Lexical Summary qubbaath: Cup, Bowl Original Word: קֻבַּעַת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dregs From qaba'; a goblet (as deep like a cover) -- dregs. see HEBREW qaba' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qaba Definition a cup NASB Translation chalice* (2), dregs (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs קֻבַּ֫עַת noun feminine cup (perhaps loan-word from Assyrian [‡abu°tu], plural ‡abûâtê, probably cups, goblets; compare Arabic  flower-cup, calyx); — construct כּוֺס ׳הַתַּרְעֵלָה ק Isaiah 51:17 compare Isaiah 51:22 (both figurative, and כּוֺס in both probably explanatory gloss, see Commentaries). Topical Lexicon Canonical Occurrences קֻבַּעַת appears only in Isaiah 51:17 and Isaiah 51:22, each time rendered “cup” or “chalice” in the context of divine judgment. The restricted use heightens its dramatic impact, concentrating the imagery of a single, overwhelming experience rather than a routine object. Historical and Literary Setting in Isaiah Isaiah chapters 40–55 address Judah’s exile and promised restoration. The prophet speaks to a generation crushed by Babylon but destined for redemption. In this milieu קֻבַּעַת denotes the “cup of staggering” (Isaiah 51:17) forced upon Jerusalem as the just consequence of covenant infidelity. The same chapter immediately promises reversal: • “This is what your Lord, the LORD, even your God who defends His people, says: ‘See, I have taken the cup of reeling from your hand…’” (Isaiah 51:22). Thus the cup functions both as an emblem of past discipline and a pivot toward future comfort. Symbolism of the Cup of Wrath 1. Judicial Finality. The filled cup implies the wrath of God has reached its appointed measure (compare Jeremiah 25:15; Revelation 16:19). Theological Implications • Retributive Justice. God’s holiness necessitates judgment; the cup visualizes that necessity without diminishing His mercy. Prophetic and Messianic Foreshadowing The double mention in Isaiah sets a literary trajectory picked up in the New Testament. Jesus prays, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Matthew 26:39), consciously echoing Isaiah’s image. Golgotha becomes the place where the contents of קֻבַּעַת are finally exhausted, so that believers “shall never drink it” (compare John 19:30; Romans 8:1). Pastoral and Ministry Application 1. Assurance in Discipline. Believers undergoing hardship can remember that God both administers and removes the cup. His chastening is purposeful and bounded. Related Biblical Imagery While קֻבַּעַת itself is rare, the wider scriptural motif of the cup enriches its meaning: These passages reinforce the principle that God’s justice is cumulative and universal, while Isaiah 51 highlights His sovereign power to remove the cup in mercy. In sum, קֻבַּעַת crystallizes the tension between wrath and redemption, anchoring Judah’s historical experience, illuminating Christ’s atoning work, and guiding the church’s proclamation and pastoral care. Forms and Transliterations קֻבַּ֙עַת֙ קֻבַּ֜עַת קבעת kubBaat qub·ba·‘aṯ qubba‘aṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 51:17 HEB: חֲמָת֑וֹ אֶת־ קֻבַּ֜עַת כּ֧וֹס הַתַּרְעֵלָ֛ה KJV: thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup INT: the cup of his anger to the dregs the cup of reeling Isaiah 51:22 2 Occurrences |
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