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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

IntroIndex©

CUP-BEARER

Official whose primary duty was to taste the wine served to the king as a precaution against poisoning. Cup-bearers frequented the courts of kings and high officials in antiquity (1 Kgs 10:5). These men were close to those in authority and sometimes exercised considerable influence. Generally several of them served the king with the “chief cup-bearer” (butler) at their head (Gn 40:1-23). Solomon’s court included cup-bearers (2 Chr 9:4), and Nehemiah was the king’s cup-bearer (Neh 1:11–2:1); Rabshakeh may have been a cup-bearer (2 Kgs 18:13-19; Is 36:2).