Wine
is given in 70 letters; secrets are given in 70 letters (TB Eruvin
65a). When wine enters, secrets escape. (Numbers Rabbah 10; Tanhuma
8)
The Midrash
brings to our attention that the numerical value of the Hebrew word for wine
(yayin) is seventy, as is the numerical value of the Hebrew word for
secret (sod):
(yayin):
yod (10) + yod (10) + nun (50) = 70
(sod):
sameh (60) + vav (6) + daled (4) = 70
Based
on this gematria (numerical word play) emerged the expression:
Nihnas yayin, yaza sod: When wine enters, reason departs, and
secret thoughts are revealed. (Numbers Rabbah 10; Tanhuma
8)
The medieval poet Ibn
Gabirol plays this numerical game in his wine song,
Kihlot Yeini, but with a twist. His poem, written
as a protest against a wine seller who was mixing the wine with water, converts
the Hebrew words yayin (wine) and mayim (water) to their respective
numerical equivalents — 70 and 90.
(yayin):
yod (10) + yod (10) + nun (50) = 70
(sod):
sameh (60) + vav (6) + daled (4) = 70