Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Proverbs 31

Introduction

1  Lemuel's lesson of chastity and temperance.
6  The afflicted are to be comforted and defended.
10  The praise and properties of a good wife.
Verse 1

The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
the prophecy
30:1
his
1:8, 6:20, 2 Timothy 1:5, 3:15
Verse 2

What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
the son of my womb
Isaiah 49:15
the son of my vows
1 Samuel 1:11,28
Verse 3

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
strength
5:9-11, 7:26,27, Hosea 4:11
to that
Deuteronomy 17:17, Nehemiah 13:26
Verse 4

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Leviticus 10:9,10, 1 Kings 20:12,16-20, Esther 3:15, Ecclesiastes 10:17, Isaiah 28:7,8, Daniel 5:2-4, Hosea 4:11,12, 7:3-5, Habakkuk 2:5, Mark 6:21-28
Verse 5

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
pervert
Heb. alter. any of the afflicted. Heb. all the sons of affliction.
Habakkuk 2:5
Verse 6

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
strong
Psalms 104:15, 1 Timothy 5:23
of heavy hearts
Heb. bitter of soul.
1 Samuel 1:10, 30:6, 2 Kings 4:27; *margins
Verse 7

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Ephesians 5:18
Verse 8

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Open
24:7,11,12, 1 Samuel 19:4-7, 20:32, 22:14,15, Esther 4:13-16, Job 29:9,17, Psalms 82:3,4, Jeremiah 26:16-19,24, 38:7-10, John 7:51
such, etc
Heb. the sons of destruction.
Psalms 79:11; *marg:
Verse 9

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
16:12, 20:8, Leviticus 19:15, Deuteronomy 1:16, 16:18-20, 2 Samuel 8:15, Psalms 58:1,2, Psalms 72:1,2, Job 29:12,15,16, Isaiah 1:17,23, 11:4, 32:1,2, Jeremiah 5:28, Jeremiah 22:3,15,16, 23:5, Daniel 4:27, Amos 5:11,12, Zechariah 7:9, 9:9, John 7:24, Hebrews 1:9, Revelation 19:11
Verse 10

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Who
This is the commencement of an alphabetical poem, each verse beginning consecutively with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet; in which we are presented with an admirable picture of a good wife, according to the primitive manners of the East.
can
12:4, 18:22, 19:14, Ruth 3:11, Ecclesiastes 7:28, Song of Solomon 6:8,9, Ephesians 5:25-33
her
3:15, 8:11, 20:15
Verse 11

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
2 Kings 4:9,10,22,23, 1 Peter 3:1-7
Verse 12

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
1 Samuel 25:18-22,26,27
Verse 13

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
worketh
Genesis 18:6-8, 24:13,14,18-20, 29:9,10, Exodus 2:16, Ruth 2:2,3,23, Isaiah 3:16-24, 32:9-11, Acts 9:39,40, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, 1 Timothy 5:10,14, Titus 2:5
Verse 14

She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
24, 1 Kings 9:26-28, 2 Chronicles 9:10, Ezekiel 27:3-36
Verse 15

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
riseth
Joshua 3:1, 2 Chronicles 36:15, Psalms 119:147,148, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Mark 1:35, Romans 12:11
and giveth
Matthew 24:25, Luke 12:42
Verse 16

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
considereth
Joshua 15:18, Song of Solomon 8:12, Matthew 13:44
buyeth
Heb. taketh.
Verse 17

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
girdeth
1 Kings 18:46, 2 Kings 4:29, Job 38:3, Luke 12:35, Ephesians 6:10,14, 1 Peter 1:13
strengtheneth
Genesis 49:24, Isaiah 44:12, Hosea 7:15
Verse 18

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
perceiveth
Heb. tasteth. her candle.
Genesis 31:40, Psalms 127:2, Matthew 25:3-10, 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
Verse 19

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Exodus 35:25,26
Verse 20

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She stretcheth
Heb. She spreadeth.
1:24, Romans 10:21
she reacheth
19:17, 22:9, Job 31:16-20, Psalms 41:1, 112:9, Ecclesiastes 11:1,2, Mark 14:7, Acts 9:39-41, 20:34,35, Ephesians 4:28, Hebrews 13:16
Verse 21

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
afraid
25:20
scarlet
or, double garments.
Genesis 45:22
Verse 22

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
coverings
7:16
clothing
Genesis 41:42; *marg:; Esther 5:1, 8:15, Psalms 45:13,14, Ezekiel 16:10-13, 1 Peter 3:3
silk
Shesh, rather fine linen, or cotton. (See on Ex 39:27.) Sadin, rendered "fine linen," ver. 24, is probably the same as the Arabic sidn, and sudl, a veil, or an inner covering of fine muslin.
Verse 23

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
husband
12:4
in the
24:7, Deuteronomy 16:18, 21:19, Ruth 4:1, Job 29:7
Verse 24

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
13,19, 1 Kings 10:28, Ezekiel 27:16, Luke 16:19
Verse 25

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Strength
Job 29:14, 40:10, Psalms 132:9,16, Isaiah 61:10, Romans 13:14, Ephesians 4:24, 1 Timothy 2:10, 1 Peter 5:5,6
and she
Psalms 97:11,12, Isaiah 65:13,14, Matthew 25:20,21
Verse 26

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
openeth
8,9, Judges 13:23, 1 Samuel 25:24-31, 2 Samuel 20:16-22, 2 Kings 22:15-20, Esther 4:4, Esther 5:8, 7:3-6, 8:3-6, Luke 1:38,42-56, Acts 18:26, Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 4:5
in her
12:18, 16:24, 25:15, Genesis 24:18-20, Song of Solomon 2:14, 4:11, Malachi 2:6, Acts 6:15, 1 Peter 3:1,4,5,8,9
Verse 27

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
14:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Timothy 5:10, Titus 2:4
Verse 28

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
children
1, 1 Kings 2:19, Psalms 116:16, 2 Timothy 1:5, 3:15-17
her husband
Song of Solomon 7:1-9, Isaiah 62:4,5; *marg:
Verse 29

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
done virtuously
or, gotten riches. thou.
Song of Solomon 6:8,9, Ephesians 5:27
Verse 30

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Favour
6:25, 11:22, 2 Samuel 14:25, Esther 1:11,12, Ezekiel 16:15, James 1:11, 1 Peter 1:24
a woman
1:7, 8:13, Exodus 1:17-21, Psalms 147:11, Luke 1:6,46-50, 1 Peter 3:4,5
she
Ecclesiastes 7:18, 12:13, Romans 2:29, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Peter 1:7, 3:4
Verse 31

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
of the
16, 11:30, Psalms 128:2, Matthew 7:16,20, Romans 6:21,22, Philippians 4:17
and let
Mark 14:7-9, Acts 9:39, Romans 16:1-4,6,12, 1 Timothy 5:25, Hebrews 6:10, Revelation 14:13

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