Isaiah 51:21 Meaning: Drunken but Not with Wine
Therefore now hear this, you afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:
Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:
Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:
Therefore, hear, I pray thee, this, O afflicted and drunken one, and not with wine,
Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:
Meaning in one sentence
Isaiah 51:21 explains the metaphor of being 'drunken, but not with wine', staggering from God's wrath, not from drink.
Context
Isaiah 51 sits in the part of the book where God begins to speak comfort to Jerusalem after a long period of judgment. The city has been described as having drunk the cup of God's wrath, staggering without anyone to guide her. Her children lie helpless, like trapped animals. Now God turns directly to the city and calls her 'afflicted' and 'drunken' but not from wine. She is overcome by the judgment she has endured. This address prepares for the promise that immediately follows: God will remove the cup and give it to her tormentors. The verse captures the low point before the turn toward hope.
Key Words
The word for 'afflicted' (ani) means poor, weak, humble, and wretched. It carries no blame. It describes someone bent low by hardship. The word for 'drunken' (shakhar) means intoxicated, but the context makes the cause clear: not wine but the cup of God's wrath. The city staggers from devastation, not celebration. And the phrase 'hear this' includes the particle na, a gentle plea: 'please listen.' God is not shouting from a distance. He is leaning in, asking Jerusalem to pay close attention because He is about to change everything.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse as a vivid picture of God's judgment making His people helpless, like someone drunk. Some see it as discipline that purifies; others as a preview of Christ taking the cup of wrath on the cross. The Cambridge Bible notes the link to a similar phrase in Isaiah 29. The Geneva Bible calls Jerusalem 'miserable' and 'drunken.' Across traditions, the focus falls on what follows: God promises to take the cup away. The image stirs hope because it shows God sees the staggering and is ready to intervene.
A common misunderstanding
Some read 'drunken, but not with wine' as referring to spiritual intoxication or idolatry. In fact, the passage makes clear that the drunkenness comes from the cup of God's wrath that Jerusalem had to drink. The phrase 'not with wine' distinguishes it from ordinary drunkenness. This is a metaphor for the staggering effect of divine judgment. And the verse is not a rebuke. It is a compassionate address meant to get Jerusalem to listen to the good news about to be announced.
Living This Out
This verse speaks to anyone brought low by circumstances they did not choose: illness, loss, failure. The feeling of being drunk with sorrow, unable to think clearly, is real. God calls you 'afflicted' and asks you to hear. He is not scolding. He is about to tell you He will lift the weight. This week, when the feeling of being overwhelmed rises, stop and say, 'God is speaking to me now.' Listen for His promise of relief, even if you cannot see it yet.
Main takeaway: The God who sees your staggering affliction is the God who will take the cup of wrath from your hand.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God saw His people were very sad and hurting. He said, “Listen to me.” God had a good plan to help them.
For ages 9, 12
This verse is a word picture. God's people were staggering like someone who is drunk, but they had not had any wine. They were so weighed down by trouble they could not stand straight. God calls them “afflicted” and tells them to hear what He is about to say. He promises to take away the suffering and give it to those who hurt them. God knows when you are overwhelmed, and He speaks to you in the middle of it.
Questions People Ask
What does "drunken, but not with wine" mean in Isaiah 51?
It is a metaphor for being overwhelmed by God's judgment. Jerusalem had drunk the cup of God's wrath, and she staggers under the weight of it, like someone drunk, but without any literal wine. The phrase emphasizes that her suffering comes from God's discipline, not from intoxication.
Why is Jerusalem called "afflicted" in this verse?
The Hebrew word "ani" means poor, humble, and wretched. It describes someone who has been brought low by hardship. Here it highlights Jerusalem's helpless state after judgment, setting the stage for God's promise to rescue her.
Is this verse a rebuke or a word of comfort?
It is a call to attention before a word of comfort. The particle "na" (please) makes it an earnest plea to listen. The following verses announce that God will remove the cup of wrath and give it to Jerusalem's oppressors. So the verse is not a scolding but a compassionate invitation to hear good news.
How does this verse connect to Jesus?
Many Christians see the cup of God's wrath as something Jesus took on Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. Where Jerusalem staggered under judgment, Jesus drank the cup fully so that believers would not have to. The promise of the cup being removed points forward to the salvation Christ accomplished.
What is the "cup of wrath" in Isaiah?
It is a metaphor used by several prophets for God's judgment poured out on nations and people. In Isaiah 51, the cup makes Jerusalem stagger, but God promises to take it from her hand and give it to her enemies. It symbolizes the full measure of divine punishment.
For pastors & researchers
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