In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word (pronounced) yah-yin is translated as "wine." The Hebrew word means fermented, as in wine, not grape juice. To prove that it means wine, not grape juice, it was from yah-yin that Noah became drunk:
"And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine [i.e. yah-yin], and was drunken" (Genesis 9:20-21 KJV)
So does that mean that drinking wine was a sin, because righteous Noah (Genesis 6:9) on one occasion drank too much? No. God, for example, thereafter commanded that wine, the same substance, yah-yin, that Noah once got drunk on, be used in the holy sacrifices to Him.
"Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy ... And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine [yah-yin] for a drink offering." (Exodus 29:37,40 KJV)
There were circumstances in the Old Testament era when consuming alcohol was prohibited, but as matter of ceremonial observance, not because alcohol itself was sinful. Consuming wine was not a sin during the Old Testament era. It was even included among the blessings of the Promised Land:
"Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine [yah-yin]; also his heavens shall drop down dew." (Deuteronomy 33:28 KJV)
