Bible Dictionary
Dregs
Dregs are the sediment or lees that settle at the bottom of wine. Scripture uses the image of drinking dregs to portray the wicked receiving the full measure of God’s judgment.
Definition
Dregs are the sediments or lees that settle at the bottom of wine or other liquor. The word may also represent a bowl or cup in one passage, but its clearest literal sense is the sediment remaining after liquid has stood.
Biblical Usage
Psalm 75 portrays the wicked as drinking the cup of divine wrath to its dregs, meaning that they receive judgment to the last drop. Isaiah uses the image of the cup of trembling and fury.
Historical Background
The Revised Version changes “dregs” to “bowl” in Isaiah 51:17, 22, where the underlying word means bowl or chalice. In Psalm 75 the Hebrew term specifically denotes sediments or wine lees.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Ps. 75:8; Isa. 51:17, 22), the lees of wine which settle at the bottom of the vessel.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>dregs: The "sediments," "lees," "grounds of liquor"; only in plural. In the King James Version it stands for:</p><p>(1) Hebrew qubba`ath, "bowl," "chalice," found only in Isa 51:17,22: "the dregs of the cup of trembling"; "the dregs of the cup of my fury." the Revised Version (British and American) correctly changes "dregs" into "bowl."</p><p>(2) Hebrew shemarim, "sediments" or "dregs," especially lees of wine. "The dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring (the American Standard Revised Version "drain") them out and drink them" (Ps 75:8), i.e. God gives to the wicked the cup of wrathful judgment, which they must drink to the last drop.</p>