Isaiah 51:21 kjv
Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:
Isaiah 51:21 nkjv
Therefore please hear this, you afflicted, And drunk but not with wine.
Isaiah 51:21 niv
Therefore hear this, you afflicted one, made drunk, but not with wine.
Isaiah 51:21 esv
Therefore hear this, you who are afflicted, who are drunk, but not with wine:
Isaiah 51:21 nlt
But now listen to this, you afflicted ones
who sit in a drunken stupor,
though not from drinking wine.
Isaiah 51 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:17 | Behold, take from My hand this cup, the cup of [YHWH] wrath; you shall drink from it and drain it. | God directly states He is giving the cup of wrath to Jerusalem. |
| Isa 51:22 | Behold, I will take out of your hand the cup, the cup of staggering; you shall drink from it no more. | Directly echoes the promise to remove the cup. |
| Jer 25:15 | For thus the Lord, the God of Israel, says to me: “Take this cup of the wine of wrath from my hand, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. | Similar imagery of the cup of wrath distributed to nations. |
| Jer 30:10 | “But you, O Jacob my servant, fear not, says the Lord, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. | Promises of salvation and restoration for Israel. |
| Ps 75:8 | For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, with wine that is frothy, mingled; he pours from it, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to the dregs. | Describes the cup in God's hand being poured for the wicked. |
| Rev 14:10 | he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, a wine that is mixed undiluted in the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. | Depicts the final judgment and drinking from God's cup of wrath. |
| Rev 16:19 | And the great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to give the noisome cup of his fierce wrath. | God's wrath symbolized by a cup poured out on Babylon. |
| Jer 16:4 | They shall die by deaths of pestilence. They shall not be lamented, nor shall they be buried; they shall be like dung on the surface of the ground. On swords and by famine they shall die, and their fallen bodies shall be food for the birds of the sky and for the beasts of the earth. | Consequences of judgment, loss of proper burial. |
| Deut 32:42 | I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh, with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the head of the enemy leaders. | Divine judgment executed with destructive force. |
| Zech 12:2 | “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah and against Jerusalem. | Jerusalem itself becomes a cup of staggering for its enemies. |
| Zeph 1:14 | The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. | The day of the Lord associated with bitterness and distress. |
| Hab 2:16 | You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn. Drink also, and be uncircumcised! The cup of the Lord’s right hand will be turned to you, and utter shame shall cover your glory. | Judgment described as drinking from the cup of the Lord's right hand, resulting in shame. |
| Eze 23:31-34 | You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will give her bowl into your hand.” Thus says the Lord God: “You shall drink your sister’s deep cup, its wide opening and its capacity; you shall be put to shame and mockery. you shall drink and be drained. you shall be rent and torn by the beasts of the wild. You shall die by the sword. you shall fall by the hand of your captors. | Oholibah (representing Judah) receives judgment similar to her sister Samaria, described with imagery of drinking a deep cup. |
| Hos 10:1 | Israel is a luxuriant vine that produces its fruit. The more fruit he bore, the more sacrifices he made; the better his vines, the better he made the pillars. | Israel's prosperity used for idolatrous purposes. |
| Isa 5:11-12 | Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may pursue strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them! They have the lyre and the harp, the tambourine and the flute, and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or have concern for what his hands have wrought. | Idolaters consumed by pleasure, ignoring God. |
| Isa 65:14 | behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart, and wail for crushed spirit. | Contrast between the joy of servants and the wailing of the wicked. |
| 1 Pet 2:7 | So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not obey: “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” | Christ as a stone of stumbling for the disobedient. |
| Rom 11:8 | as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, opening not their eyes, nor their ears, until this very day.” | God's judgment affecting understanding and perception. |
| Ps 69:22 | May their own table become a snare before them, and their feast a trap! | Their feasts become instruments of their downfall. |
| Jer 51:7 | Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, making all the earth drunk; the nations drank of her wine; therefore the nations went mad. | Babylon described as a golden cup used by the Lord to intoxicate the nations. |
Isaiah 51 verses
Isaiah 51 21 Meaning
This verse declares that God will take away the "cup of staggering" from His people. This cup represents divine wrath and judgment, poured out upon those who have sinned. God promises to remove this from His people's hands, meaning they will no longer bear the full penalty of their iniquity. Instead, God declares He will put this cup into the hands of their tormentors.
Isaiah 51 21 Context
This verse is found in Isaiah chapter 51, which is part of the second "Book of Comfort" within Isaiah. Following the prophecy of judgment in the preceding chapters, this section addresses the people of Zion, offering them words of assurance and hope. The immediate context (verses 17-23) focuses on Jerusalem receiving God's wrath for her sins. God is described as holding out the "cup of staggering" to Zion, meaning she must drink the full measure of His judgment. However, this verse signifies a shift in God's dealings, promising relief and turning the tables on those who afflicted Israel. It's set within a broader theme of God's sovereign control over history, dispensing judgment and mercy as He sees fit, ultimately leading to the restoration of His people. The historical backdrop is likely the aftermath of Babylonian exile, with continued threats and oppressions from surrounding nations, which God assures Jerusalem He will deliver them from.
Isaiah 51 21 Word Analysis
Behold (heinei): A particle commanding attention. It signals an important declaration is about to be made. It serves to emphasize the following words and draw the listener's focus.
I (’anoḵi): The first-person singular pronoun. Identifies God as the speaker, asserting His divine authority and personal involvement.
will take (laqqaḥti): Future tense verb, meaning "to take," "to seize," "to grasp." Indicates a deliberate action by God.
out of your hand (mi-yadeḵa): This signifies the source of possession or control. The cup has been in "your hand," implying your oppressive possession or control. The "your" refers to those oppressing Israel.
the cup (ḵoś): A symbol of something to be drunk. In this context, it represents judgment and wrath.
of staggering (hĕmillá): This Hebrew word refers to dizziness, reeling, or being caused to stumble. It captures the debilitating and disorienting nature of God's wrath. It’s a judgment that causes utter confusion and inability to stand firm.
you shall drink from it no more (lo’ tisyteth minnô ’ôd): A strong negation emphasizing the cessation of drinking. This directly contrasts with the suffering described in verse 17. It promises final deliverance from this particular form of judgment.
God's actions: The phrase "I will take" emphasizes God's active role in removing the cup.
Transfer of judgment: The phrase "out of your hand" clearly indicates a transfer, moving the instrument of judgment from the oppressors to God's hand.
The nature of judgment: "Cup of staggering" vividly describes the effect of the judgment – overwhelming confusion and loss of stability.
Deliverance promised: "you shall drink from it no more" highlights the finality of the deliverance.
Isaiah 51 21 Bonus Section
The concept of God "taking a cup" or having a "cup" is a recurring motif in Scripture, consistently symbolizing divine judgment or blessing depending on the context. In this specific passage, the focus is squarely on judgment and its transfer. The phrase "cup of staggering" has been interpreted in scholarly discussions as representing not just the immediate experience of judgment but also the ongoing disorientation and weakness inflicted by it, akin to the lingering effects of strong intoxication. The "you" to whom the cup is being taken out of is the oppressor, who was perhaps administering a similar bitter cup (or causing suffering that felt like it) to Israel. This act of taking signifies a reclaiming of control from the oppressors and redirecting divine wrath towards them. It's a foreshadowing of the ultimate victory and restoration promised in messianic times, where God's enemies are decisively dealt with.
Isaiah 51 21 Commentary
This verse provides a profound message of reversal and divine justice. God, who had previously ordained a "cup of staggering" for His own people due to their sin, now declares His intention to remove it from their grasp. This cup represents the profound disorienting experience of divine judgment and wrath. The verse then makes a critical pivot: this same cup will be transferred into the hands of their tormentors. This signifies a change in fortunes where those who have caused suffering to God's people will now experience God's retribution. It's a powerful promise of vindication for the afflicted and judgment for the oppressors, illustrating God's ultimate sovereignty over all nations and His commitment to bringing justice to His covenant people. This action marks a pivotal point from suffering to liberation.