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ποτήριον

potḗrion

G4221 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A vessel for drinking, typically a cup or goblet made from various materials (e.g., clay, metal, glass); by extension, the quantity held by such a vessel (a cupful, drink, draught); figuratively, that which is assigned or experienced, such as one's portion, lot, or fate—especially in contexts involving suffering, divine judgment, or blessing. The primary meaning is that of a physical drinking container, but is also used metaphorically for an assigned experience or destiny.

Semantic Range

drinking-cup, goblet, cupful (draught), the contents of a cup, portion allotted, fate (often divinely appointed), assigned experience, especially suffering or judgment

Root / Etymology

From ποτήρ (potēr, a drinking vessel) plus the diminutive suffix -ιον, forming a neuter noun. Related to the root of πίνω (to drink). The usage is ultimately associated with terms for drinking vessels in older Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ποτήριον principally referred to a drinking cup or goblet, often of common or utilitarian function, though it could also refer to ceremonial or valuable cups. In the Septuagint, ποτήριον commonly renders Hebrew כּוֹס (kos), retaining the sense of both literal vessel and figurative usage for a person's portion or fate, especially appointed by deity (e.g., 'cup' of wrath or blessing). In the New Testament, ποτήριον retains both concrete and metaphorical meanings: it appears in accounts such as the Last Supper (the wine cup), and in sayings about drinking a 'cup' representing an experience of suffering, destiny, or divine decree. English translations traditionally render this as 'cup,' but the metaphorical scope—especially referencing someone's lot or fate—can be broader, paralleling wider ancient Mediterranean symbolic uses of drinking vessels for blessing or judgment. ποτήριον occurs in a wide range of Greek literature and papyri to describe both ordinary drinking vessels and those used in ritual or banquet contexts; its metaphorical uses deepen during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Translation Consistency

primary "cup" 31 occurrences

Primary meaning is a physical drinking vessel and most English translations use “cup” for both literal and figurative senses (cup of wrath, cup of blessing). It is the most frequent and natural rendering in the corpus and easily covers related senses (cupful, portion, assigned lot) without awkward wording.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

neuter of a derivative of the alternate of πίνω; a drinking-vessel; by extension, the contents thereof, i.e. a cupful (draught); figuratively, a lot or fate:--cup.

Root Family

ποτήριον (potērion) — drinking vessel, cup, goblet

Root ποτηρι- drinking vessel, cup, goblet

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4221-02 ποτήριον poterion N ACC N SG cup a drinking cup a drinking cup 25
G4221-03 ποτηρίου poteriou N GEN N SG cup of a cup cup 4
G4221-01 ποτηρίῳ poterio N DAT N SG cup to the cup cup 2

Occurrences in Scripture

31 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4221-02 Matthew 10:42 ποτήριον poterion N ACC N SG cup a drinking cup a drinking cup
G4221-02 Matthew 20:22 ποτήριον poterion N ACC N SG cup a drinking cup a drinking cup
G4221-02 Matthew 20:23 ποτήριόν poterion N ACC N SG cup a drinking cup a drinking cup
G4221-03 Matthew 23:25 ποτηρίου poteriou N GEN N SG cup of a cup cup
G4221-03 Matthew 23:26 ποτηρίου poteriou N GEN N SG cup of a cup cup
G4221-02 Matthew 26:27 ποτήριον poterion N ACC N SG the cup a drinking cup a drinking cup
G4221-02 Matthew 26:39 ποτήριον poterion N ACC N SG cup a drinking cup a drinking cup
G4221-02 Mark 7:4 ποτηρίων poterion N GEN N PL of cups a drinking cup cups
G4221-02 Mark 9:41 ποτήριον poterion N ACC N SG a cup a drinking cup a drinking cup
G4221-02 Mark 10:38 ποτήριον poterion N ACC N SG cup a drinking cup a drinking cup
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