Proverbs 23:31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 23:29-35

Solomon here gives fair warning against the sin of drunkenness, to confirm what he had said, Prov. 23:20. I. He cautions all people to keep out of the way of temptations to this sin (Prov. 23:31): Look not thou upon the wine when it is red. Red wine was in Canaan looked upon as the best wine, it is therefore called the blood of the grape. Critics judge of wine, among other indications, by the colour of it; some wine, they say, looks charmingly, looks so well that it even says, ?Come and drink... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 23:31

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red ,.... Or, "because it is red" F18 כי "quia", some in Mercerus, Gejerus. ; or shows itself red. Which was the only wine used in the land of Canaan, or, however, the most esteemed of, and that most of art which had the best colour; when it had a good, bright, red colour, or sparkled, and looked bright and beautiful, so the word signifies; and then it should not be looked upon: not that it is unlawful to look upon the colour of wine, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 23:31

Look not thou upon the wine - Let neither the color, the odour, the sparkling, etc., of the wine, when poured out, induce thee to drink of it. However good and pure it may be, it will to thee be a snare, because thou art addicted to it, and hast no self-command. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:29-35

Here follows a mashal ode or song on the subject of drunkenness, which is closely connected with the sin mentioned in the previous lines. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:29-35

The perils of drunkenness I. THE IMMEDIATE EXTERNAL EFFECTS . (Verses29, 30.) Trouble, quarrels, violence, deformity. "No translation or paraphrase can do justice to the concise, abrupt, and energetic manner of the original." "Oh that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! that we should with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!" II. THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCES . ( Proverbs 23:32 .) It "bites like a serpent, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:29-35

(with Proverbs 23:20 , Proverbs 23:21 ) Drunkenness A most striking picture is given as here of the manifold evils of this great curse. In a few strokes Solomon brings before us most, if not all, of its painful and pitiable consequences. Their name is legion, for they are indeed many. I. THE CONTEMPT OF THE SOBER . ( Proverbs 23:20 .) The very word "drunkard," or "wine bibber," is indicative of the deep disregard in which the victim of this vice is held by sober... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:31

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red. Be not attracted by its beautiful appearance. The wine of Palestine was chiefly "red," though what we call white wine was not unknown. The Vulgate flavescit points to the latter. When it giveth his colour in the cup. For "color" the Hebrew has "eye," which refers to the sparkling and gleaming which show themselves in wine poured into the cup. It is as though the cup had an eye which glanced at the drinker with a fascination which he did not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:31-32

The danger of strong drink I. IT IS TERRIBLY FASCINATING . 1 . It is beautiful to the eye. The wine sparkles in the cup. 2 . It is palatable. Though children at first shudder at it, as at some unnatural product, the early dislike is easily surmounted, and then nothing can be more attractive. 3 . It is exhilarating. It gives pleasurable excitement, stimulates jaded energies, enlivens conversation, drowns sorrow, and promises still larger enjoyments. 4 . It is... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 23:31-32

Proverbs 23:31-32. Look not thou upon the wine Earnestly, so as to inflame thine appetite toward it; in which sense men are forbidden to look upon a woman, Job 31:1; Matthew 5:28. When it is red Which was the colour of the best wines in that country, which therefore are called blood, Genesis 49:11; Deuteronomy 32:14; and such were used by them in the passover. Red wine, it appears, is still more esteemed in the East than white. And, according to Olearius, in his account of his travels,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 23:1-35

Social-climbers and others (23:1-35)Those who seek status like to mix with the upper classes and try to copy their habits. But because of their ignorance of how to eat fine foods, they make fools of themselves and so spoil their chances of progressing up the social ladder. The food they desire becomes the means of their downfall (23:1-3). The desire for wealth can lead to disappointment (4-5), and the efforts to win the favour of others may win only their disfavour. This may particularly be the... read more

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