Psalm 75 8

Psalm 75:8 kjv

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.

Psalm 75:8 nkjv

For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, And the wine is red; It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth Drain and drink down.

Psalm 75:8 niv

In the hand of the LORD is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.

Psalm 75:8 esv

For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.

Psalm 75:8 nlt

For the LORD holds a cup in his hand
that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices.
He pours out the wine in judgment,
and all the wicked must drink it,
draining it to the dregs.

Psalm 75 verses

Psalm 75 8 Meaning

Psalm 75:8 declares the certainty and severity of God's righteous judgment upon the wicked. The imagery of a "cup" in the LORD's hand symbolizes the divine wrath and destiny prepared for the unrighteous. The "red wine" mixed to full potency, and the "dregs" that must be completely drained, underscore the absolute and inescapable nature of this judgment, emphasizing that all who defy God will fully experience His retribution.

Psalm 75 8 Context

Psalm 75 is a song of thanksgiving and trust, proclaiming God's role as the righteous Judge of all the earth. The Psalm begins with a communal vow to give thanks to the Lord, affirming His presence and miraculous works. The speaker (often understood as a prophetic voice or the king, acting as God's instrument) then asserts God's ultimate sovereignty over time and judgment, responding to those who boast impudently. Verse 8 comes after the declaration that God Himself, and no earthly power, exalts one and brings another low. This verse provides the powerful, vivid imagery of God's active, personal, and inevitable judgment against all who are wicked, reinforcing His sovereign justice mentioned in the preceding verses and setting the stage for the affirmation of the wicked's cut-off strength in verse 10. Historically, Psalms like this often functioned within the covenant context, reminding Israel of God's justice against both their enemies and unrighteousness within their own midst. It serves as a strong warning against pride and a powerful reassurance for the righteous that justice will prevail according to God's perfect timing.

Psalm 75 8 Word analysis

• For in the hand of the LORD: Emphasizes divine authority, power, and precise control over the instrument of judgment. It signifies that this is God's active and deliberate act, not an arbitrary event.
• there is a cup: Hebrew kos (כּוֹס). A widespread biblical and ancient Near Eastern metaphor for destiny, fate, experience, or appointed lot, often referring to suffering, wrath, or punishment.
• and the wine is red: Hebrew yayin ādōm (יַיִן אָדֹם). "Red" often connotes richness, fermentation, or sometimes even blood. In the context of divine judgment, the vivid color intensifies the image of fierce, unmitigated wrath, as strong and potent as undiluted wine.
• it is full of mixture: Hebrew mesekh (מֶסֶךְ). This refers to wine mixed with spices or intoxicating ingredients to increase its potency and make it more intoxicating or bitter, rather than diluting it with water. Here, it denotes that God's judgment is not watered down; instead, its full severity and bitterness are concentrated.
• and he pours out of the same: Hebrew nāśak (נָסַךְ), to pour out, especially liquid offerings. This portrays a deliberate, intentional, and sovereign act by God, not an uncontrolled outburst. He dispenses justice according to His perfect will.
• but the dregs thereof: Hebrew šāmār (שְׁמָרִים). These are the sediment, the most bitter, unpalatable, and potent part of the fermented wine, found at the bottom of the cup. It signifies the fullest and most severe extent of God's judgment, the bitter residue left after the main portion has been consumed.
• all the wicked of the earth: Refers to those universally characterized by unrighteousness, injustice, and rebellion against God's ways. It indicates the universal scope of divine judgment for those outside of God's mercy.
• shall wring them out, and drink them: Hebrew miṣṣāh (מָצָה), to drain completely, to suck out. This strong verb, combined with "drink them," conveys the utter compulsion and totality of consumption. The wicked will be forced to drain every last drop, including the bitter dregs, with no escape or evasion, enduring the full, most concentrated wrath of God.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture": This phrase establishes God as the sovereign dispenser of destiny. The imagery builds intensity from the simple presence of the cup, to its vivid red wine, to its heightened potency from being "full of mixture," indicating a judgment that is intensely potent, visible, and carefully prepared.
• "and he pours out of the same: but the dregs thereof": This transition emphasizes God's deliberate action in dispensing the judgment. The immediate shift to "the dregs" highlights the specific, most severe portion of the judgment that awaits. It underscores that even the bitterest remnants will not be withheld.
• "all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them": This culminating phrase declares the inescapable, complete, and forced consumption of this full and bitter judgment. It universalizes the target of this judgment to all the unrighteous and emphasizes their inability to avoid the final, most dreadful consequences of their actions.

Psalm 75 8 Bonus section

• Ancient Context of Cups: In the ancient Near East, a "cup" often symbolized one's appointed lot or destiny, whether good or ill. The image would have been immediately recognizable as a symbol of divine decree and outcome.
• Contrast with the Cup of Salvation: While this verse speaks of the cup of wrath, the Bible also speaks of a "cup of salvation" (Ps 116:13), representing God's deliverance and blessing for the righteous. This stark contrast highlights God's dual nature as both a righteous judge and a gracious savior.
• No Mitigation of Wrath: The detail about the "mixture" and the "dregs" counters any notion that God's wrath might be tempered or lessened for the wicked; rather, it indicates an intensified and complete outpouring.

Psalm 75 8 Commentary

Psalm 75:8 profoundly illustrates God's unyielding commitment to justice. Through the potent metaphor of a divinely prepared cup, the verse conveys that God is in complete control of His judgment. This cup is filled with "red wine" that is "full of mixture," emphasizing that His wrath is not diluted but concentrated, intense, and certain. It signifies that divine retribution is powerful and precisely administered. The finality and severity of this judgment are underscored by the "dregs," the bitter sediment at the bottom, which "all the wicked of the earth" are compelled to "wring out and drink." This signifies a total, unavoidable experience of God's judgment, to its very bitter end, leaving no escape or remaining hope for those who persistently oppose Him. It reassures the righteous of God's justice while serving as a stern warning to the wicked of their inevitable reckoning.