You have gone the way of your sister; therefore I will give her cup into your hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God declares that Jerusalem will drink the same "cup" of judgment that Samaria drank. This imagery isn't just about shared punishment; it emphasizes that their sins were so identical that their suffering would mirror each other, leading to a similar devastation and bewilderment.
You have gone the way of your sister; therefore I will give her cup into your hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is prophesying against Jerusalem (Aholibah), who has followed the destructive path of Samaria (Aholah). God declares that because Jerusalem has embraced the same idolatry and unfaithfulness as her sister kingdom, she will now share in the same devastating judgment. This means Jerusalem will drink the same bitter cup of punishment and calamity that Samaria already experienced.
Ezekiel is talking about two 'sisters' here, but they aren't innocent. They've walked down a dark path. What does this mean for their destiny?
The verse speaks of 'your sister' – this refers to Samaria (the northern kingdom of Israel) and Jerusalem (the southern kingdom of Judah) as two unfaithful sisters. God uses this imagery to show their shared guilt.
Identical Sins, Identical Fate
Samaria had already fallen due to its widespread idolatry and moral corruption. Now, Jerusalem, which had seen God's faithfulness and warnings, was repeating the same destructive patterns. The 'way of your sister' points to their spiritual adultery – turning away from God to chase after other gods and worldly alliances.
Because they walked in the same sinful ways, God declares they will share the same terrible fate. Their destinies are intertwined because their choices are so similar.
God's judgment is often described as a 'cup.' What makes this imagery so potent, and what does it mean to drink it 'to the dregs'?
The 'cup' in this context isn't a drink of celebration; it's a symbol of God's wrath and the full measure of punishment.
A Bitter Draught
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For Jerusalem, this meant the impending destruction of their city and temple, and exile, just as Samaria had experienced.
Understand the original words
kôs · Hebrew Noun
In biblical imagery, a cup represents the portion, destiny, or divine judgment appointed to an individual or nation, often referring to God's wrath poured out against sin.
The 'cup' of judgment mentioned in this verse refers to the calamitous experience of exile and destruction. By comparing Jerusalem to its 'sister' Samaria, the prophet emphasizes that Judah's fate, though later, mirrors the severe punishment already meted out to the northern kingdom for its widespread unfaithfulness.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, destroying its capital Samaria and deporting many of its inhabitants. This marks the end of the 'sister' kingdom.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieges Jerusalem and takes prominent citizens, including young men like Daniel, into exile. This begins a period of growing Babylonian influence over Judah.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and a large portion of Jerusalem's elite and skilled workers to Babylon. This event further weakens the Kingdom of Judah.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, scattering the remaining population into exile in Babylon. This is the ultimate judgment on Judah.
This passage uses the same potent imagery of God handing a 'cup of wrath' to nations as a symbol of their impending judgment and destruction.
Psalm 75:8This psalm describes a cup held by God, full of foaming wine, signifying judgment and the downfall of the wicked, mirroring the 'cup' given to Judah in Ezekiel.
Isaiah 51:17Here, Jerusalem is urged to take the 'cup of trembling' from God's hand, a parallel to Ezekiel's depiction of Judah receiving the same cup of calamity as her sister nation.
Matthew 20:22Jesus uses the 'cup' metaphor in a different context, referring to suffering and sacrifice, but it shows the enduring biblical symbolism of a cup representing a divinely appointed experience.
bensonEzekiel 23:31: "Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand."
Ezekiel 23:31-35 . Therefore will I give her cup, &c. — I will make thee drink the same bitter draught, or experience the same calamity that has fallen upon her. God’s judgments are often compared to a cup of intoxicating liquors, because they astonish men, and bereave them of common judgment and discretion, and likewise expose them to the scorn and contempt of their enemies. Thou shalt ev…
pulpitEzekiel 23:31: "Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand."
Verses 31-33. - I will give her cup into thine hand. (For the image of the cup as the symbol of good or evil fortune, see Psalm 23:5; Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15; Matthew 20:22; Matthew 26:39.) The cup, in this case, was to be deep and large as that of Samaria. The adulteress was to be "drunk, but not with wine" (Isaiah 29:9). And that "cup," over and above the laughter and derision, wou…
God declares that Jerusalem will drink the same "cup" of judgment that Samaria drank. This imagery isn't just about shared punishment; it emphasizes that their sins were so identical that their suffering would mirror each other, leading to a similar devastation and bewilderment.
Ezekiel is prophesying against Jerusalem (Aholibah), who has followed the destructive path of Samaria (Aholah). God declares that because Jerusalem has embraced the same idolatry and unfaithfulness as her sister kingdom, she will now share in the same devastating judgment. This means Jerusalem will drink the same bitter cup of punishment and calamity that Samaria already experienced.
Ezekiel is prophesying against Jerusalem (Aholibah), who has followed the destructive path of Samaria (Aholah). God declares that because Jerusalem has embraced the same idolatry and unfaithfulness as her sister kingdom, she will now share in the same devastating judgment. This means Jerusalem will drink the same bitter cup of punishment and calamity that Samaria already experienced.
"You have gone the way of your sister; therefore I will give her cup into your hand." — God declares that Jerusalem will drink the same "cup" of judgment that Samaria drank. This imagery isn't just about shared punishment; it emphasizes that their sins were so identical that their suffe…
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Last reviewed October 2026