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.’ The answers to the questions are straightforward. The person experiencing these troubles is the one who lingers over wine and continually seeks a stronger drink. The problem is not merely tasting wine but remaining with it, making drinking a habit and pursuing intoxication.
‘Wine’ – the Hebrew word yayin is a general term used throughout the Old Testament for the juice of grapes and, depending on the context, can refer to either fermented or unfermented grape juice. In this passage, however, the context makes it clear that Solomon is speaking of intoxicating wine, as he describes drunkenness and its harmful effects.
‘Mixed wine’ was wine strengthened or enhanced with spices or other ingredients to increase its flavour or potency. The emphasis is upon deliberately seeking a stronger intoxicating drink. Instead of warning only against drunkenness, Scripture warns against pursuing the very thing that leads to it.
Living the Word 