Luke 22:17
“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus takes a cup, gives thanks, and tells the apostles to share it among themselves.
What Does Luke 22:17 Mean?
The Passover meal was framed by shared cups of wine with thanksgiving. Luke records this cup before the bread - part of the feast itself - distinct from the cup 'after supper' in verse 20. Jesus gives thanks over it and has the twelve pass it from hand to hand.
'Divide it among yourselves' makes the table a fellowship, not a row of solitary diners. Gratitude and sharing are the grammar of his table. Even on the night of his betrayal, Jesus gave thanks - teaching his people that thanksgiving is not the fruit of easy circumstances but of trust in the Father (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
In the Original Language
eucharisteo (εὐχαριστέω), 'gave thanks' -- to give thanks; gratitude spoken over the cup.