PROVERBS 31

These notes were compiled as follows:

1.  Bold-face print (bold) denotes the words which are under consideration for study.  Underlined words in the verse indicate that the Hebrew word(s) require more than one English word in its or their translation.  Most of the phrases are from The Englishman’s Hebrew Concordance of the Old Testament by George V. Wigram. In some cases words were combined for convenience.

2.  The superscript number (¹) appearing beside the word(s) in the verse indicates Strong’s number for his Hebrew [H] Dictionary.

3.  The bracketed acronyms [S] at the end of the definition are from the following references used in this study:

· [ASB] – THE ANNOTATED STUDY BIBLE

· [B] – The Companion Bible by E. W. Bullinger

· [C] – Cruden’s Unabridged Concordance by Alexander Cruden

· [GSB] – The 1599 Geneva Study Bible

· [JFB] – Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

· [JG] – Gill’s Commentary by John Gill

· [JW] – John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible

· [N] – Nave’s Study Bible

· [S] – Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible by James Strong

· [SS] – The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible by James Strong Fully Revised and Corrected by John R. Kohlenberger III and James A. Swanson

· [TSK] – The Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge

· [TW] – Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament by R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke

· [W] – American Dictionary of the English Language – Noah Webster 1828

· [WSD] –The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament by Warren G. Baker and Eugene Carpenter

[WW] – Old Testament Word Studies by William Wilson

 

PROVERBS 31

A MOTHER’S ADVICE TO A KING

Lemuel’s Lesson of Chastity and Temperance

31:1  The words of¹⁶⁹⁷ king⁴⁴²⁸ Lemuel,³⁹²⁷ the prophecy⁴⁸⁵³ that⁸³⁴ his mother⁵¹⁷ taught him. ³²⁵⁶

          The words of:  From H1696; a word; by implication a matter (as spoken of) of thing; adverbially a cause.[S]  What is said, word (or any unit of speech, such as clause, or the whole of communication); matter (any event); thing (any object)).[SS]  king:  From H4427; a king.[S]  Lemuel:  From H3926 and H410; (belonging) to God; Lemuel or Lemoel, a symbolical name of Solomon.[S]  A figurative name of an ideal model king.  It means “Devoted to God”.[JFB]  That is, of Solomon who was called Lemuel, that is, of God, because God had ordained him to be king of Israel.[GSB] the prophecy:  From H5375; a burden; specifically tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively an utterance, chiefly a doom, especially singing; mental, desire.[S]  Oracle, oracular utterance, or burden.[B]  The doctrine which his mother Bathsheba taught him.[GSB]  Preaching; public interpretation of Scripture; exhortation or instruction.[W]  that:  A primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as adverb and conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.[S]  his mother:  A primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively); (like H1).[S]  Mother, grandmother, ancestress; by extension:  a term of endearment; caregiver; fork (in a road).[SS]  taught him:  A primitive root; to chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence to instruct.[S]  To chasten, with strokes or words; to set right, to instruct.[WW]  As Lois and Eunice taught Timothy (2 Timothy 3:15-16).[JFB]  The words, etc.:  The Hebrew dibrey has no governing noun; so one must be understood thus:  “[An unnamed one’s] words [addressed] to king Lemuel:  a burden which his mother [repeatedly] taught him.”[B]

31:2  What,⁴¹⁰⁰ my son?¹²⁴⁸ and what,⁴¹⁰⁰ the son of¹²⁴⁸ my womb?⁹⁹⁰

         And what,⁴¹⁰⁰ the son of¹²⁴⁸ my vows?⁵⁰⁸⁸

          (and) what:  A primitive particle; properly interrogative what? (including how?, why? and when?); but also exclamations like what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjugational senses.[S]  A short speech, arguing her great passion for him; what words shall I take?  What counsels shall I give thee?  My heart is full, but where shall I begin?[JW]  my/the son (of):  Borrowed (as a title) from H1247; the heir (apparent to the throne).[S]  Son (exclusively male in the OT).[SS]  It depicts any son in general who needs to learn wisdom.[WSD]  What, my son?—that is, What shall I say? Repetitions denote earnestness.[JFB]  the son of:  By this often repetition of one thing, she declares her motherly affection.[GSB]  my womb:  From an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything.[S]  Innermost part, viscera: abdomen, stomach, womb.[SS]  son of my womb—as our phrase, "my own son," a term of special affection.[JFB]  My son, not by adoption, but whom I bare in my womb, and therefore it is my duty to give thee admonitions, and thine to receive them.[JW]  my vows:  From H5087; a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised.[S]  To promise voluntarily to give or do something; the primary idea is that of setting apart, consecrating.[WW]  son of my vows—as  one dedicated to God; so the word "Lemuel" may mean.  The son granted to my prayers, like Samuel; and therefore, as to thy name, Lemuel, consecrated to God (1 Samuel 1:11, 27-28).[JFB]  On whose behalf I have made many prayers and sacrifices, and solemn vows to God; whom I have, as far as in me lay, devoted to the work, and service, and glory of God.[JW]

31:3  Give⁵⁴¹⁴ not⁴⁰⁸ thy strength²⁴²⁸ unto women,⁸⁰²

          Nor thy ways¹⁸⁷⁰ to that which destroyeth⁴²²⁹ kings.⁴⁴²⁸

          Give:  A primitive root; to give, used with great latitude of application (put, make, etc.).[S] not:  A negative particle (akin to H3808); not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing.[S]  thy strength:  From H2342; probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength.[S]  Strength, capability, skill, valor, wealth; army, troop, warrior.[SS]  Strength, might, valor; ability of mind or body; wealth, riches.[WW]  Mental and bodily resources for health and comfort.[JFB]  The vigor of thy mind and body.[JW]  women:  The first form is the feminine of H376 or H582; the second form is an irregular plural; a woman (used in the same wide sense as H582).[S]  Give not thy strength unto women – A snare to kings especially, because their power gives them impunity in lust..  Solomon by this sin caused the rending of his kingdom (1 Kings 11:11; Compare Job 31:9-12).[JFB]  Meaning, that women are the destruction of kings, if they hunt them.[GSB]  nor thy ways:  From H1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively a course of life or mode of action, often adverbially.[S]  Thy conversation, repeated in other words.[JW]  Sexual favors.[KWSB, TW]  to that which destroyeth:  A primitive root; properly to stroke or rub; by implication to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), that is, grease or make fat; also to touch, that is, reach to.[S]  to that which destroyeth kings—literally, "to the destroying of kings", avoid destructive pleasures (compare Proverbs 5:9, 7:22, 27; Hosea 4:11).[JFB]

YOUNG MEN.  Admonitions to, Proverbs 3:1-5, 4:20-27, 6:1-5, 20-25, 19:27, 32:15-23, 25-26, 24:1-12, 15-24.  Against lust, 2 Timothy 2:22-23.  Against wine, Proverbs 23:20-21, 29-35.  Against loving the world, 1 John 2:13-17.  Against the snares of the harlot, Proverbs 5:3-14, 6:24-35, 7:1-27, 23:27-28, 31:1-3.  Against the enticements of sinners, Proverbs 1:10-16. Against evil companions, Proverbs 2:12-15, 4:14-15, 24:1-2.[N]

31:4  It is not⁴⁰⁸ for kings,⁴⁴²⁸ O Lemuel,³⁹²⁷ it is not⁴⁰⁸ for kings⁴⁴²⁸ to drink⁸³⁵⁴ wine;³¹⁹⁶

         Nor for princes^{176, 7336} strong drink:⁷⁹⁴¹

          to drink:  A primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively).[S]  To excess.[JW]  wine:  From an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication intoxication.[S]  Stimulants enfeeble reason, pervert the heart, and do not suit rulers, who need clear and steady minds, and well-governed affections (compare Proverbs 20:1, 22:29).[JFB]  it is not for kings to drink wine:  The king must not drink wine or strong drink to excess; it is a disparagement to their dignity, and profanes their crown, by confusing the head that wears it.[Matthew Henry]  nor for princes:  The first form is presumed to be the “constructive” or genitival form of the second form which is short for H185; desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if.[H176]  A primitive root; probably to be heavy, that is, (figuratively) honorable.[H7336][S]  To deliberate upon weighty and important affairs, to weigh or to poise counsel as standing near the king.[WW]  That is, the king must not give himself to wantonness, and neglect of his office, which is to execute judgment.[GSB]  strong drink: From H7937; an intoxicant, that is, intensely alcoholic liquor.[S]  Fermented drink, beer.[SS]  Shekar = strong drink (from shakar, to get drunk), a very intoxicating drink made from barley, honey, or dates.[B]  Kings should stay away from it; though it may be a sedative for the dying and bitter (31:6; Isaiah 24:9).[WSD]

31:5  Lest⁶⁴³⁵ they drink,⁸³⁵⁴ and forget⁷⁹¹¹ the law,²⁷¹⁰

         And pervert⁸¹³⁸ the judgment of¹⁷⁷⁹ any of³⁶⁰⁵ the afflicted.^{1121, 6040}

          Lest:  From H6437; properly removal; used only (in the constructive) adverbially as conjugation lest.[S]  and forget:  A primitive root; to mislay, that is, to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention.[S]  the law:  A primitive root; properly to hack, that is, engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication to enact (laws being cut in stone or metal tablets in primitive times) or (generally) prescribe.[S]  and pervert:  A primitive root; to fold, that is, duplicate (literally or figuratively); by implication to transmute (transitively or intransitively).[S]  To change, alter; to pretend.[SS]  Marginal note:  alter.  the judgment of:  From H1777; judgment (the suit, justice, sentence or tribunal); by implication also strife.[S]  pervert the judgment of:  to cause injustice.[N]  any of:  From H3634; properly the whole; hence all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense).[S] the afflicted:  From H1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like H1, H251, etc.)[H1121]  From H6031; depression, that is, misery.[H6040][S]  Affliction, suffering, misery.[SS]  pervert . . . afflicted—They  give unrighteous decisions against the poor.[JFB]  any of the afflicted:  Marginal note:  of all the sons of affliction.

The Afflicted Are to be Comforted and Defended

31:6  Give⁵⁴¹⁴ strong drink⁷⁹⁴¹ unto him that is ready to perish,⁶

          And wine³¹⁹⁶ unto those that be of heavy⁴⁷⁵¹ hearts.⁵³¹⁵

           Give strong drink:  The use of wine is not as a continual beverage, but as a cordial and restorative where stimulants are needed (Judges 9:13; Luke 10:34; 1 Timothy 5:23).  The proper use of such drinks is to restore tone to feeble bodies and depressed minds (compare Psalms 104:15).[JFB]  unto him that is ready to perish:  A primitive root; properly to wander away, that is lose oneself; by implication to perish (causatively, destroy).[S]  unto those that be of heavy:  From H4843; bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly.[S]   Sad.[N]  hearts:  From H5314; properly a breathing creature, that is, animal or (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental).[S]  of heavy hearts:  Marginal note:  bitter of soul.

31:7  Let him drink,⁸³⁵⁴ and forget⁷⁹¹¹ his poverty,⁷³⁸⁹

         And remember²¹⁴² his misery⁵⁹⁹⁹ no³⁸⁰⁸ more.⁵⁷⁵⁰

          and forget:  A primitive root; to mislay, that is, to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention.[S]  It indicates that something has been lost to memory, or a period of time has softened the memory of it.[WSD]  his poverty:  From H7326; poverty.[S]  In want of the necessaries of life.[B]  Can mean misery from sources other than financial need.[ASB]  and … his misery:  From H5998; toil, that is, wearing effort; hence worry, whether of body or mind.[S]  Labor, toil; trouble, vexation, sorrow.[WW]  Let him drink, and forget his poverty:  Cause him, by the wine which thou givest him (not in excess, but in moderation), to “forget” his sorrow, instead of thyself by wine “forgetting the law” (verse 5).[JFB]  remember:  A primitive root; properly to mark (so as to be recognized), that is, to remember; by implication to mention; also (as denominative from H2145) to be male.[S]  no:  (Deuteronomy 3:11) lo; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abstract negation); by implication no; often used with other particles.[S]  more:  From H5749; properly iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more [S]  no more:  not continuing; existing no longer; gone.[W]

31:8  Open⁶⁶⁰⁵ thy mouth⁶³¹⁰ for the dumb⁴⁸³

          In⁴¹³ the cause of¹⁷⁷⁹ all³⁶⁰⁵ such as are appointed to¹¹²¹ destruction.²⁴⁷⁵

          Open:  A primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically to loosen, begin, plough, carve.[S]  thy mouth:  From H6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literally or figuratively (particularly speech).[S]  Mouth [human or animal]; by extension: speech, command, testimony; any opening; edge [of a sword].[SS]  for the dumb:  From H481; speechless.[S]  Mute, unable to speak.[SS] Open . . . cause—Plead for those who cannot plead for themselves, as the orphan, stranger, &c. (compare Psalms 72:12; Isaiah 1:17); i.e., for those who cannot defend themselves in the courts of justice.[JFB]  Defend their cause that are not able to help themselves.[GSB]  For such as cannot speak in their own cause, either through ignorance, or because of the dread of their more potent adversaries.[JW]  Which denotes the liberty of speech that princes and judges ought to use in passing sentence.  He must especially look upon himself as obliged to be the patron of oppressed innocency, especially of those that were dumb, and knew not how to speak for themselves, either through fear, or being over-talked by the prosecutor or overawed by the court.[Matthew Henry]  in:  (Used only in the shortened constructive form (the second form)); a primitive particle, properly denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, that is, near, with or among; often in general, to.[S] the cause of:  From H1777; judgment (the suit, justice, sentence or tribunal); by implication also strife.[S]  Plea, judgment.[WW]  all:  From H3634; properly the whole; hence all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense).[S]  such as are appointed to:  From H1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like H1, H251, etc.).[S]  destruction:  From H2498; properly surviving; by implication (collectively) orphans.[S]  Destitute, vanishing.[SS]  Destitution.[WW]  It refers to persons in society who are unfortunate and need others to affirm and uphold their rights for them.[WSD]  such as are appointed to destruction:  Hebrew, sons of destruction.[B]  Who are otherwise ruined by their oppressors (compare Proverbs 29:14,16).  Literally, “the sons of passing away”.  Maurer, “the sons of abandonment”, or orphanage—sons left orphans by their deceased parents.  Imitate God, who is peculiarly the Patron of the widow and orphan.  [JFB]  Literally, the sons of leaving behind.

31:9  Open⁶⁶⁰⁵ thy mouth,⁶³¹⁰ judge⁸¹⁹⁹ righteously,⁶⁶⁶⁴

         And plead the cause of¹⁷⁷⁷ the poor⁶⁰⁴¹ and needy.³⁴

              judge:  A primitive root; to judge, that is, pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication to vindicate or punish; by extension to govern; passively to litigate (literally or figuratively).[S]  righteously:  From H6663; the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity.[S]  Righteousness, justice, rightness, acting according to a proper [God’s] standard, doing what is right, being in the right.[SS]  Justice, of a judge, of a king, of God; hence righteousness, uprightness, integrity.[WW]  and plead the cause of:  A primitive root (compare H113); to rule; by implication to judge (as umpire); also to strive (as at law).[S]  To judge, punish; to plead, defend, vindicate, contend for.[SS]  Essentially it means to govern, whether legislatively, judicially, in an executive manner, or any other way.[KWSB]  the poor:  From H6031; depressed, in mind or circumstances (practically the same as H6035 subjectively and H6041 objectively).[S]  Needy, poor, afflicted, oppressed, often referring to a class of persons of low status and lacking resources.[SS]  Depressed, afflicted in circumstances, mind, and body; humble, pious, gentle and meek.[WW]  A poor one; wretched.[B]  and needy:  From H14, in the sense of want (especially in feeling); destitute.[S]  Poor, needy, often as a class of persons with physical needs, of low status and little political power, with an associative meaning of oppression and misery.[SS]  A needy one; destitute, helpless; deficient in will and wealth.[B]

The Praise and Properties of a Good Wife

This heading is the Figure of Speech Erotesis; or Interrogating [i.e., the asking of questions, not for information, or for an answer.]  The twenty-two verses which follow each begin with the twenty-two successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  The acrostic cannot be repeated in English, because the letters of the two alphabets vary in their number, order, and equivalents.  This is to emphasize the great lesson King Solomon was to learn.  Note the warnings against foreign women (previously mentioned), which, alas! Solomon failed to heed.  This is why the book closes with the eulogy of the model Israelitish matron.[B]

The final section of the book occurs in the form of an acrostic, that is, each of the 22 verses begins with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  Since it has such a distinctive form, it should not be considered part of Lemuel’s words, but taken as an anonymous poem.  While verse 10 serves as an introduction to the passage and verses 30 and 31 as a conclusion, there is no logical outline to the poem.  It might well be called “22 Points about the Excellent Wife” or “The Perfect Wife from A to Z”.  Each verse emphasizes a different quality about the excellent wife:  she is rare (verse 10); trustworthy (verse 11); constant in her love (verse 12); industrious (verse 13); thrifty (verse 14); self-starting (verse 15); enterprising (verse 16); willing to do hard work (verse 17); willing to work long hours (verse 18); willing to do monotonous work (verse 19); compassionate (verse 20); prepared for the future (verse 21); a good seamstress (verse 22); married to a leader (verse 23); an entrepreneur (verse 24); not swayed by circumstances (verse 25); wise and kind (verse 26); duty-conscious (verse 27); blessed by her family (verse 28); not satisfied with the mediocre (verse 29); a woman of God (verse 30); and praiseworthy (verse 31).  She is a woman of means (verses 15, 22) and a woman of great skill and ability who lives in an agrarian economy.  She is a woman of God who is enterprising and dedicated to her home.  Perhaps the acrostic on the excellent wife is placed at the end of the book because she, above all others, will be most able to demonstrate the principles of wisdom in the home.[ASB]

This is the description of a virtuous woman of those days, but the general outlines equally suit every age and nation.  She is very careful to recommend herself to her husband's esteem and affection, to know his mind, and is willing that he rule over her.  1. She can be trusted, and he will leave such a wife to manage for him.  He is happy in her.  And she makes it her constant business to do him good.  2. She is one that takes pains in her duties, and takes pleasure in them.  She is careful to fill up time, that none be lost.  She rises early.  She applies herself to the business proper for her, to women's business.  She does what she does, with all her power, and trifles not.  3. She makes what she does turn to good account by prudent management.  Many undo themselves by buying, without considering whether they can afford it. She provides well for her house.  She lays up for hereafter.  4. She looks well to the ways of her household, that she may oblige all to do their duty to God and one another, as well as to her.  5. She is intent upon giving as upon getting, and does it freely and cheerfully.  6. She is discreet and obliging; every word she says, shows she governs herself by the rules of wisdom. She not only takes prudent measures herself, but gives prudent advice to others.  The law of love and kindness is written in the heart, and shows itself in the tongue. Her heart is full of another world, even when her hands are most busy about this world.  7. Above all, she fears the Lord. Beauty recommends none to God, nor is it any proof of wisdom and goodness, but it has deceived many a man who made his choice of a wife by it. But the fear of God reigning in the heart, is the beauty of the soul; it lasts forever.  8. She has firmness to bear up under crosses and disappointments. She shall reflect with comfort when she comes to be old, that she was not idle or useless when young. She shall rejoice in a world to come.  She is a great blessing to her relations.  If the fruit be good, the tree must have our good word.  But she leaves it to her own works to praise her.  Every one ought to desire this honour that cometh from God; and according to this standard we all ought to regulate our judgments.  This description let all women daily study, who desire to be truly beloved and respected, useful and honourable.  This passage is to be applied to individuals, but may it not also be applied to the church of God, which is described as a virtuous spouse?  God by His grace has formed from among sinful men a church of true believers, to possess all the excellences here described.[Matthew Henry]

31:10 (א)  Who⁴³¹⁰ can find⁴⁶⁷² a virtuous²⁴²⁸ woman?⁸⁰²

                  For her price⁴³⁷⁷ is far⁷³⁵⁰ above rubies.^{4480, 6443}

                  Who:  An interrogative pronoun of persons, as H4100 is of things, who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix.[S]  can find:  A primitive root; properly to come forth to, that is, appear or