Bible Dictionaries
Cup

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A wine-cup (Genesis 40:11,21 ), various forms of which are found on Assyrian and Egyptian monuments. All Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold (1 Kings 10 :: 21 ). The cups mentioned in the New Testament were made after Roman and Greek models, and were sometimes of gold (Revelation 17:4 ).

The art of divining by means of a cup was practiced in Egypt (Genesis 44:2-17 ), and in the East generally.

The "cup of salvation" (Psalm 116:13 ) is the cup of thanksgiving for the great salvation. The "cup of consolation" (Jeremiah 16:7 ) refers to the custom of friends sending viands and wine to console relatives in mourning (Proverbs 31:6 ). In 1 Corinthians 10:16 , the "cup of blessing" is contrasted with the "cup of devils" (1 Corinthians 10:21 ). The sacramental cup is the "cup of blessing," because of blessing pronounced over it (Matthew 26:27; Luke 22:17 ). The "portion of the cup" (Psalm 11:6; 16:5 ) denotes one's condition of life, prosperous or adverse. A "cup" is also a type of sensual allurement (Jeremiah 51:7; Proverbs 23:31; Revelation 17:4 ). We read also of the "cup of astonishment," the "cup of trembling," and the "cup of God's wrath" (Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15; Lamentations 4:21; Ezekiel 23:32; Revelation 16:19; Compare Matthew 26:39,42; John 18:11 ). The cup is also the symbol of death (Matthew 16:28; Mark 9:1; Hebrews 2:9 ).