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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 31:1-9

Most interpreters are of opinion that Lemuel is Solomon; the name signifies one that is for God, or devoted to God; and so it agrees well enough with that honourable name which, by divine appointment, was given to Solomon (2 Sam. 12:25), Jedediah?beloved of the Lord. Lemuel is supposed to be a pretty, fond, endearing name, by which his mother used to call him; and so much did he value himself upon the interest he had in his mother's affections that he was not ashamed to call himself by it. One... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:1

The words of King Lemuel ,.... Not what were spoken by him, but what were spoken to him; or declaring what his mother said, as what follows shows; of this king we have no account elsewhere under this name. Grotius thinks that King Hezekiah, whose mother Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah, whom he supposes to be a wise man, from whom she had learned much, instructed her son in the following manner; but gives no other reason for this conjecture but that this chapter follows the collection of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:2

What, my son ?.... What shall I call thee? though thou art a king, can I address thee in more suitable language, or use a more endearing appellative than this, and what follows? permit me, thy mother, to speak unto thee as my son: and what shall I say to thee? I want words, I want wisdom; O that I knew what to say to thee, that would be proper and profitable; or what is it I am about to say to thee? things of the greatest moment and importance, and therefore listen to me; and so the manner... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 31:1

The words of King Lemuel - מכך למואל דברי dibrey lemuel melech , "The words to Muel the king." So the Syriac; and so I think it should be read, the ל lamed being the article or preposition. But who is Muel or Lemuel? Solomon, according to general opinion; and the mother here mentioned, Bath-sheba. I cannot receive these sayings; for Whoever this was, he appears to have been the first-born of his mother: called here emphatically בטני בר bar bitni , the son of my womb; which is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 31:2

What, my son? - The Chaldee בר bar is used twice in this verse, instead of the Hebrew בן ben , son. This verse is very elliptical; and commentators, according to their different tastes, have inserted words, indeed some of them a whole sentence, to make up the sense. Perhaps Coverdale has hit the sense as nearly as any other: "These are the wordes of Kynge Lemuel; and the lesson that his mother taughte him. My sonne, thou son of my body, O my deare beloved sonne!" The son of my... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:1

The superscription. The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy which his mother taught him. Who is intended by "Lemuel king" is much disputed. Those who connect the following word massa ("oracle") with the preceding melek ("king"), translate "King of Massa," as Proverbs 30:1 (where see note). Of the country, or the king, or his mother, we have absolutely no information. The name Lemuel, or Lemoel ( Proverbs 30:4 ), means "unto God," i.e. dedicated to God, like Lael ( Numbers 3:24 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:1

A mother's counsel The last chapter of the Book of Proverbs gives us the picture of a mother's counsel to her son—wise and good and eloquent with love and yearning anxiety. Here is a picture to suggest the inestimable advantage to a young man of a mother's guidance. In thoughtless, high-spirited youth this too often passes unheeded, and precious advice is then wasted on ungrateful ears. It would be more seemly to consider its unique merits. I. IT SPRINGS FROM A WOMAN 'S NATURE... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:1-3

Motherhood We have not many words from women's lips in the inspired record, and we may therefore esteem the more highly those we possess. The verses bring out— I. THE STRONG CLAIMS OF MOTHERHOOD . "The son of my womb;" "the son of my vows." These claims are based upon: 1 . Motherhood as such. Upon all that motherhood means to us; upon the fact that the mother has borne her child, has cherished him at her own breast, has watched over his infancy and childhood with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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