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.
Read it in contextComfort and Exhortation to Zion
Start reading at Isaiah 51:1 (Isaiah 51:1 to Isaiah 52:12).
The passage begins with a call to 'Hearken' and remember God's faithfulness, moves through promises of comfort and salvation for Zion, includes calls for both the LORD's arm and Jerusalem/Zion to 'Awake', and concludes with the promise of the redeemed returning to Zion.
51:1Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
51:2Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
51:3For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
51:4Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.
51:5My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
51:6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
51:7Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
51:8For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
51:9Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?
51:10Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
51:11Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
51:12I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
51:13And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
51:14The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.
51:15But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name.
51:16And 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.
51:17Awake, 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.
51:18There 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.
51:19These 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?
51:20Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.
51:21Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:
51:22Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:
51:23But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.
52:1Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
52:2Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
52:3For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
52:4For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
52:5Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.
52:6Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.
52:7How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
52:8Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
52:9Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
52:10The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
52:11Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
52:12For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Isaiah son of Amoz is the named prophet and the traditional author. The New Testament attributes passages from both earlier and later portions to Isaiah; scholars differ about the book's later composition and collection. Biblical references: Isaiah 1:1; John 12:38; John 12:39. stated in the text
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Isaiah 49:1–55:13): Zion, Israel, the nations, and the hearers invited to receive the LORD's salvation are addressed in the servant and restoration passages. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Judah and Jerusalem are the principal named audience, with messages also concerning Israel and other nations. Later portions address God's people in the horizon of exile, return, and restoration. Biblical references: Isaiah 1:1; Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 48:20. stated in the text
What
What is the main event or theme? The main theme is a command for Jerusalem to 'Awake, awake, stand up' after having fully experienced God's judgment, symbolized by drinking 'the cup of his fury' and 'the dregs of the cup of trembling'. This call implies a transition from a state of suffering to one of rising up.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His past judgment upon Jerusalem for her transgressions, which led her to drink the 'cup of his fury'. He is now calling her to rise from this state of affliction, foreshadowing a future change in her circumstances and a promise of comfort and deliverance.
What is the literary style? The literary style is prophetic poetry, using vivid metaphorical language, such as the 'cup of fury' and 'cup of trembling', to describe divine judgment and the resulting suffering of Jerusalem.
When
When was it written? The book of Isaiah was written between approximately 700 and 680 B.C. book background
When does the event take place? The passage speaks of Jerusalem having already drunk the cup of God's fury, referring to past and ongoing periods of divine judgment and affliction. The command to 'Awake, awake, stand up' points to a future time of restoration and deliverance from this state, which would occur after the initial period of judgment and exile prophesied by Isaiah.
Where
Where did it happen? The passage addresses Jerusalem, indicating that the suffering and the call to awake are centered on the city and its people.
Where was the author located? The author, Isaiah, was located in Jerusalem when he wrote this prophecy. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Comfort and Exhortation to Zion (Isaiah 51:1 to Isaiah 52:12).
Start reading at Isaiah 51:1. The passage begins with a call to 'Hearken' and remember God's faithfulness, moves through promises of comfort and salvation for Zion, includes calls for both the LORD's arm and Jerusalem/Zion to 'Awake', and concludes with the promise of the redeemed returning to Zion.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This verse marks a pivotal point in a larger section of comfort and exhortation to Zion/Jerusalem. After the LORD calls His own 'arm' to 'Awake' (Isaiah 51:9) and promises comfort and salvation (Isaiah 51:3, 11-16), He now commands Jerusalem herself to 'Awake' from her state of judgment and suffering. This sets the stage for the subsequent promise that the 'cup of trembling' will be taken from her hand and given to her oppressors (Isaiah 51:22-23). interpretation
How does it point to Christ? The imagery of drinking the 'cup of fury' and 'cup of trembling' represents the full measure of God's righteous judgment against sin. This points to Christ, who in the garden of Gethsemane prayed, 'O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt' (Matthew 26:39). Jesus willingly took upon Himself the cup of God's wrath, drinking it to its dregs, so that those who believe in Him would not have to drink it themselves. interpretation
How do I apply it today? Today, believers are called to 'awake' from spiritual complacency and 'stand up' in faith, remembering that Christ has fully drunk the cup of God's wrath for our sins. We are to trust in God's comfort and salvation, even when facing personal or collective afflictions, knowing that He has promised to remove the 'cup of trembling' from His people and ultimately bring deliverance and restoration. interpretation
Cited: Isaiah 51:17
Who wrote it, and how we know
Isaiah the prophetNamed in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe book opens with the vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz and names him throughout. The New Testament quotes both the earlier and later chapters as Isaiah's words. Isaiah 1:1Isaiah 6:1John 12:38John 12:39
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition holds the whole book to be Isaiah's.
What is debatedMany critical scholars propose a second and third author for chapters 40 and following, based on setting and style. John 12 quoting both sections as Isaiah is a significant argument against that view.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Isaiah 51
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Isaiah's opening locates his vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem in named royal reigns. The book includes warnings, narratives, and promises addressed to different settings. Identify the immediate audience before extending a promise or judgment to later readers. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The movement announces comfort, challenges idols, and develops the servant passages and invitations to receive the LORD's provision.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The movement announces comfort, challenges idols, and develops the servant passages and invitations to receive the LORD's provision.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Isaiah
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Isaiah's opening locates his vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem in named royal reigns. The book includes warnings, narratives, and promises addressed to different settings. Identify the immediate audience before extending a promise or judgment to later readers.
Connection to the wholeThe opening visions confront Judah's rebellion while joining judgment with promises concerning the remnant and the Davidic ruler.
Connection to the wholeThe narratives connect trust and deliverance with an announcement concerning Babylon, bridging earlier warnings and later words of comfort.
Connection to the wholeThe movement announces comfort, challenges idols, and develops the servant passages and invitations to receive the LORD's provision.