The first recorded descriptions concerning the number of cups of wine in the PësꞋakh Seider are from the Mi•shᵊn•ãhꞋ (≈200 CE). Earlier descriptions are limited to the text of Ta•n״kh´ in the DSS ≈BCE 200.

Mi•shᵊn•ãhꞋ (10.7) describes 4 cups of wine.

The 4ᵗʰ cup is assumed, tied to in the Mi•shᵊn•ãhꞋ (≈200 CE), and debated ≈the 5ᵗʰ century of the Christian Era (as a proposed polemic to the Christian claims of The Apostate Paul). prior to the 13ᵗʰ century of the Christian Era—and the main body of Orthodox Jews today—there remained 4 cups.   5th Cup: Prior to the Middle Ages CE, there were only 4 cups in the Seider. According to the Orthodox, there continue to be only 4 cups. (https://www.ou.org/holidays/the_four_cups/) Best summary of added 5th cup: https://aish.com/81091867/ The four cups of wine correspond to the four expressions of redemption found in Exodus 6:6-7, where God promises to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. The relevant phrases are: "I will bring you out" [from Egypt] (וְהוֹצֵאתִי, Veho'tzeiti) "I will deliver you" [from corvée] (וְהִצַּלְתִּי, Vehitzalti) "I will redeem you" (וְגָאַלְתִּי, Vegaalti) "I will take you for Me, for my am, and be your gods—so that you shall know that I, יהוה, am your gods, Who is extricating you, from under Egyptian corvée to the land as I swore to your forefathers." Shemot 6.6-8 (וְלָקַחְתִּי, Velakachti) 1. I will extricate you. There was never any discussion of a 5th cup prior to the Apostate Paul. In the Christian Era, however, the defensive rabbis felt compelled to distance Judaism from the Christians apologetics claiming the fulfillment of Eliyahu and the Mashiakh. Thus, they split the 4th cup, representing the 4th promise, breaking the original promise link into promise-4a and promise-4b, which was recast as Cup 4 & Cup 5; inventing a 5th cup to place Eliyahu still in the future, implying the Mashiakh was, therefore, also still future, as the centerpiece of the Seider Table--from which Jews have not drunk, and do not drink. All this because the Tzedoqim disclaimed and vacated the Ribi's Torah life, works and reputation to the misrepresentations of the blasphemous Delusion (epiphany) of the Apostate Paul. ------- "The next verse, "And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord."[78] was not fulfilled until the generation following the Passover story [but (Shemot 6.9), could b 6 cups with Shemot 6.8b, give for a possession], and the rabbis could not decide whether this verse counted as part of the Passover celebration (thus deserving of another serving of wine). Thus, a cup was left for the arrival of Elijah. In practice the fifth cup has come to be seen as a celebration of future redemption. Today, a place is reserved at the seder table and a cup of wine is placed there for Elijah. During the seder, the door of the house is opened and Elijah is invited in. Traditionally, the cup is viewed as Elijah's and is used for no other purpose.[79][80]" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah "The cup of Elijah is a term designating the cup of wine which is placed on the table of the Passover eve ceremonial (seder), but which [5ᵗʰ not drunk, but what about earlier 4ᵗʰ cup???] is not drunk. There was controversy [arose] among [11ᵗʰ-century CE QaꞋbãlist) the rabbis whether the seder ritual required four or five cups. Since, according to traditional belief, all doubtful cases of tradition will be resolved "when Elijah comes," custom decreed that the fifth cup should be filled but not partaken of (cf. Pes. 118a; Maim., Yad, Ḥameẓu-Maẓẓah 8:10). ["There is an open question in the Talmud whether we are obligated to have four or five cups on the night of Passover. Since the issue was never resolved, we pour a fifth cup, but do not drink it." https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/504495/jewish/Why-Is-Elijah-the-Prophet-Invited-to-the-Seder.htm] Later this custom became associated with the belief that Elijah had not died but had ascended to heaven in a fiery chariot (II Kings 2:11), and that he would return as the forerunner of the Messiah (Mal. 3:23){{הִנֵּ֤ה אָנֹכִי֙ שֹׁלֵ֣חַ לָכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת אֵלִיָּ֣ה הַנָּבִ֑יא לִפְנֵ֗י בּ֚וֹא י֣וֹם יְהֹוָ֔ה הַגָּד֖וֹל וְהַנּוֹרָֽא׃ https://www.sefaria.org/Malachi.3?lang=bi}}. The festival of redemption from Egyptian bondage was naturally associated with the forerunner of the Messiah, who was expected in this "season of redemption" to herald the coming deliverance (cf. RH 11b). Hence the popular notion arose that the "cup of Elijah" was prepared to welcome the prophet who visited every Jewish home on the Passover night." https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/cup-of-elijah
"The fifth cup corresponds to the fifth expression of redemption, which comes in the following verse: “I will bring you to the Land . . .” This expression, however, is an allusion to the future messianic redemption, which will be announced by Elijah. This is also why we do not drink, “enjoy,” the fifth cup—as we have not yet experienced this redemption." -->

Pay it forward (Quote & Cite):

Yirmeyahu Ben-David. How Many Cups Of Wine? (2025.04.12). Netzar­im Jews World­wide (Ra'anana, Israel). https://www.netzarim.co.il/ (Accessed: MM DD, YYYY).

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