The term "wine-cup" in the Bible often symbolizes both literal and metaphorical meanings, reflecting the cultural, religious, and moral dimensions of wine consumption in ancient times. The wine-cup is frequently mentioned in Scripture, serving as a vessel for wine, which was a common beverage in biblical lands, and as a symbol of divine judgment or blessing.

Literal Use:

In its literal sense, the wine-cup is simply a cup used for drinking wine. Wine was a staple in the diet of the Israelites and was consumed during meals, celebrations, and religious ceremonies. The wine-cup is mentioned in various contexts, such as in the account of Joseph, where his silver cup is used as a test for his brothers (Genesis 44:2). The use of wine-cups in feasts and banquets is also depicted in the book of Esther, where King Xerxes holds a lavish banquet with abundant wine (Esther 1:7).

Symbolic Use:

1. Divine Judgment:

The wine-cup is often used metaphorically to represent God's judgment and wrath. In the prophetic literature, the imagery of a cup filled with wine is employed to convey the idea of nations or individuals experiencing the consequences of their actions. For instance, in Jeremiah 25:15, the prophet is instructed to take "this cup of the wine of wrath" from the Lord's hand and make all the nations to whom he is sent drink it. This symbolizes the impending judgment that God will pour out on the nations for their sins.

2. Suffering and Sacrifice:

The wine-cup also symbolizes suffering and sacrifice. In the New Testament, Jesus uses the imagery of the cup to refer to His impending suffering and crucifixion. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prays, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39). Here, the cup represents the suffering He is about to endure for the salvation of humanity.

3. Blessing and Fellowship:

Conversely, the wine-cup can symbolize blessing and fellowship. In the context of the Last Supper, Jesus takes the cup, gives thanks, and offers it to His disciples, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:27-28). The cup here signifies the new covenant established through His sacrifice, offering spiritual nourishment and communion with God.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:

The Bible presents a balanced view of wine consumption, acknowledging both its potential for enjoyment and its capacity for abuse. Proverbs 20:1 warns, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise" . This highlights the dangers of excessive drinking and the moral responsibility to exercise self-control.

In summary, the wine-cup in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing judgment, suffering, blessing, and fellowship. It reflects the broader biblical themes of divine justice, redemption, and the call to live a life of moderation and righteousness.4221. poterion -- a wine cup
... a wine cup. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: poterion Phonetic Spelling:
(pot-ay'-ree-on) Short Definition: a drinking cup Definition: a drinking ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4221.htm - 6k

The Portrait of a Drunkyard
... smoothly' (Revised Version). The whole paints the attractiveness to sense of
the wine-cup in colour, effervescence, and taste. And then ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the portrait of a drunkyard.htm

Requiting God
... It seems to have become the custom in later times to lift high the wine cup at that
feast and drink it with solemn invocation and glad thanksgiving. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/requiting god.htm

Order and Argument in Prayer
... ungenerous and undeserved. Alas for a man when his wine-cup mocks him with
vinegar, and his pillow pricks him with thorns! The patriarch ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/order and argument in prayer.htm

Book vii. On the Useful or the Ordinary
... drink. [Luke 1:15]. The wine cup is the passion of the Lord; in the psalm:
I will take up the cup of salvation. [Ps.115(116):13]. ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/book vii on the useful.htm

Joseph, a Servant, a Prisoner, and a Saint.
... One was his chief cook, and one was the chief butler, who always handed
the wine cup to the king, and Joseph had the care of them. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter vii joseph a servant.htm

My God
... As the stamp unto the seal,. As the medicine to the fainting,. As the wine-cup at
the meal,. So, Lord, art Thou to me. As the ruby in the setting,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bevan/hymns of ter steegen suso and others/my god.htm

Ep. xiii. See the First Letter to Sophronius. ...
... actions in these words,. Beside a full wine cup a man has many friends: But
they are fewer when grave troubles press. We, however, have ...
/.../cyril/select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/ep xiii see the first.htm

Our Lord in the Garden
... three, and said to the rest, "Tarry ye here." Who of us, and how many of us would
you send for to-night, if you know to a certainty that the wine-cup of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/xi our lord in the.htm

Evil Habits and Injurious Indulgences.
... The professed follower of Christ who loves to sip the wine-cup, and by this text
persuades himself to believe he is not violating God's law, wrests it to his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter xiv evil habits and.htm

When Christ visited us in his Grace, He did not Come to what did ...
... [4459] Colossians 1:14. [4460] Matthew 5:45. [4461] [Again, the carefully asserts
that the bread is the body, and the wine (cup) is the blood. ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter ii when christ visited us.htm

Wine-cup (1 Occurrence)
Wine-cup. Wine-crushing, Wine-cup. Wine-drinker . Multi-Version
Concordance Wine-cup (1 Occurrence). Revelation 16:19 ...
/w/wine-cup.htm - 6k

Cup (86 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A wine-cup (Genesis 40:11, 21), various forms
of which are found on Assyrian and Egyptian monuments. All ...
/c/cup.htm - 41k

Wine-drinker (2 Occurrences)
Wine-drinker. Wine-cup, Wine-drinker. Wine-drinking . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Wine-cup, Wine-drinker. Wine-drinking . Reference Bible.
/w/wine-drinker.htm - 7k

Wine-crushing (1 Occurrence)
Wine-crushing. Wine-crusher, Wine-crushing. Wine-cup . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE). Wine-crusher, Wine-crushing. Wine-cup . Reference Bible.
/w/wine-crushing.htm - 6k

Split (36 Occurrences)
... split into three parts; the cities of the nations fell; and great Babylon came into
remembrance before God, for Him to make her drink from the wine-cup of His ...
/s/split.htm - 19k

Glass (12 Occurrences)
... some extent. The winecup of Proverbs 23:31 and the bottle for tears mentioned
in Psalm 56:8 were most likely of glass. Tear bottles ...
/g/glass.htm - 21k

Nero
... A hot winecup was offered Britannicus, and to cool it to taste, cold water
was added which had been adulterated with a virulent poison. ...
/n/nero.htm - 41k

Anger (387 Occurrences)
... split into three parts; the cities of the nations fell; and great Babylon came into
remembrance before God, for Him to make her drink from the wine-cup of His ...
/a/anger.htm - 54k

Drink (414 Occurrences)
... split into three parts; the cities of the nations fell; and great Babylon came into
remembrance before God, for Him to make her drink from the wine-cup of His ...
/d/drink.htm - 45k

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