Quick answer
Even as a figure of speech, this proverb shows that wine can be used as the moral language of violence and wickedness. It does not force wine language onto the blessing side only.
Proverbs 4:17 (KJV)
“For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.”
In the broader wine survey, this passage belongs on the warning side.
Why this verse matters
This verse matters because it does not praise drinking skill, drinking desire, or drinking culture. It belongs to the same moral atmosphere as other warning-side texts about deception, stumbling, and impaired judgment.
Read it alongside Is drinking a sin?, Two wines in the Bible, and Wine in the Bible.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a metaphorical verse matter?
Because it still proves that biblical wine language can carry dark moral force. That matters for definition and classification.
Does this verse say every use of wine is violent?
No. It shows one side of the biblical picture, which must then be read with the blessing-side texts.