His eyes shall be red with wine: red translates a term used also in Pro 23.29, where excessive drinking is described. In this verse red refers to eyes that are reddened from drinking too much wine. Good News Translation says “bloodshot.” Here again the picture is the drinker with red eyes, but the significance of his red eyes is the limitless amount of wine, which in turn comes from the fertile conditions of the land.

And his teeth white with milk: in this line milk, which suggests cows feeding on rich pastures, will be so plentiful that his teeth will be of the whiteness of milk. A special note may be required in some areas where milk is never drunk except for babies drinking mother’s milk.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .