Proverbs 31:3 NIV

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 31:3

Give not thy strength unto women ,.... Strength of body, which is weakened by an excessive use of venery F2 "Venus enervat vireis", Avienus. with a multiplicity of women; see, Proverbs 5:9 ; and strength of mind, reason, and wisdom, which is impaired by conversation with such persons; whereby time is consumed and lost, which should be spent in the improvement of knowledge: or "thy riches", as the Septuagint and Arabic versions, thy substance, which harlots devour, and who bring a man... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 31:3

Give not thy strength - Do not waste thy substance on women. In such intercourse the strength of body, soul and substance is destroyed. Such connections are those which destroy kings, מלכין melachin , the Chaldee termination instead of the Hebrew. 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

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 31:3

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 31:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:1-31

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:2-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:2-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 31:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 31:3

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