Psalms 75:8

Authorized King James Version

PDF

For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

Original Language Analysis

כִּ֤י H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 1 of 17
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
כ֪וֹס there is a cup H3563
כ֪וֹס there is a cup
Strong's: H3563
Word #: 2 of 17
a cup (as a container), often figuratively, some unclean bird, probably an owl (perhaps from the cup-like cavity of its eye)
בְּֽיַד For in the hand H3027
בְּֽיַד For in the hand
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 3 of 17
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
יְהוָ֡ה of the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֡ה of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 4 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְיַ֤יִן and the wine H3196
וְיַ֤יִן and the wine
Strong's: H3196
Word #: 5 of 17
wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication
חָמַ֨ר׀ is red H2560
חָמַ֨ר׀ is red
Strong's: H2560
Word #: 6 of 17
properly, to boil up; hence, to glow (with redness)
מָ֥לֵא it is full H4392
מָ֥לֵא it is full
Strong's: H4392
Word #: 7 of 17
full (literally or figuratively) or filling (literally); also (concretely) fulness; adverbially, fully
מֶסֶךְ֮ of mixture H4538
מֶסֶךְ֮ of mixture
Strong's: H4538
Word #: 8 of 17
a mixture, i.e., of wine with spices
וַיַּגֵּ֪ר and he poureth out H5064
וַיַּגֵּ֪ר and he poureth out
Strong's: H5064
Word #: 9 of 17
to flow; figuratively, to stretch out; causatively, to pour out or down; figuratively, to deliver over
מִ֫זֶּ֥ה of the same H2088
מִ֫זֶּ֥ה of the same
Strong's: H2088
Word #: 10 of 17
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
אַךְ H389
אַךְ
Strong's: H389
Word #: 11 of 17
a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) only
שְׁ֭מָרֶיהָ but the dregs H8105
שְׁ֭מָרֶיהָ but the dregs
Strong's: H8105
Word #: 12 of 17
something preserved, i.e., the settlings (plural only) of wine
יִמְצ֣וּ shall wring them out H4680
יִמְצ֣וּ shall wring them out
Strong's: H4680
Word #: 13 of 17
to suck out; by implication, to drain, to squeeze out
יִשְׁתּ֑וּ and drink H8354
יִשְׁתּ֑וּ and drink
Strong's: H8354
Word #: 14 of 17
to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
כֹּ֝֗ל H3605
כֹּ֝֗ל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 15 of 17
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
רִשְׁעֵי thereof all the wicked H7563
רִשְׁעֵי thereof all the wicked
Strong's: H7563
Word #: 16 of 17
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
אָֽרֶץ׃ of the earth H776
אָֽרֶץ׃ of the earth
Strong's: H776
Word #: 17 of 17
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

Analysis & Commentary

The psalm describes judgment: "For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them" (Hebrew ki khos b-yad-YHWH v-yayin chamar male mesekh va-yaggēr mi-zeh akh-sh-mareha yim-tzu yish-tu kol rish-ey-aretz). The "cup" symbolizes God's wrath throughout Scripture. "Full of mixture" indicates concentrated judgment. The wicked must "drink to the dregs"—consuming judgment completely. The image is sobering: divine wrath as inescapable intoxicating punishment.

Historical Context

The cup of wrath appears throughout prophets (Isaiah 51:17,22, Jeremiah 25:15-29, Ezekiel 23:31-34). It represents God's judicial anger against sin. Habakkuk 2:16 describes drinking the cup of shame. Jesus referenced this in Gethsemane: "let this cup pass from me" (Matthew 26:39,42)—He would drink the cup of God's wrath we deserved. Revelation 14:10, 16:19 depict final judgment as drinking wrath's cup.

Questions for Reflection