Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 75:8
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].
8. The judgement is described under the figure of a cup of wine, which God gives the wicked to drink. The figure is a common one. See Jer 25:15 ff., Jer 25:27 ff.; Jer 49:12; Jer 51:7; Isa 51:17 ff.; Job 21:20; Psa 11:6; Psa 60:3. is red ] Or, foameth (R.V.). mixture ] Herbs and spices to make it more seductive and intoxicating.
but the dregs &c.] Surely the dregs thereof all the wicked of the earth shall drain up and drink. They must drink the draught of God’s wrath to the last drop. Cp. Isa 51:17. Rosenmller quotes in illustration from an Arabic poet, “We gave the Hudheilites the cup of death to drink, whose dregs are confusion, disgrace, and shame.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For in the hand of the Lord … – The general idea in this verse is, that God holds in his hand a cup for people to drink; a cup whose contents will tend to prolong life, or to cause death. See the idea in this passage fully explained in Job 21:20, note; Psa 60:3, note; Isa 51:17, note; Rev 14:10, note.
And the wine is red – The word used here – chamar – may mean either to boil up, or to be red – from the idea of boiling, or becoming heated. The Septuagint and the Vulgate render it, And he pours it out from this into that; that is, he draws it off, as is done with wine. The true idea in the expression is probably that it ferments; and the meaning may be that the wrath of God seems to boil like fermenting liquor.
It is full of mixture – Mixed with spices, in order to increase its strength; or, as we should say, drugged. This was frequently done in order to increase the intoxicating quality of wine. The idea is, that the wrath of God was like wine whose native strength, or power of producing intoxication, was thus increased by drugs. And he poureth out of the same. He pours it out in order that his enemies may drink it; in other words, they reel and stagger under the expressions of his wrath, as men reel and stagger under the influence of spiced or drugged wine.
But the dregs thereof – The lees – the settlings – what remains after the wine is racked off. See the notes at Isa 25:6. This would contain the strongest part of the mixture; and the idea is, that they would drink the wrath of God to the utmost.
All the wicked of the earth – Wicked people everywhere. The expression of the wrath of God would not be confined to one nation, or one people; but wherever wicked people are found, he will punish them. He will be just in his dealings with all people.
Shall wring them out – Wine was kept in skins; and the idea here is, that they would wring out these skins so as to get out all that there was in them, and leave nothing remaining. The wrath of God would be exhausted in the punishment of wicked people, as if it were all wrung out.
And drink them – Not merely the wine; but the dregs; all that there was. Wicked people will suffer all that there is in the justice of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 75:8
For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red.
Gods threatenings against incorrigible sinners
In this verse we have a lively description and amplification of the judgments of God upon the world, which are here set forth unto us under a threefold representation of them. First, in their preparation. Secondly, in their execution. Thirdly, in their participation.
I. The preparation.
1. The vessel–a cup. By this we may understand whatsoever it is which is the means, and conveyance, and derivation of any evil unto us. God makes the same providences to be a cup of physic to His children, for the recovering of them from their spiritual infirmities, and a cup of poison to His enemies, for the destroying of them, in the midst of their sins.
2. The liquor.
(1) Red wine–a cup of blood prepared for the inhabitants of the world, as an expression of Gods vengeance upon them.
(2) Full of mixture, i.e. wrath and revenge.
3. The preparer–God Himself.
II. The execution. God will not be always in the forewarnings of judgment, He will be at last in the dispensations of it. He will not be always tempering it, He will be at last pouring out of it. The Lord is full of patience and longsuffering, and bears much with the sons of men for a long while together; but when His patience and longsuffering is once abused, He then comes on to punishment and execution. And this I say it is, when sin is come to its ripeness and maturity, and is at its full growth. There are three aggravations of sin which do put God upon the execution of judgment, and this pouring forth of wrath.
1. Boldness and insolence in sinning (Jer 8:12).
2. Generality in sinning; when it comes to taint and overspread a whole nation.
3. Security and presumption.
III. The participation.
1. The persons mentioned. The wicked of the earth, that is, such as are more scandalous, and presumptuous, and impenitent, and farthest from reformation; such as those who, for the nature of sin, are more abominable, and for the continuance in it, are more incorrigible; these are they which the Holy Ghost does here point at in a more principal manner.
2. The evil denounced against them.
(1) The potion or draught itself, it is the dregs of the cup. This is the potion of wicked men, while tis said they shall drink the dregs, there are three things implied in this expression as belonging unto it.
(a) The reservation of judgment, they shall drink the last.
(b) The aggravation of judgment, they shall drink the worst.
(c) The perfection and confirmation of judgment, they shall drink up all. They shall drink the last, they shall drink the worst, they shall drink all; each of these are implied in the dregs. (T. Horton, D. D.)
The Lords cup
I. The contents of the Lords cup. The wine is red; it is full of mixture; that is, however fair the appearance of things may be, however splendid any state of happiness, or any situation of life may appear, there is always added to it a certain portion of evil. By evil, I mean only the usual misfortunes and afflictions of human life. These are what temper the cup of the Lord; and in this mixed state it is poured out to the inhabitants of the earth. Man being compounded of good and evil, all his labours partake of the mixture. Let him form what schemes he will; let him employ all his little prudence and foresight in bringing them to perfection, still we will find mixed with them in one shape or other, uncertainty, disappointment, and miscarriage.
II. How the ungodly man drinks.
IV. The text says, He drinks the dregs. Now, the dregs of any liquor are the pernicious parts. It is fairly implied, therefore, that the ungodly man turns both the good and evil of life to his own destruction.
III. How the godly man drinks it. As the ungodly man drinks the dregs, the finer parts of the liquor are, of course, the portion of the godly man. In the first place, he expects to find a degree of bitterness in his cup. He sees the propriety of it, and fully acknowledges the great usefulness of this mixture of good and evil. If the potion were perfectly palatable, he fears he might drink to excess. When it pleases Heaven to bless him; when his designs succeed; and his hopes dilate in some view of happiness before him, Now is the time (he suggests to himself) when I must guard my heart with double care. Now is the time when insolence, and wantonness, and pride, the attendants of a prosperous hour, are most liable to corrupt me. Let prosperity soften my heart, instead of hardening it. Let me be humble, and mild, and condescending, and obliging to all. In the midst of my own enjoyments, let my heart expand. Let me feel the misery of others; and turn my plenty to the relief of their necessity. Again, when it pleases Heaven to mix some bitter ingredients in his cup, still he has the same sense of acting under the will of God. Now, he cries, is the time when I am to exercise patience and resignation. Now my religion is put to the test. Shall I receive good at the hand of the Lord, and not receive evil? Gracious God! grant that I may improve my heart under this trial of my faith; and make my sufferings, through Jesus Christ, the means of purifying my affections. Let me for His sake bear a Lifting part of what He bore for me; and let me keep that great pattern of suffering resignation always before my eyes. Thus the godly man drinks of the Lords cup, and his draught, whether sweet or bitter, is wholesome to him. (W. Gilpin.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 8. It is full of mixture] Alluding to that mingled potion of stupefying drugs given to criminals to drink previously to their execution. See a parallel passage to this, Jer 25:15-26.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This verse is added, either,
1. As a reason or confirmation of the assertion, Psa 75:7, and to show that God in removing one king to make way for another did not proceed in a way of absolute sovereignty, which yet he might have done, but in a way of justice and equity. Or,
2. As another argument to enforce his advice given Psa 75:4,5, which he had now pressed by one argument, Psa 75:6,7. God is here compared to the master of a feast, who then used to distribute portions of meats or drinks to the several guests as he thought fit.
A cup, in Scripture, is sometimes taken in a good sense, for Gods blessings, as Psa 16:5; 23:5; and sometimes, and more frequently, in a bad sense, for Gods vengeance and judgments, as Psa 11:6; Isa 51:22; Jer 49:12; Mat 20:23, &c.; and so it is here understood, as the following words show. The wine is red; such as the best wine of Judea was, Deu 32:14; Pro 23:31; and so strong, and heady, and intoxicating. Or, is troubled; as the word more properly signifies, and is rendered by divers; which may note its newness, when it is in fermentation, not yet cleared nor settled, and so more intoxicating. So he expresseth the power and fierceness of Gods wrath and judgments. It is full of mixture: the wine is mingled, not with water, as was usual in those hot countries, Pro 9:5, but with spices, as Son 8:2; or rather, strengthening and intoxicating ingredients, which drunkards used, Isa 5:22. He poureth out of the same, to wit, to the children of men; promiscuously to good and bad; whereby he removes the scandal which his enemies might take from those troubles which God saw fit to inflict upon David and his followers. The dregs thereof; the worst and most dreadful part of those tribulations. Of the earth; or, of the land, to wit, of Canaan, of which he spoke Psa 75:3. Shall wring them out; which expression may imply, either that they shall be forced to squeeze out the worst for their own drinking, or that this dreadful draught was prepared for them and brought upon them by their own choice and wickedness.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. in the hand . . . a cup . . .redGod’s wrath often thus represented (compare Isa 51:17;Jer 25:15 Jer 25:15).
but the dregsliterally,”surely the dregs, they shall drain it.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup,…. Another reason why men should not act haughtily and arrogantly; for by the cup are meant afflictions, calamities, and judgments, which are measured out in proportion to men’s sins, and are of God’s appointing, and in his hands, and at his disposal
and the wine is red; an emblem of the wrath of God this cup is full of, as it is explained, Re 14:10, where there is a reference to this passage; for it is a cup of fury, of trembling, and of indignation:
Isa 51:17,
it is full of mixture; has many ingredients in it, dreadful and shocking ones, though it is sometimes said to be without mixture,
Re 14:10, without any allay, alluding to the mixing of wine with water in the eastern countries; see Pr 9:2,
and he poureth out of the same; his judgments upon men in this world, in all ages; on some more, others less, as their sins call for, or his infinite wisdom judges meet and proper:
but the dregs thereof all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out and drink them; the whole cup that God has measured out and filled up shall be poured out at last, and all be drank up; the very dregs of it by the wicked of the world, when they shall be punished with everlasting destruction in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: this will be the portion of their cup, Ps 11:6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
8. For in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup. (261) The Psalmist here applies more directly to the use of the godly that judgment of which he has just now spoken. He affirms, that the object for which God reigns is, that no iniquity may remain unpunished; but that when wicked men have broken through all restraint and abandoned themselves to wickedness, he may drag them to deserved punishment. From this we again learn what estimate we ought to form of the providence of God — that we ought to regard it as exercising its control by an ever-present energy over every part of our life. It is therefore asserted that God has in his hand a cup with which to make the wicked drunk. The word חמר, chamar, signifies full of dregs, and also red. As red wine among the Jews was the strongest and sharpest, we may suppose that it is here referred to; and the similitude is very appropriate, which represents God as having in his hand wine of a highly intoxicating character, with which to make the ungodly drunk even to death. It is implied, that the swiftness of divine vengeance is incredible, resembling the rapidity and power with which strong wine penetrates to the brain, and either produces madness or kindles a fever. It is on this account said, that the wine in God’s cup is of a red color; as it is said in Pro 23:31,
“
Look not upon the wine when it is red in the cup.”
Nor is it any objection to this that it is described a little after as full of mixture. These two things do not ill agree with each other; first, that the wicked are suddenly made drunk with the vengeance of God; and, secondly, that they drink it out even to the dregs, until they perish. Some give a different explanation of the term mixture, considering, but without any just ground, the allusion to be to the custom which prevails in warm climates of diluting wine with water. This expression, it is full of mixture, was rather added to give additional force to the statement of the prophet; his object being to compare the vehemence and fury of God’s wrath to spiced wine. (262) By these figures he intimates that it will be impossible for the ungodly to escape drinking the cup which God will put into their hands, and that they will be compelled to drain it to the last drop.
(261) “Here there seems to be an allusion to the cup of malediction, as the Jews called that ‘mixed cup of wine’ and frankincense, which used to be given to condemned criminals before their execution, in order to take away their senses. So the Chaldee Targum paraphrases the passage; ‘Because a cup of malediction is in the hand of the Lord, and strong wine full of a mixture of bitterness, to take away the understanding of the wicked.’” — Parkhurst quoted by Mant.
(262) Mixed wine, naturally suggests to us the idea of wine weaker than in its pure state. Accordingly, Green, instead of “full of mixture,” translates “unmixed,” by which he means wine unmixed with water. He perceived, what is evident at first sight, that wine of the strongest quality is intended, and having apparently no idea of any other mixture than that of water, which would weaken the wine, he took the liberty of rendering the words, מלא מסך, male mesech, by “unmixed.” The Greeks and Latins, in like manner by “mixed wine,” understood wine diluted and weakened with water. But the phrase among the Hebrews generally denotes wine made stronger, by the addition of higher and more powerful ingredients. In the East, wines are much mixed with drugs of a stimulating and intoxicating kind; so that commonly when drawn from the vessels in which they are preserved, they are strained for use. What remains is the thick sediment of the strong and stimulating ingredients with which they had been mixed. This the wicked are doomed to drink. “The introduction of this circumstance,” says Mant, “forms a fine climax, and carries the idea of God’s indignation to the highest point.” Some interpreters have explained the passage as meaning that God would pour out the pure and clear wine for his friends, while he would compel his enemies to drink the dregs. But the reference is entirely to his enemies, who were wholly to exhaust this cup of his fury. This, with the prophets, is a very common image of divine wrath. See volume 2, page 399, note.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) A cup.The figure of the cup of Divine fury is developed, as Psa. 11:6 compared with Psa. 16:5 shows, from the more general one which represents life itself as a draught which must be drunk, bitter or sweet, according to the portion assigned. It appears again in Psa. 60:3, and is worked out in prophetic books, Isa. 51:17; Hab. 2:16, Ac.; Eze. 23:32-34, and frequently in Jeremiah. The mode of its introduction here, after the statement that God putteth down one and setteth up another, shows that the poet, in speaking of a mixture, thinks of the good and bad commingled in the cup, which are, of course, poured out to those whose portion is to be happiness and misery in Israel; while for the heathen, the wicked of the earth (possibly including apostate Jews), only the dregs are left to be drained. There are, however, many obscure expressions.
Is red.Better, foameth, from the rapid pouring out.
Mixture.Heb., mesekh; which, like mezeg, may properly denote aromatic wine (wine mixed with spices), but here seems rather to imply the blending of the portions destined for the good and bad in Israel.
Wring.Better, drain. (See Psa. 73:10.)
The LXX. and Vulg. seem to have had a slightly different text before them, and one which still more distinctly points to the interpretation given above: Because in the hand of the Lord a cup of unmixed wine, full of mixture, and he turned it from this side to that, but its dregs were not emptied, all the sinners of the earth shall drink of them. The text has poureth from this; the word, to that, may have dropped out.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. A cup red The emblem of wrath. Psa 60:3; Rev 14:10.
Mixture Alluding to the practice of drugging wine to make it more intoxicating. Isa 5:11; Isa 5:22.
Wring out That is, shall press the dregs, or lees, at the bottom of the cup, to extract the last drop. See Isa 51:17; Isa 51:22
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 75:8. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red And the wine is in a ferment. Hiller, 328. Is unmixed: Green; who renders the next clause, He filleth it up to the brim, and poureth out of the same. It is not improbable, that the wine here mentioned may allude to the stupifying and intoxicating liquor, which was given to criminals before their execution, either to hasten their death, or to lessen their sense of the pains they were to suffer; for it was a mixture of poisonous and stupifying herbs infused in wine. See Mat 27:34.; Psa 60:3. If we suppose some such intoxicating wine to have been in use at the time this psalm was written, it will account for the mixture here spoken of; a circumstance otherwise difficult to explain.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
I do not presume to say what this cup is, nor to what the whole allusion is designed: perhaps it means a mixture of what God’s people are appointed to drink in soul exercises, and in providences. And perhaps it means that the people of God shall drink of the blood of the Lamb. But one thing I beg to remark, that Jesus, when he came forth as the sinner’s Surety, drank of the cup of trembling to the dregs, while his people have given to them the cup of salvation, that they may call upon the name of the Lord. Sweet is that precious scripture to this point, Isa 51:22-23 ; Joh 18:11 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 75:8 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].
Ver. 8. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup ] A cup of affliction, whereof all must drink, more or less. The Chaldee calleth it a cup of curse. Affliction is in itself a fruit of sin and a piece of the curse.
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
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
a cup. The symbol of God’s judgment. Isa 51:17-23 (Compare Psa 19:14). Hab 2:15, Hab 2:16. Eze 23:31, Eze 23:34, &c. Jer 25:27; Jer 48:26; Jer 49:12.
red = foaming.
mixture = spice. Compare Rev 14:10.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
For in: Psa 11:6, Psa 60:3, Job 21:20, Isa 51:17, Isa 51:22, Jer 25:15, Jer 25:17, Jer 25:27, Jer 25:28, Rev 14:9, Rev 14:10, Rev 16:19
it is full: Alluding to the medicated wine or potion of stupifying drugs given to criminals to drink previous to their execution. Pro 23:30, Isa 5:22
but the dregs: Psa 73:10
Reciprocal: Pro 13:2 – the soul Isa 63:6 – make Jer 9:15 – I will Jer 13:13 – I will Jer 48:26 – ye him Eze 23:34 – drink Amo 1:7 – I will Oba 1:16 – as ye Nah 3:11 – shalt be drunken Hab 2:16 – drink Zec 12:2 – a cup Mar 10:38 – drink of the Joh 18:11 – the cup Rev 15:7 – seven
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 75:8. For, &c. This verse is added, either, 1st, As a reason or confirmation of the assertion, Psa 75:7, and to show that God, in removing one king to make way for another, did not proceed in a way of absolute sovereignty, but in a way of justice and equity. Or, 2d, As another argument to enforce his advice given Psa 75:4-5, which he had already pressed by one argument, Psa 75:6-7. In the hand of the Lord there is a cup God is here compared to the master of a feast, who, in those days, used to distribute portions of meats or drinks to the several guests, as he thought fit. A cup, in Scripture, is sometimes taken in a good sense for Gods blessings, as Psa 16:5; Psa 23:5, and sometimes, and more frequently, in a bad sense, for his vengeance and judgments, Psa 11:6; Isa 51:22; Jer 49:12; Mat 20:23; and so it is here understood, as the following words show. And the wine is red
Such as the best wine in Judea was, (Deu 32:14; Pro 23:31,) and therefore strong and intoxicating. Or, is troubled, as , chamar, more properly signifies, and is rendered by divers learned men. Thus he expresses the power and fierceness of Gods wrath and judgments. It is full of mixture The wine is mingled, not with water, but with strengthening and intoxicating ingredients. Calamity and sorrow, fear and trembling, infatuation and despair, the evils of the present life, and of that which is to come, are the bitter ingredients of this cup of mixture. And he poureth out of the same As it is entirely in the hand and disposal of God, so, through every age, he has been pouring out, and administering of its contents, more or less, in proportion to the sins of men; but the dregs thereof The worst and most dreadful part of those tribulations; all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out Shall be compelled to squeeze out every drop of wrath and misery which they contain; and drink them For the curse shall enter into their bowels like water, and like oil into their bones. They shall be compelled to endure the utmost effects of the divine vengeance upon their sins, partly in this life, but more fully in the life to come, when the cup of the Lords indignation will be to them in an especial manner a cup of trembling, of everlasting trembling; when burning coals, fire and brimstone, and a horrible eternal tempest shall be the portion of their cup, Psa 11:6. And they shall be thus tormented in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb, and shall have no rest day nor night, and the smoke of their torment shall ascend up for ever and ever, Rev 14:10-11.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
75:8 For in the hand of the LORD [there is] a {f} 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].
(f) God’s wrath is compared to a cup of strong and delicate wine, with which the wicked are made so drunk that by drinking till they come to the very dregs they are utterly destroyed.