Proverbs 31:3

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

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 31:3

Proverbs 31:3. Give not thy strength, &c.— David had admonished his son, chap. Proverbs 6:20, &c. to keep the commandment of his father, and not forsake the law of his mother; for the commandment, said he, is a lamp, and reproofs of instruction are the ways of life, to keep thee from the evil woman: and can there be a greater uniformity than betwixt that monition and this, Give not thy strength unto women, &c.? And may not the reproofs which follow be justly intitled, proofs of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 31:3

3-9. Succinct but solemn warnings against vices to which kings are peculiarly tempted, as carnal pleasures and oppressive and unrighteous government are used to sustain sensual indulgence. strength—mental and bodily resources for health and comfort. thy ways—or course of life. to that . . . kings—literally, "to the destroying of kings," avoid destructive pleasures (compare Proverbs 5:9; Proverbs 7:22; Proverbs 7:27; Hosea 4:11). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 31:1-31

VII. COLLECTION 7: THE WISDOM OF LEMUEL CH. 31Some commentators have regarded only the first nine verses of this chapter as Lemuel’s writing. One reason for this is that the Septuagint translators separated Proverbs 31:1-9 from Proverbs 31:10-31 by five chapters (chs. 25-29). However, the Hebrew text implies that Lemuel wrote the whole chapter since it connects these two sections. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 31:2-9

B. The wise king 31:2-9 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 31:3-9

Her counsel was that it is not wise for a king to make himself dependent on women (Proverbs 31:3) or wine (Proverbs 31:4-7)."David’s lust for Bathsheba made him callous toward justice and cost Uriah his life, and Solomon’s many sexual partners made him callous toward pure and undefiled religion and incapable of real love. In other words, obsession with women has the same effect as obsession with liquor (Proverbs 31:5)." [Note: Waltke, The Book . . . 31, p. 507.] The advice in Proverbs 31:6-7 is... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 31:1-31

The Mother of Lemuel. The Excellent Woman1-9. An exhortation addressed to king Lemuel by his mother, urging him to avoid women and wine. The latter leads to slackness and unfairness in the administration of justice.’1. Read the title thus: ’The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, which his mother taught him.’ It is possible that the Massa of Genesis 25:14 is meant. 2. The repeated What? appears to point to an inclination towards these excesses. Son of my vows] see 1 Samuel 1:11.3. Read, ’Give not... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Proverbs 31:3

(3) Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.—A slight change in the punctuation will give a better sense, “to those that destroy kings,” i.e., women. Give not thy life to dissipation at their bidding. (Comp. Proverbs 6:24, sqq.; 1 Kings 11:1). read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:1-31

CHAPTER 32A GOOD WOMAN"O woman-hearts, that keep the days of old In living memory, can you stand back When Christ calls? Shall the heavenly Master lack The serving love, which is your life’s fine gold?""Do you forget the hand which placed the crown Of happy freedom on the woman’s head And took her from the dying and the dead, Lifting the wounded soul long trodden down?""Do you forget who bade the morning break, And snapped the fetters of the iron years? The Savior calls for service from your... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Proverbs 31:1-31

VII. THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL TAUGHT HIM BY HIS MOTHER CHAPTER 31 The Virtuous Woman “The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him”; this is the superscription of this chapter. Who is King Lemuel? No king by that name is known. We do not hesitate in saying that it is Solomon. It means “unto God” one who is devoted to the Lord. In all probability Solomon’s mother called her boy by this name, and here is the record therefore of the instruction given by Solomon’s mother. The... read more

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