Psalms 75:8 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God prepares a cup of judgment from which the wicked must drink the bitter consequences.
The Context of Psalms 75:8
A metaphor of God's judgment cup that the wicked must drink completely.
What Does Psalms 75:8 Mean?
The cup is a metaphor for God's judgment. Its wine is red (suggesting bloodshed or severity), full of mixture (blended with divine wrath), and held in God's hand (emphasizing His control). God Himself pours it out, making judgment an active divine work. The image shifts judgment from abstract concept to visceral reality the wicked must consume.
The dregs—the thickest, bitterest part of wine—become the wicked's portion. They must 'wring out' and drink them completely, leaving nothing. This depicts thorough justice that leaves no escape. The cup imagery moves through the psalm: from its composition in God's hand to its inevitable consumption by the wicked.
Psalms 75:8 in the Original Language
'dregs' (שָׁמַר, shamar) — sediment, lees; the thick, bitter residue at the bottom of wine, representing the worst aspects of judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 75:8
What does Psalms 75:8 mean?
God prepares a cup of judgment from which the wicked must drink the bitter consequences.
What is the context of Psalms 75:8?
A metaphor of God's judgment cup that the wicked must drink completely.