“Cup” in the Bible is often used as synonym for wine, and the meaning, according to Swedenborg, is essentially the same: Cups represent true ideas on the spiritual level, or true ideas springing from love for other people. In the contrary sense, they can also represent false thinking springing from a love of dominating or hurting others.
The meaning of “cup” can also vary if other drinks are specified. Water, for instance, represents true thinking on a more external level; a cup of water would reflect that meaning. And when “cup” is used together with “wine,” the cup, as the container, represents a more external aspect of true thinking, and the wine a more internal aspect.
Passages from Swedenborg
Arcana Coelestia 5120
[2] But there is more to be said about ‘a cup’ mentioned very many times in the Word – about how in the genuine sense it has the same meaning as wine, namely spiritual truth or the truth of faith which is derived from the good of charity, and about how in the contrary sense it means falsity which produces evil, and also falsity which is a product of evil. The reason ‘a cup’ has the same meaning as ‘wine’ is that the cup is the container and the wine the content and therefore the two constitute a single entity, with the result that one is used to mean the other. This meaning of ‘a cup’ in the Word is evident from the following places:
[3] In David,
O Jehovah, You will spread a table before me in the presence of enemies and will make my head fat with oil; my cup will overflow. Ps. 23:5.
‘Spreading a table’ and ‘making the head fat with oil’ stand for being endowed with the good of charity and love. ‘My cup will overflow’ stands for the fact that the natural will thereby be filled with spiritual truth and good. In the same author,
What shall I render to Jehovah? I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of Jehovah. Ps. 116:11, 17.
‘Taking the cup of salvation’ stands for making the goods of faith one’s own.
[4] In Mark,
Whoever gives you drink from a cup of water in My name, because you are Christ’s, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. Mark 9:41.
‘Giving drink from a cup of water in My name’ stands for imparting the truths of faith from a small measure of charity.
[5] In Matthew,
Then taking a cup, and giving thanks, He gave it to them, saying, Drink from this, all of you; for this is My blood – that of the New Testament. Matt. 26:17, 28; Mark 14:27, 24; Luke 22:20.
The word ‘cup’ is used, not wine, because ‘wine’ has reference to the spiritual Church but ‘blood’ to the celestial Church. Both wine and blood however mean holy truth going forth from the Lord, though in the spiritual Church the holiness of faith springing from charity towards the neighbour is meant, whereas in the celestial Church the holiness of charity springing from love to the Lord is meant. The spiritual Church differs from the celestial in that the spiritual is moved by charity towards the neighbour, whereas the celestial is moved by love to the Lord. Furthermore the Holy Supper was established to represent and be a sign of the Lord’s love towards the whole human race and man’s reciprocal love towards Him.
[6] Because ‘a cup’ meant that which served to contain and ‘wine’ that which was contained, ‘the cup’ consequently meaning the external aspect of man and ‘wine’ the internal aspect of him, the Lord therefore said,
Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the exterior of the cup and of the plate but the interiors are full of pillage and lack of restraint. Blind Pharisee! cleanse first the interior of the cup and of the plate and the exterior will be made clean also. Matt. 23:25, 16; Luke 11:39.
Here also ‘cup’ is used to mean in the internal sense the truth of faith. Cultivating the truth of faith without the good of faith is ‘cleansing the exterior of the cup’, the more so when the interiors are full of hypocrisy, deceit, hatred, revenge, and cruelty; for in this case the truth of faith exists solely in the external man and not at all in the internal, whereas cultivating and embracing the good of faith causes truths to be joined to good in the interior man. Furthermore when the truth of faith is cultivated without the good of faith, false ideas are accepted as truths; this is meant by ‘cleansing first the interior of the cup, and the exterior will be made clean also’.
[7] It is similar with matters recorded in Mark,
There are many other things which the Pharisees and Jews have received carefully, the washing* of cups and of pots, and of bronze vessels, and of beds. Forsaking the commandment of God you keep to human tradition, the washing’ of pots and of cups; and many other similar things you do. You reject the commandment of God, so that you may keep to your tradition. Mark 7:4, 8, 9.
[8] As regards ‘a cup’ meaning in the contrary sense falsity which produces evil and also falsity produced by evil, this is clear from the following places: In Jeremiah,
Thus said Jehovah, the God of Israel, to me, Take this cup of the wine of anger from My hand, and make all the nations to which I send you drink it, in order that they may drink and stagger, and go mad because of the sword which I am going to send among them. So I took the cup from Jehovah’s hand, and made all the nations drink to whom Jehovah sent me. Jer. 25:15-17, 28.
‘The cup of the wine of anger’ stands for falsity that produces evil. The reason falsity producing evil is meant is that as wine can make people drunk and make them of unsound mind, so too can falsity. Spiritual drunkenness is nothing other than unsoundness of mind caused by reasonings regarding matters of belief when a person does not believe anything which he does not apprehend – which unsoundness of mind leads to falsities and to evils that are the product of falsities, 1072. Hence the statement ‘in order that they may drink and stagger, and go mad because of the sword which I am going to send’. ‘Sword’ means falsity at war against truth, 2799, 4499.
[9] In the Book of Lamentations,
Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom. dweller in the land of Uz; to you also the cup will pass, you will be made drunk and uncovered. Lam. 4:21.
‘Being made drunk by the cup’ stands for being made unsound in mind by falsities. ‘Being uncovered’, or shamelessly laid bare, stands for resulting evil, 213, 214.
[10] In Ezekiel,
You have walked in the way of your sister, therefore I will give her cup into your hand. Thus said the Lord Jehovih, You will drink your sister’s cup, which is deep and wide; you will be laughed at and mocked, as an ample recipient. You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of devastation and desolation. You will drink the cup of your sister Samaria, and crush it and crumple the pieces. Ezek. 27:31-34.
This refers to Jerusalem, by which the spiritual aspect of the celestial Church is meant. ‘The cup’ in this case stands for falsity that is a product of evil; and because such falsity lays waste or destroys the Church, the expression ‘the cup of devastation and desolation’ is used.
In Isaiah,
Stir, stir, surge up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of Jehovah the cup of His anger; you have drunk the dregs of the cup of consternation. Isa. 51:17.
In Habakkuk,
Drink, you also – that your foreskin may be revealed. The cup of Jehovah’s right hand will come round to you, so that disgusting vomit may be upon your glory. Hab. 2:16.
In David,
A cup is in the hand of Jehovah; and He has mixed the wine, filled it with the mixed, and poured out from it. But they will suck out the dregs of it; all the wicked of the earth will drink from it. Ps. 75:8.
[11] In these places ‘a cup’ also stands for the insanity caused by falsities and resulting evils. It is called ‘the cup of Jehovah’s anger’ and also ‘of His right hand’ for the reason that the Jewish nation believed, as the common people believe, that evils, and the punishments of evils and falsities, had no other origin than Jehovah, though in fact they originate in man and in the hellish crew who are present with him. From the appearance, and from a belief based on it, such statements occur many times; but the internal sense teaches how one ought to understand them and what to believe. On these matters, see 245, 592, 696, 1093, 1683, 1874, 1875, 2335, 2447, 3605, 3607, 3614.
[12] Since ‘a cup’, like ‘wine’, in the contrary sense means falsities that produce evils, and also falsities produced by evils, cup, as a consequence also means temptation, for temptation arises when falsity conflicts with truth and therefore evil with good. The wordcup is used instead of and in reference to such temptation in Luke,
Jesus prayed, saying, If You are willing, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done. Luke 22:42; Matt. 26:39; Mark 14:36.
‘Cup’ here stands for temptation. Similarly in John,
Jesus said to Peter, Put your sword into its sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it? John 18:11.
And also in Mark,
Jesus said to James and John, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? They said, We are able. But Jesus said to them, The cup indeed that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized. Mark 10:38, 39; Matt. 20:21, 13.
From this it is evident that ‘cup’ means temptation, for temptation comes about when evils use falsities to enter into conflict with goods and truths. ‘Baptism’ means regeneration which, being effected by means of spiritual conflicts, consequently means temptation also.
[13] In the completely contrary sense ‘cup’ means falsity that is a product of evil among those who are profaners, that is, with whom inwardly the exact opposites of charity are present but who put on an outward show of holiness. The word is used in this sense in Jeremiah,
Babel was a golden cup in Jehovah’s hand, making the whole earth drunken. All nations have drunk of her wine, therefore the nations are mad. Jer. 51:7.
‘Babel’ stands for people with whom there is holiness outwardly but unholiness inwardly, 1182, 1326. The falsity which they veil with holiness is meant by ‘a golden cup’. ‘Making the whole earth drunken’ stands for the fact that they lead those who belong to the Church, meant by ‘the earth’, into erroneous and insane ways. The profanities which they conceal beneath outward holiness involve nothing else than this – their intention to become the greatest and the wealthiest of all, to be worshipped as gods, the possessors of heaven and earth, and so to have dominion over people’s souls as well as their bodies. And the means Used by them is their outward display of respect for Divine and holy things. Consequently they look, so far as their external man is concerned, like angels; but so far as their internal man is concerned they are devils.
[14] A similar description of Babel exists in John,
The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and covered** with gold and precious stones and pearls, holding in her hand a goldencup, full of abominations and the uncleanness of her whoredom. Rev. 17:4.
In the same book,
It has fallen, Babylon the great has fallen and become a dwelling-place of demons; for she has given all nations drink from the wine of the fury of her whoredom; and the kings of the earth have committed whoredom with her. I heard a voice from heaven, saying, Render to her as she has rendered to you; in the cup which she mixed, mix double for her. Rev. 18:2-4, 6.
In the same book,
The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. The remembrance of Babylon the great was established before God, to give her the cup of the fury of the anger of God. Rev. 16:19.
In the same book,
The third angel said with a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast and his Image, he will drink from the wine of God’s anger, poured unmixed as it is in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone. Rev. 14:9, 10.
* lit. baptisms or dippings
** lit. gilded
AE 960
[2] The reason why they are called vials is, that vials are vessels and vessels signify the same as their contents, as chalices, bowls,cups, with the wine or other liquor in them; and as the censers (acerrae et thuribula) for the incense, and several other vessels. The reason is, that the sense of the letter of the Word is the ultimate sense of Divine truth, and, therefore, consists of ultimates that are in nature; for ultimates are those things upon which interior or higher things are built and founded. That vials, chalices, cups, bowls, and dishes are mentioned for their contents, and therefore have a similar signification, is evident from the Word, for there they signify falsities from hell, and the drunkenness or insanity therefrom. They also signify temptations, and also truths from the Lord and the wisdom therefrom. That they signify falsities from hell, and insanity therefrom, is evident from the following passages.
In Jeremiah:
“Jehovah said, Take this cup of the wine of the anger of Jehovah out of my hand, and make all nations drink to which I send thee, that they may drink and stagger, and be mad, by reason of the sword. When they refuse to take the cup out of thine hand to drink, thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah Zebaoth, drinking ye shall surely drink” (xxv. 15, 16, 28).
By the cup of wine here also is signified falsity from hell; by drinking is signified to appropriate to themselves; by being mad is signified to be spiritually insane, which takes place when falsity is called truth, and truth falsity. By the nations that shall drink are signified the evil, and, in the abstract sense, evils; for many nations that were to drink are there enumerated. But still those nations are not meant, but the evils signified by them; and it is evils that drink, that is, appropriate to themselves falsities. That the cup of wine signifies falsity, is also evident from its being said, that they may be mad by reason of the sword; for by sword is signified falsity destroying truth.
[3] In the same:
“A golden cup is Babel in the hand of Jehovah, making drunk the whole earth; the nations have drunk of her wine, therefore are the nations mad” (li. 7).
By the golden cup is signified falsity destroying good; by Babel is signified dominion by means of the holy things of the church over heaven, and over the souls of men, from which dominion profane falsities are derived; by making the earth drunk is signified to infatuate the church, so that any truth is no longer seen. Wine signifies such a falsity.
[4] In Ezekiel:
“Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister, therefore will I give her cup into thine hand. Thus saith the Lord Jehovih, Thou shalt drink of thy sister’s cup, deep and broad; thou shalt be for laughter and derision, ample to be taken; with drunkenness and sadness shalt thou be filled, with the cup of devastation and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria, which thou shalt drink and press out; and thou shalt break the sherds thereof” (xxiii. 31-34).
These things are said concerning Jerusalem, by which is signified the celestial church as to doctrine; and by Samaria there, which is the sister, is signified the spiritual church, also as to doctrine. For the Jewish nation represented the Lord’s celestial kingdom; and the Israelitish nation His spiritual kingdom. But in this case by Jerusalem and Samaria is signified the church devastated as to all good and truth. The full devastation of the church with the Jewish nation is described by the cup of the sister deep and broad; and by their being filled with drunkenness and sadness; also by drinking the cup, pressing it out, and breaking the sherds thereof. It is called a cup of devastation and desolation, because devastation is said of good, and desolation of truth.
[5] In Zechariah:
“Behold I make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about” (xii. 2).
In Habakkuk:
“Thou shalt be satiated with ignominy for glory; drink thou also, that thy foreskin may be uncovered. The cup of Jehovah shall pass about to thee, that a shameful vomit may be upon thy glory” (ii. 16).
Cup denotes falsified truth, which in itself is falsity; and of which a shameful vomiting is said. Wherefore it is said, “upon thy glory,” glory signifying the Divine truth in the Word.
In Lamentations:
“Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, the cup shall also pass over to thee, thou shalt be made drunken and shalt be uncovered” (iv. 21).
Here also the cup has a similar signification.
[6] In David:
“Jehovah shall rain upon the impious, snares, fire, and brimstone, and a wind of storms; the portion of their cup” (Ps. xi. 6).
Again:
“There is a cup in the hand of Jehovah, and he hath mixed it with wine, he hath filled it with mixture, and poured out thence; but the dregs thereof all the impious of the earth shall suck out and drink them” (Ps. lxxv. 9).
By snares, fire, and brimstone are signified falsities and evils seducing, and by a wind of storms is signified the vehement assault of truth. These things are called the portion of a cup, because a cup, as containing, signifies them. By mixing and filling with mixture, is signified, to falsity truth and profane it.
[7] In all these passages the devastation of truth and good by falsities and evils is attributed to Jehovah. For it is said that they should take the cup of the anger of Jehovah out of His hand, that Jehovah mixed it with wine, and filled it with mixture; it is also called a cup in the hand of Jehovah. But, nevertheless, it is to be understood, that nothing of devastation is from Jehovah, but that it is entirely from man. The reason it is so said is, that the natural man only sees that God is angry, and punishes, condemns, and casts into hell those who despise and blaspheme Him, that is, those who do not give Him glory. But to think in this way is natural; therefore in the sense of the letter of the Word, which is natural, it is so said.
[8] Similar elsewhere in the Apocalypse:
“He who worshipped the beast, shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God mixed pure in the cup of His wrath” (xiv. 10).
“Great Babylon came into remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the wrath of his anger” (xvi. 19).
“A woman having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and the uncleanness of whoredom” (xvii. 4).
“Double to her double, according to her works; in the cup in which she hath mingled, mingle to her double” (xviii. 6).
From these things it is evident what is signified by the seven vials of the angels, which they poured out into the earth, the sea, the rivers, the fountains of waters, the sun, upon the throne of the beast, the river Euphrates, and into the air, that is, that they denote states of devastation, which are thereby described.
[9] That a chalice or cup signifies temptations is evident from the following passages.
In the Evangelists:
Jesus said to the sons of Zebedee, “Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup which I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They said unto him, We are able. Then he said unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and with the baptism that I am baptized with, ye shall be baptized” (Matt. xx. 22, 23; Mark x. 38, 39).
But these passages may be seen explained above (n. 83).
Again:
“Jesus said to Peter, The cup which my Father gave me, shall I not drink it?” (John xviii. 11).
In Gethsemane, Jesus said, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matt. xxvi. 39, 42, 44; Mark xiv. 36; Luke xxii. 42).
That in these passages a cup or chalice signifies temptations is evident. Also in Isaiah (li. 17, 22); where it is also called the cup of the anger of God, and the cup of trembling.
[10] Because a cup signifies the same as wine, and wine, in the good sense, signifies Divine truth, therefore also this is signified by cup in the following passages.
In the Evangelists:
Jesus, “taking the cup and giving thanks, gave it to his disciples, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood, that of the new covenant” (Matt. xxvi. 27, 28; Mark xiv. 23, 24; Luke xxii. 17, 18).
Because by the Lord’s blood is signified the Divine truth proceeding from Him, and similarly by wine, consequently, bycup, therefore it is said, “This is my blood.” And because the Lord’s conjunction with the church is by means of Divine truth, therefore it is called, that of the New Testament or the New Covenant. That the Lord’s blood signifies Divine truth may be seen (n. 328, 329, 476, 748); and that Covenant signifies conjunction (n. 701).
[11] In David:
“Jehovah is the portion of my part and my cup. Thou sustainest my lot” (Psalm xvi. 5).
Again:
“Thou settest before me a table in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup shall abound” (Ps. xxiii. 5).
In these passages cup is for Divine truth; and because cup has this signification it is also called the
“Cup of salvation” (Ps. cxvi. 13).
And the
“Cup of consolations” (Jer. xvi. 7).
[12] In Mark:
“Whosoever of you shall give a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye are Christ’s, shall not lose his reward” (ix. 11).
By giving a cup of water to drink in my name, because they are Christ’s, signifies to teach truth from the love of truth, thus from the Lord, also to do it. The love of truth for the sake of truth is meant by giving a cup of water in the name of the Lord. By Christ also is meant the Lord as to Divine truths.
[13] In the Evangelists:
“Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! ye make clean the outside of the cup and platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess; purge first the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside may be clean also” (Matt. xxiii. 25, 26; Luke xi. 39).
The reason why the Lord mentioned the cup and platter is, that the thing containing signifies the same as what is contained; thus, thecup the same as wine, and the plate the same as meat. By wine is signified the truth of the Word and of doctrine; and by meat, the good of the Word and of doctrine.
The natural man or the natural mind is inwardly purified when falsities and evils are removed; but the contrary is the case when they are not removed. For as is the interior, such is the exterior, but not the contrary. For the interior flows into the exterior, and disposes it to agreement with itself, but not the reverse.
Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 1116
1116. In the cup with which she hath mixed, mix unto her double. That this signifies much retribution in proportion to their profanation of truth is evident from the signification of a cup, which denotes truth, and, in the opposite sense, falsity, because acup has a signification similar to that of wine, as may be seen above (n. 887, 1045); from the signification of mixing, which denotes to profane, for he who intermingles falsity with truth, or truth with falsity, profanes – which we shall speak of presently; and from the signification of double, which denotes much, and which is said of retribution; concerning this see just above (n. 1115). Mixing signifies to profane, because it is said of the wine in thecup, which signifies truth, and in the opposite sense falsity; and when truth and falsity are intermingled, then there is profanation; concerning this see above (n. 1053-1063). Mixing has a similar signification in David:
“There is a cup in the hand of Jehovah, and he hath mixed the wine, he hath filled it with mixture, and he hath poured out thence, but the dregs thereof all the impious of the earth shall suck out and drink” (Psalm lxxv. 8).
The cup in the hand of Jehovah, and the wine, signify Divine Truth. By mixing and by mixture is signified profanation, for the intermingling of falsity with truth is meant. By pouring out thence and by the impious of the earth sucking out the dregs and drinking them, is signified the punishment of profanation. From these things it is evident that mixing with the cup has here a signification similar to that in the Apocalypse.