1. Leviticus 10:9 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

To what do wine and strong drink refer?

Leviticus 10:9 (ESV)

9 “Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

The Lord instructs Aaron that the priests are not to drink wine (yǎyin) or strong drink (šēḵār). In the Old Testament, šēḵār is always found in conjunction with yǎyin, never by itself. These items refer to intoxicating drink.