The Meaning of Psalms 75:8 Explained

Psalms 75:8

KJV: 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.

YLT: For a cup is in the hand of Jehovah, And the wine hath foamed, It is full of mixture, and He poureth out of it, Only its dregs wring out, and drink, Do all the wicked of the earth,

Darby: For in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and it foameth with wine, it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same; yea, the dregs thereof shall all the wicked of the earth drain off, and drink.

ASV: For in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and the wine foameth; It is full of mixture, and he poureth out of the same: Surely the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall drain them, and drink them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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]. 

What does Psalms 75:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 75:1-10 - God Putteth Down And Lifteth Up
This psalm dates probably from Sennacherib's invasion, and therefore the North is omitted in Psalms 75:6, that being the quarter from which the enemy came.
God is near, Psalms 75:1-3. There are high moments in life when we realize how real and near God is. The ground on which we stand is holy. We know that we are safe in the pavilion of our Father's care. Then we give repeated thanks, Psalms 75:1. Presently God speaks and assures us that when the earth and its inhabitants dissolve, He will sustain its pillars. What an encouragement is this, when the whole world seems about to be dissolved!
Turning from God to man, the psalmist rebukes his enemies and bids them cease their arrogant talk and behavior, Psalms 75:4. The horn is the strength of certain beasts, and is a symbol of power, Deuteronomy 33:17; Daniel 7:7. But God is the supreme Ruler of men. Our position or promotion in life is His arrangement, to be held as a sacred trust for Him. Let us, amid a world in arms, be light-hearted and sing. God will take care of those who trust Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 75

1  The prophet praises God
2  He promises to judge uprightly
4  He rebukes the proud by consideration of God's providence
9  He praises God, and promises to execute justice

What do the individual words in Psalms 75:8 mean?

For [there is] a cup in the hand of Yahweh and the wine is red it is fully mixed and He pours from this [one] surely its dregs shall Drain [and] drink down all the wicked of the earth
כִּ֤י כ֪וֹס בְּֽיַד־ יְהוָ֡ה וְיַ֤יִן חָמַ֨ר ׀ מָ֥לֵא מֶסֶךְ֮ וַיַּגֵּ֪ר מִ֫זֶּ֥ה אַךְ־ שְׁ֭מָרֶיהָ יִמְצ֣וּ יִשְׁתּ֑וּ כֹּ֝֗ל רִשְׁעֵי־ אָֽרֶץ

כ֪וֹס  [there  is]  a  cup 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: כֹּוס 
Sense: cup.
בְּֽיַד־  in  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
יְהוָ֡ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְיַ֤יִן  and  the  wine 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַיִן  
Sense: wine.
חָמַ֨ר ׀  is  red 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָמַר 
Sense: to boil, foam, foam up, ferment.
מָ֥לֵא  it  is  fully 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: מָלֵא  
Sense: full, fullness, that which fills.
מֶסֶךְ֮  mixed 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶסֶךְ  
Sense: mixture.
וַיַּגֵּ֪ר  and  He  pours 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַר 
Sense: to pour, run, flow, pour down.
מִ֫זֶּ֥ה  from  this  [one] 
Parse: Preposition-m, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
אַךְ־  surely 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
שְׁ֭מָרֶיהָ  its  dregs 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: שֶׁמֶר  
Sense: lees, dregs.
יִמְצ֣וּ  shall  Drain 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: מָצָה  
Sense: to drain, drain out.
יִשְׁתּ֑וּ  [and]  drink  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
רִשְׁעֵי־  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
אָֽרֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.