What is the cup of God’s wrath in the Bible?

The cup of God’s wrath is a biblical metaphor describing God’s anger and punishment for sin. In ancient times, a cup could represent hospitality, fellowship, and covenant. In Jewish culture, a cup could also symbolize one’s portion or lot in life, and that concept is used in many biblical passages to represent divine favor or judgment.

A cup is used as a metaphor for God’s wrath several times in Scripture. For example, Psalm 75:8 says, “In the hand of the Lord, there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs” (ESV). This cup of God’s wrath is reserved for the wicked.

The prophet Isaiah uses a cup metaphor to depict God’s punishment of Israel: “Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering” (Isaiah 51:17, ESV). The cup of God’s wrath produces “intoxicating” effects in those who drink it—those being judged by God falter and tremble.

The prophet Jeremiah also uses a cup metaphor to emphasize the consequences of sin: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. They shall drink and stagger and be crazed because of the sword that I am sending among them” (Jeremiah 25:15–16, ESV). Whole nations will be made to drink the cup of God’s wrath.

The cup of God’s wrath is poured out against sin because He is holy and just. The seven last plagues in the end-times’ tribulation are pictured as “bowls” whose contents are poured out on the earth (Revelation 16:1). God’s holiness requires an intolerance of sin, and His justice demands punishment for sin. In Romans 1:18, the apostle Paul writes, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (ESV). God punishes those who deserve punishment. Unrepentant sinners will drink the cup of His wrath.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39, ESV). The “cup” Jesus refers to is the bitterness of God’s wrath that Jesus would consume on our behalf. Jesus was sinless (1 Peter 2:22), so He was not handed the cup because He had sinned or disobeyed the Father (John 8:29). No, He absorbed the punishment for our sins because He loved us: “He bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24, ESV).

Jesus drank the full measure of God’s wrath on the cross. He drained the cup of God’s wrath dry. Jesus suffered the punishment we deserved and in so doing removed the cup of God’s wrath from us. The cup of wrath does not threaten believers in Christ because “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, ESV). Christ propitiated (or satisfied) God’s wrath against sin.

The cup of God’s wrath remains for those who reject Christ. In John 3:36, Jesus says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (ESV). Having faith in Christ is the only way to avoid drinking the cup of God’s wrath.