Isaiah 51:17 - Awake, awake! Stand up, Jerusalem, you who have drunk from Yahweh’s hand the cup of his wrath. You have drunken the bowl of the cup of staggering, and drained it.
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What does "Isaiah 51:17" mean?
Isaiah 51:17 is a powerful and evocative verse using the metaphor of a cup filled with God's wrath to describe the suffering that Jerusalem (representing the people of Judah) has endured. Let's break down the meaning:
"Awake, awake! Stand up, Jerusalem...": This is a call to action. It's an urging for Jerusalem, personified as a woman, to rouse herself from a state of despair, defeat, and probably physical lying down in grief. "Stand up" suggests resilience and a readiness to move forward.
"...you who have drunk from Yahweh's hand the cup of his wrath.": This is the core of the verse. The "cup" is a metaphor for God's judgment and anger, poured out upon Jerusalem. The fact that they drank it "from Yahweh's hand" emphasizes that this suffering wasn't random chance; it was a direct consequence of their actions and God's just punishment. The image is of being forced to consume something bitter and harmful.
"You have drunken the bowl of the cup of staggering, and drained it.": This amplifies the previous image. It's not just a sip, but the whole bowl of the "cup of staggering" (or reeling, or intoxication). This bowl contains a substance that causes disorientation, confusion, and instability, just as the calamities that have befallen Jerusalem have shaken its foundations. The word translated "staggering" hints that judgement is not just punishment but a temporary state of imbalance before restoral. The phrase "drained it" reinforces the idea that they have experienced the full measure of God's wrath; they have gone through the worst of it. They have experienced the full force of his anger.
In essence, this verse means:
Jerusalem (the people of Judah) has suffered greatly as a result of God's judgment for their sins. They have endured the full force of his wrath, symbolized by drinking the entire cup of staggering until they are broken. However, the call to "Awake, awake! Stand up..." also hints at a coming restoration and a need to prepare for it.
Theological Significance:
Divine Justice: The verse underscores the idea that God is just and that sin has consequences. Suffering is not arbitrary; it can be a result of turning away from God.
Metaphorical Language: The use of the cup as a metaphor is a common trope in the Bible to represent divine judgment (see also Jeremiah 25:15-29; Revelation 14:10).
Hope for Restoration: While the verse acknowledges immense suffering, the opening call to awaken also suggests the possibility of a future revival, a return to God's favor after the period of punishment. Contextually, Isaiah 51 is part of a section that promises comfort and restoration to Zion (Jerusalem).
Therefore, while this verse describes a dire situation, it is also part of a larger message of hope and redemption. The suffering is not the end of the story. It's a prelude to a new chapter.
Isaiah 51:17 - Awake, awake! Stand up, Jerusalem, you who have drunk from Yahweh’s hand the cup of his wrath. You have drunken the bowl of the cup of staggering, and drained it.
What does "Isaiah 51:17" mean?
Isaiah 51:17 is a powerful and evocative verse using the metaphor of a cup filled with God's wrath to describe the suffering that Jerusalem (representing the people of Judah) has endured. Let's break down the meaning:
"Awake, awake! Stand up, Jerusalem...": This is a call to action. It's an urging for Jerusalem, personified as a woman, to rouse herself from a state of despair, defeat, and probably physical lying down in grief. "Stand up" suggests resilience and a readiness to move forward.
"...you who have drunk from Yahweh's hand the cup of his wrath.": This is the core of the verse. The "cup" is a metaphor for God's judgment and anger, poured out upon Jerusalem. The fact that they drank it "from Yahweh's hand" emphasizes that this suffering wasn't random chance; it was a direct consequence of their actions and God's just punishment. The image is of being forced to consume something bitter and harmful.
"You have drunken the bowl of the cup of staggering, and drained it.": This amplifies the previous image. It's not just a sip, but the whole bowl of the "cup of staggering" (or reeling, or intoxication). This bowl contains a substance that causes disorientation, confusion, and instability, just as the calamities that have befallen Jerusalem have shaken its foundations. The word translated "staggering" hints that judgement is not just punishment but a temporary state of imbalance before restoral. The phrase "drained it" reinforces the idea that they have experienced the full measure of God's wrath; they have gone through the worst of it. They have experienced the full force of his anger.
In essence, this verse means:
Jerusalem (the people of Judah) has suffered greatly as a result of God's judgment for their sins. They have endured the full force of his wrath, symbolized by drinking the entire cup of staggering until they are broken. However, the call to "Awake, awake! Stand up..." also hints at a coming restoration and a need to prepare for it.
Theological Significance:
Divine Justice: The verse underscores the idea that God is just and that sin has consequences. Suffering is not arbitrary; it can be a result of turning away from God.
Metaphorical Language: The use of the cup as a metaphor is a common trope in the Bible to represent divine judgment (see also Jeremiah 25:15-29; Revelation 14:10).
Hope for Restoration: While the verse acknowledges immense suffering, the opening call to awaken also suggests the possibility of a future revival, a return to God's favor after the period of punishment. Contextually, Isaiah 51 is part of a section that promises comfort and restoration to Zion (Jerusalem).
Therefore, while this verse describes a dire situation, it is also part of a larger message of hope and redemption. The suffering is not the end of the story. It's a prelude to a new chapter.