"a vessel for drinking, cup, Mt. 10:42; 23:25, 26; meton. the contents of a cup, liquor contained in a cup, Lk. 22:20; 1 Cor. 10:16; from the Hebrew, the cup or potion of what God’s administration deals out, Mt. 20:22, 23; Rev. 14:10"
Definition and meaning
a vessel for drinking, cup, Mt. 10:42; 23:25, 26; meton. the contents of a cup, liquor contained in a cup, Lk. 22:20; 1 Cor. 10:16; from the Hebrew, the cup or potion of what God’s administration deals out, Mt. 20:22, 23; Rev. 14:10
In the original Greek the word is written: ποτήριον
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of poterion (G4221) across the King James Bible.
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
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Common questions
Strong's G4221 (poterion) is a Greek word that means: a vessel for drinking, cup, Mt. 10:42; 23:25, 26; meton. the contents of a cup, liquor contained in a cup, Lk. 22:20; 1 Cor. 10:16; from the Hebrew, the cup or potion of what God’s administration deal... It appears 30 times in the King James Bible.
The word poterion (G4221) appears 30 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4221 is poterion, a Greek word defined as: a vessel for drinking, cup, Mt. 10:42; 23:25, 26; meton. the contents of a cup, liquor contained in a cup, Lk. 22:20; 1 Cor. 10:16; from the Hebrew, t. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
poterion is a Greek word found in the New Testament.