The Cups of the Passover Seder

The Bible records that the twelve tribes of Israel lived in Egypt for 430 years and were enslaved. Their cries of distress reached God, and through Moses, God sent nine plagues, but Pharaoh still refused to let the Israelites go. Finally, the day came when Moses instructed the people to prepare to leave Egypt. Before they departed, they were to prepare a meal consisting of a roasted lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. On the night of the Exodus, every Israelite family killed a lamb and smeared its blood on their doorframes. While they were inside eating the roasted lamb, the angel of death appeared in Egypt, marking the tenth and final plague. In any home without blood on the doorframe, the firstborn would die, but because the lamb’s blood was a substitute, the angel of death “passed over” their homes.

The Passover meal is a feast of life, a symbol of God’s salvation of the Israelites. That meal was the Israelites’ last supper in Egypt. From that night on, they no longer had to live in fear under the Egyptians; they were completely freed from slavery, transformed from slaves into God’s chosen people. From the day of the Exodus, the Israelites were commanded to eat the Passover meal every year on that day to commemorate their new life and remember God’s salvation.

 For later generations of Israelites, the Passover Seder still includes roasted lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. Additionally, Jews drink four cups of wine during the meal:

The first cup is the Cup of Sanctification: The Lord remembers His covenant with Abraham and hears the cries of the Israelites in their distress. After drinking this cup, the Israelites wash their hands and break the middle of the three pieces of unleavened bread (Yachatz). The larger half is called the Afikomen (from the Greek, meaning “that which is to come”). This half is hidden for the children to find before eating the bitter herbs and lamb and drinking the third cup.

The second cup is the Cup of Deliverance: This represents the Lord’s promise to the Israelites to save them from their affliction. After drinking the second cup, the Israelites eat the bitter herbs and lamb.

The third cup is the Cup of Redemption: The Lord demonstrates His redemption in history with His powerful arm. After drinking the third cup, the Hallel psalms (Psalms 113-118) are sung.

The fourth cup is the Cup of Praise: The Lord establishes a new relationship with the Israelites, so the Israelites must praise the Lord. According to Jewish Midrashic interpretation, Psalm 118 refers to the coming of the Messiah. Thus, Jewish tradition includes a fifth cup, the Cup of Elijah, for the prophet Elijah, who is expected to announce the Messiah. After drinking it, the Passover Seder concludes.