The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:1-31
The words of Lernuel The fear of God is the leading thought in these meditations; and this in a twofold relation—to the king in his rule in the state, and the woman in her rule in the house. read more
Proverbs 31:1-3 Nasb
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:2
What, my son? Mah, "what," is repeated thrice, both to enforce the attention of the son, and to show the mother's anxious care for his good. She feels the vast importance of the occasion, and asks as in perplexity, "What shall I say? What advice shall I give thee?" "Son" is here not ben , but bar , one of the Aramaic forms which are found in these two last chapters. The word occurs also in Psalms 2:12 . Son of my vows. This might mean, "son who wast asked in prayer," like Samuel ( ... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:2-9
Here follows the exhortation, which seems to come from the same source as the "burden" of Agur above. In this section the connection and parallelism of the parts are exhibited by repetition of thought and often of words in the several clauses. read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:2-9
A mother's maxims The mother's heart, deep in emotions of affection and urgent solicitude, is expressed in the passionate form of the address. I. ON WOMEN OR THE DUTY OF CHASTITY . ( Proverbs 31:3 .) The weakness of this passion was one of the things, Alexander the Great was wont to say, which reminded him that he was mortal David and Solomon were both warnings and beacon lights against yielding to it. II. ON WINE , OR THE DUTY OF TEMPERANCE . ( ... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:3
Exhortation to chastity. Give not thy strength unto women (comp. Proverbs 5:9 ). Chayil is "vigour," the bodily powers, which are sapped and enervated by sensuality. The Septuagint has σὸν πλοῦτον ; the Vulgate, substantiam tuam ; but the prayerful, anxious mother would consider rather her son's personal well being than his worldly circumstances, which, indeed, an Eastern monarch's licentiousness would not necessarily impair. Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings; or,... read more
Joseph Benson
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 31:1
Proverbs 31:1. The words of King Lemuel Of Solomon, by the general consent both of Jewish and Christian writers: this name signifies one from God, or, belonging to God, and such a one was Solomon eminently, being given by God to David and Bath-sheba as a pledge of his reconciliation to them after their repentance. Possibly his mother gave him this name to remind him of his great obligations to God, and of the justice and necessity of his devoting himself to God’s service. It must be... read more
Joseph Benson
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 31:2
Proverbs 31:2. What, my son A short speech, arguing her great passion for him; what words shall I take? What counsels shall I give thee? My heart is full; I must give it vent; but where shall I begin? What, the son of my womb My son, not by adoption, but whom I bare in the womb, and therefore it is my duty to give thee admonitions, and thine to receive them. What, the son of my vows On whose behalf I have made many prayers and sacrifices, and solemn vows to God; whom I have, as far as... read more
Joseph Benson
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 31:3
Proverbs 31:3. Give not thy strength unto women The vigour of thy mind and body, which is greatly impaired by inordinate lusts, as all physicians agree, and frequent experience shows; nor thy ways Thy conversation or course of life; to that which destroyeth kings The same thing repeated in other words, as is very usual in these books; to the immoderate love of women, which is most destructive to kings and kingdoms, as was well known to Solomon, by the example of his father David, and by... read more
Donald C. Fleming
Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:1-9
A mother’s advice to a king (31:1-9)King Lemuel was probably a non-Israelite from a neighbouring nation, but his mother appears to have been a God-fearing woman who vowed her son to God (31:1-2). The main desire of some kings was to get themselves as much pleasure as possible, chiefly through women and wine. Lemuel is warned that such interests distract a king from his proper duties and result in lawlessness and injustice (3-5). Strong drink deadens pain and dulls the mind. Therefore, among the... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:1-9
Part VIII. SECOND APPENDIX TO THE SECOND COLLECTION , containing "the words of Lemuel" on the subjects of impurity and intemperance. read more