Study guide

Isaiah 25:6: wines on the lees

Isaiah 25:6 is one of the most-cited positive passages in the Bible-wine debate, so it deserves a focused page.

Updated March 8, 2026 Section: Studies

Quick answer

This verse is positive and rich, but it is also poetic and eschatological. That makes it an important passage, not an automatic social-drinking proof text. The verse should be read with the larger blessing-versus-warning pattern still visible.

Isaiah 25:6 (KJV)

“And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.”

This verse falls into the positive but difficult group because context matters more than a quick word lookup.

How we read this verse

Difficult passages should be read carefully, neither erased nor forced into proving more than they actually say. The safest method is to read them beside the clearest blessing texts, the clearest warning texts, and the broader definition studies.

That is why we pair this verse with Wine as a blessing in the Bible, Bible wine debate, and Two wines in the Bible.

Frequently asked questions

Why call this a difficult passage?

Because it is positive and important, but its setting is more elevated and figurative than a simple argument for everyday drinking habits.

Does a feast setting prove alcohol?

No. It proves the verse is richly positive. The definition question still remains.