Study guide

Isaiah 24:9: strong drink shall be bitter

Isaiah 24:9 turns the supposed pleasure of wine and strong drink into bitterness.

Updated March 8, 2026 Section: Answers

Quick answer

This verse matters because it strips away the glamour. Wine with a song disappears, and strong drink becomes bitter to those who drink it. That is a fitting partner to the warning that wine bites like a serpent.

Isaiah 24:9 (KJV)

“They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.”

This verse belongs on the warning-side side of the broader Bible wine discussion.

Why this verse matters

This warning matters because it does not merely caution against excess after the fact. It exposes the moral and practical danger tied to wine and strong drink in the first place.

Read it alongside Is drinking a sin?, Wine as a curse in the Bible, and Proverbs 23.

Read it with other passages

One warning text is clearer when it stays connected to the wider pattern of sober-mindedness, stumbling warnings, and leadership cautions.

Frequently asked questions

Why mention the loss of song?

Because the verse turns what looks festive into judgment and bitterness. It reverses the mood people often attach to drinking.

How does this connect to Proverbs 23?

Both passages expose the false surface appeal of wine and strong drink.