Proverbs 31:8

Proverbs 31:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
• New International Version (NIV)Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.

Context of Proverbs 31:8

6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul: 7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate. 9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy. 10A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.

Proverbs 31:8 word by word

פְּתַח־פִּ֥יךָ לְאִלֵּ֑ם אֶל־דִּ֝֗ין כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י חֲלֽוֹף׃Read the interlinear

• Openפָּתַחpâthach · to openH6605
• mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• causeדִּיןdîyn dûn · judgmentH1779

Cross-references for Proverbs 31:8

• Proverbs 24:7Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.
• 1 Samuel 19:4And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:
• 1 Samuel 20:32And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore should he be put to death? what hath he done?
• 1 Samuel 22:14Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who among all thy servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and is taken into thy council, and is honorable in thy house?
• Esther 4:13Then Mordecai bade them return answer unto Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.
• Job 29:9The princes refrained from talking, And laid their hand on their mouth;
• Psalms 82:3Judge the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
• Jeremiah 26:16Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets: This man is not worthy of death; for he hath spoken to us in the name of Jehovah our God.
• Jeremiah 38:7Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin),
• John 7:51Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth?
• Psalms 79:11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee: According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to death;

Commentaries on Proverbs 31:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Open thy mouth for the dumb - For such accused persons as have no counsellors, and cannot plead for themselves. Are appointed to destruction - חלוף בני beney chaloph, variously translated, children of passage - indigent travelers; children of desolation - those who have no possessions, or orphans. I believe it either signifies those who are strangers, and are travelling from place to place, or those who are ready to perish in consequence of want or…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8In contrast with the two besetting sins of Eastern monarchs stands their one great duty, to give help to those who had no other helper. Such as are appointed to destruction - literally, “children of bereavement,” with the sense, either, as in the text, of those “destined to be bereaved of life or goods,” or of “bereaved or fatherless children.”Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9Instead of drinking wine (Proverbs 31:4–7), the king should defend those who cannot protect themselves.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-93-9. 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 Pr 5:9; 7:22, 27; Ho 4:11).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 31:8

• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Above
• Deceitful
• Distaff
• Dumb
• Excel
• Lay
• Lemuel
• Price
• Prophecy
• Scarlet

Commentaries on Proverbs 31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings