Cupbearer
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [1]
Cupbearer . An officer of considerable importance at Oriental courts, whose duty it was to serve the wine at the table of the king. The first mention of this officer is in the story of Joseph ( Genesis 40:1-15 ), where the term rendered butler in EV [Note: English Version.] is the Heb. word which is rendered in other passages ‘cupbearer.’ The holder of this office was brought into confidential relations with the king, and must have been thoroughly trustworthy, as part of his duty was to guard against poison in the king’s cup. In some cases he was required to taste the wine before presenting it. The position of Nehemiah as cupbearer to Artaxerxes Longimanus was evidently high. Herodotus (iii. 34) speaks of the office at the court of Cambyses, king of Persia, as ‘an honour of no small account,’ and the narrative of Nehemiah shows the high esteem of the king, who is so solicitous for his welfare that he asks the cause of his sadness ( Nehemiah 2:2 ). The cupbearers among the officers of king Solomon’s household ( 1 Kings 10:5 ) impressed the queen of Sheba, and they are mentioned among other indications of the grandeur of his court, which was modelled upon courts of other Oriental kings.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary [2]
Genesis 40:1-21. A high officer in eastern courts, e.g. Solomon's ( 1 Kings 10:5). Pharaoh's was the instrument of Joseph's elevation ( Genesis 41:9). Rabshakek was "chief cupbearer" in Sennacherib's court ( Isaiah 36:2), as his name implies. Nehemiah was cupbearer to Artaxerxes Longimanus, king of Persia ( Nehemiah 1:11; Nehemiah 2:1).
Holman Bible Dictionary [3]
Genesis 40:2 Nehemiah 1:11 1 Kings 10:5 2 Chronicles 9:4 2 Kings 18:17-37 Isaiah 36:2
Webster's Dictionary [4]
(1): (n.) One whose office it is to fill and hand the cups at an entertainment.
(2): (n.) One of the attendants of a prince or noble, permanently charged with the performance of this office for his master.
King James Dictionary [5]
CUPBEARER, n. An attendant of a prince or at a feast, who conveys wine or other liquors to the guests an officer of the kings household. Nehemiah 1 .
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [6]
kup´bâr - ẽr ( משׁקה , mashḳeh , "one giving drink"; οἰνοχόος , oinochóos ): An officer of high rank at ancient oriental courts, whose duty it was to serve the wine at the king's table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues, a person must be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold this position. He must guard against poison in the king's cup, and was sometimes required to swallow some of the wine before serving it. His confidential relations with the king often endeared him to his sovereign and also gave him a position of great influence. This officer is first mentioned in Scripture in Genesis 40:1 , where the Hebrew word elsewhere translated "cupbearer" is rendered "butler." The phrase "chief of the butlers" ( Genesis 40:2 ) accords with the fact that there were often a number of such officials under one as chief (compare Xen. Hellen . vii.1, 38). Nehemiah (compare Nehemiah 1:11 ) was cupbearer to Artaxerxes Longimanus, and was held in high esteem by him, as the record shows. His financial ability ( Nehemiah 5:8 , Nehemiah 5:10 , Nehemiah 5:14 , Nehemiah 5:17 ) would indicate that the office was a lucrative one. Cupbearers are mentioned further in 1 Kings 10:5; 2 Chronicles 9:4 , where they, among other evidences of royal splendor, are stated to have impressed the queen of Sheba with Solomon's glory. The title Rabshakeh ( Isaiah 36:2 ), once thought to mean "chief of the cupbearers," is now given a different derivation and explained as "chief of the officers," or "princes" ( BDB under the word). See further on cupbearers Herod. iii.34; Xen. Cyrop . i.3, 8, 9; Josephus, Ant , Xvi , viii, 1; Tobit 1:22.
