Lexical Summary mesek: Possession, acquisition Original Word: מֶסֶךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance mixture From macak; a mixture, i.e. Of wine with spices -- mixture. see HEBREW macak NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom masak Definition a mixture NASB Translation mixed (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מֶ֫סֶךְ noun [masculine] mixture, i.e. wine mixed with spices; ׳וְיַיִן חָמַר מָלֵא מ ׳כּוֺס בְּיַד י Psalm 75:9 (figurative of ׳י's judgment). Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Immediate Context מֶסֶךְ appears once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 75:8: “For a cup is in the hand of the Lord, full of foaming wine mixed with spices, and He pours from it. All the wicked of the earth drink it down to the dregs”. Here the term designates the “mixed” or “spiced” wine inside the cup of divine judgment. It is the substance that intensifies both the potency and the inevitability of God’s righteous wrath. Semantic and Cultural Background In the ancient Near East, choice wine was often “mixed” with aromatics, herbs, or additional fermenting agents (Proverbs 23:30; Song of Solomon 8:2). This blending produced a richer bouquet and a heightened intoxicating effect. Because such wine was carefully prepared, it came to symbolize both lavish celebration and, when placed in God’s hand, the deliberate, measured nature of His judicial acts. The single biblical occurrence of מֶסֶךְ therefore carries a dual cultural resonance: refinement and potency. The Cup Motif in Scripture 1. Judgment: Psalm 75:8 introduces מֶסֶךְ into the broader biblical motif of a cup held by the Lord (Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15; Revelation 14:10). The mixed wine is not random wrath but a calculated response to human rebellion. Historical Significance Psalm 75 is attributed to Asaph’s line, likely composed in a post-Davidic context when Israel wrestled with foreign oppression and internal corruption. By portraying the Lord as a master vintner, the psalmist reassures the faithful remnant that evil powers will not triumph indefinitely. The image of spiced wine underscores that judgment will be neither hasty nor haphazard but perfectly blended to fit the offense. Theological Significance • Divine Sovereignty: The Lord personally holds the cup; wicked hands cannot seize it or dilute its contents. Christological Connections Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane—“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Matthew 26:39)—alludes to the Old Testament cup of wrath. Though the Gospel writers use Greek terms, the background imagery of Psalm 75:8 illuminates the depth of Christ’s substitutionary suffering: He voluntarily drank the fully mixed cup so believers might instead receive the cup of blessing (1 Corinthians 10:16). Liturgical and Devotional Use In corporate worship Psalm 75 is often read to reaffirm God’s justice amid societal turmoil. Devotionally, מֶסֶךְ invites self-examination: am I trusting Christ, who absorbed the cup for me, or am I storing up wrath for the day when the cup will be poured out (Romans 2:5)? Key Insights for Ministry • Preaching: Use מֶסֶךְ to depict God’s wrath as purposeful rather than impulsive, enhancing listeners’ appreciation for the cross. Pastoral Application Believers live between two cups: the cup Christ drained and the cup He now fills with grace (Psalm 16:5). מֶסֶךְ reminds the church that holiness matters; the same God who judged at Calvary will judge at the end of the age. This fosters reverent worship, ethical vigilance, and evangelical urgency. Forms and Transliterations מֶסֶךְ֮ מסך me·seḵ meseCh meseḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 75:8 HEB: חָמַ֨ר ׀ מָ֥לֵא מֶסֶךְ֮ וַיַּגֵּ֪ר מִ֫זֶּ֥ה NAS: It is well mixed, and He pours KJV: it is full of mixture; and he poureth out INT: foams is well mixed pours of this |
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