CUP (כּﯴס֒, H3926, bowl, cup, the common term; אַגָּן, H110, Isa 22:24 basin, like a punch bowl; גָּבִיעַ, H1483, Gen 44:2 large cup, bowl; סַפ֒, H6195, Zech 12:2 basin; ποτήριον, G4539, cup). A drinking vessel of pottery or metal, used in both literal and figurative senses. The usual form of cup in Bible times was a shallow, handleless bowl made of a variety of materials: gold, silver, bronze, pottery, etc. See ANEP, #451, 604 for bas reliefs showing drinking from royal wine cups. See Potter for discussion of the Heb words; see Divination for Joseph’s silver divining cup (Gen 44:2-5).

The word “cup” stands, esp. in Psalms, for prosperity or blessing experienced in one’s earthly walk, the believer being thought of as receiving this portion from the hand of the Lord, as the guest receives the wine cup from the hand of his host (Ps 16:5; 23:5; 116:13). Conversely, the wicked receive a cup of punishment from an offended God (Ps 11:6; 75:8), even as Christ drank the cup of suffering in our place (Matt 20:22f; Mark 10:38; 14:36; Luke 22:42; John 18:11). The guilty, Israelites and heathen alike, must drain the cup of God’s wrath to the dregs (Isa 51:17, 22; Ezek 23:31-34; Hab 2:16; Rev 14:10; 16:19), which is equivalent to His sword of judgment (Jer 25:15-28).

The cup also represents drunkenness and other illicit pleasures (Prov 23:31; Jer 51:7; Rev 17:4; 18:6). “Cup of consolation” (Jer 16:7; cf. Prov 31:6) stems from the oriental custom of sending to bereaved friends food and drink for their mourning feast.

The “cup of blessing” (1 Cor 10:16) is so named from the kōs habb^erāḵāh of the Jewish Passover. Paul refers to the communion cup, also called “the cup of the Lord” (v. 21), over which the blessing is said prior to the supper which commemorates the Lord’s death. The cup from ancient times signifies fellowship. Thus, when the believer takes the cup of the Lord, he enters into fellowship with Him. The “cup of demons” (1 Cor 10:21) mentioned in opposition to the cup of the Lord may be understood similarly. Paul states that one cannot have fellowship with Christ and with Satan’s forces at the same time. At heathen feasts the cup was sacred to the name of the deity in whose honor the feast was being held. At the communion service, the cup is sacred to the name of the Redeemer who instituted its practice (Matt 26:27; Mark 14:23f; Luke 22:20). See Lord's Supper.