King James Version

What Does Isaiah 51:17 Mean?

Isaiah 51:17 in the King James Version says “Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the... — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 51 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.

Isaiah 51:17 · KJV


Context

15

But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name.

16

And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.

17

Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.

18

There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.

19

These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee? are: Heb. happened destruction: Heb. breaking


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. The doubled imperative "Awake, awake" ('uri, 'uri, עוּרִי עוּרִי) intensifies urgency, rousing Jerusalem from stupor induced by divine judgment. The command "stand up" (qumi, קוּמִי) calls for rising from prostrate defeat to restored dignity. Jerusalem personified has experienced God's wrath through the "cup of his fury" (kos chamato, כּוֹס חֲמָתוֹ).

The cup metaphor for divine judgment appears frequently (Jeremiah 25:15-28, Habakkuk 2:16, Revelation 14:10). "Dregs" (qubba'at, קֻבַּעַת) refers to sediment at the cup's bottom containing concentrated bitterness. To drink to the dregs means experiencing judgment's full measure. "Wrung them out" emphasizes drinking every last drop—no judgment remains. This is crucial: the cup is now empty; wrath is exhausted.

From a Reformed perspective, this points to Christ who drank the cup of divine wrath fully on the cross. His prayer in Gethsemane—"let this cup pass from me" (Matthew 26:39)—acknowledges the terror of bearing God's fury against sin. Yet He drank it completely, wringing out every drop so His people need never taste it. For believers, the cup is empty; no condemnation remains (Romans 8:1). Jerusalem can awake because judgment is past, not because she avoided it but because she endured it fully and now faces restoration.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The cup of God's fury refers to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem (586 BCE). Lamentations graphically describes this judgment's horrors: starvation, cannibalism, temple desecration, mass death. The exile was divine judgment for covenant violation (2 Kings 17:7-23, 2 Chronicles 36:15-17). The prophets consistently explained that military defeat came from Yahweh, not Babylonian superiority.

Archaeological evidence confirms the destruction's severity: burned layers, arrowheads, destroyed walls at City of David excavations. Yet Isaiah promises this judgment has ended—the cup is drained. The return from exile demonstrated this, but ultimate fulfillment awaits the eschaton when judgment day passes and new creation dawns. For the church, Christ's cross marks the transition from wrath to favor, from judgment endured to mercy proclaimed.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding that Christ drank God's wrath 'to the dregs' for you affect your assurance?
  2. From what spiritual stupor does God call you to awake?
  3. How should the church proclaim both God's past judgment and present mercy?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
הִֽתְעוֹרְרִ֗י1 of 17

Awake

H5782

to wake (literally or figuratively)

הִֽתְעוֹרְרִ֗י2 of 17

Awake

H5782

to wake (literally or figuratively)

ק֚וּמִי3 of 17

stand up

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם4 of 17

O Jerusalem

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

אֲשֶׁ֥ר5 of 17
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

שָׁתִ֖ית6 of 17

thou hast drunken

H8354

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

מִיַּ֥ד7 of 17

at the hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

יְהוָ֖ה8 of 17

of the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֶת9 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כּ֧וֹס10 of 17

of the cup

H3563

a cup (as a container), often figuratively, some unclean bird, probably an owl (perhaps from the cup-like cavity of its eye)

חֲמָת֑וֹ11 of 17

of his fury

H2534

heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)

אֶת12 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

קֻבַּ֜עַת13 of 17

the dregs

H6907

a goblet (as deep like a cover)

כּ֧וֹס14 of 17

of the cup

H3563

a cup (as a container), often figuratively, some unclean bird, probably an owl (perhaps from the cup-like cavity of its eye)

הַתַּרְעֵלָ֛ה15 of 17

of trembling

H8653

reeling

שָׁתִ֖ית16 of 17

thou hast drunken

H8354

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

מָצִֽית׃17 of 17

and wrung them out

H4680

to suck out; by implication, to drain, to squeeze out


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 51:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 51:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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