Proverbs 31:1

Proverbs 31:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
• New International Version (NIV)The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
• New King James Version (NKJV)The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

Context of Proverbs 31:1

These are the words that King Lemuel's mother said to him. It is an important message: 2Be careful, my dear son. God answered my prayers when I gave birth to you. Please listen carefully! 3Do not chase after women and lose your strength. Women like that have destroyed kings.

Proverbs 31:1 word by word

דִּ֭בְרֵי לְמוּאֵ֣ל מֶ֑לֶךְ מַ֝שָּׂ֗א אֲֽשֶׁר־יִסְּרַ֥תּוּ אִמּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• of kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• Lemuelלְמוּאֵלlemû'êl lemô'êl · LemuelH3927
• the prophecyמַשָּׂאmaώώâ' · burdenH4853
• that his motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
• taughtיָסַרyâsar · to disciplineH3256

Cross-references for Proverbs 31:1

• Proverbs 30:1These are the words of Jakeh's son, Agur. It is an important message. The man says this to Ithiel: God, I am weak and tired. I cannot continue to stand.
• Proverbs 1:8Listen, my child, when your father shows you what is right. And do not forget what your mother has taught you.
• Proverbs 6:20My child, obey your father's commands. Do not forget what your mother has taught you.
• 2 Timothy 1:5I remember how you really believe in Christ. Your grandmother, Lois, and your mother, Eunice, already believed in Christ before you did. Now I am sure that you yourself also really trust him.
• 2 Timothy 3:15Even when you were a child, you already knew the message of the Bible. The Bible has taught you how you can be truly wise. You understand that God saves you because you believe in Christ Jesus.

Commentaries on Proverbs 31:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1The 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1That his mother taught him - Compare Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 6:20. If we refer the chapter to Israelite authorship, we may remember the honor paid to the wisdom of Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah; if it was the honor paid to an Edomite or an Arabian, we may think of the Queen of Sheba, whose love of Wisdom led her to sit at the feet of the son of David.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1An exhortation to king Lemuel to take heed of sin, and to do duties. (1-9) The description of a virtuous woman. (10-31) Verses 1-9 When children are under the mother's eye, she has an opportunity of fashioning their minds aright. Those who are grown up, should often call to mind the good teaching they received when children. The many awful instances of promising characters who have been ruined by vile women, and love of wine, should warn every one to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-9Lemuel, like Agur, might have been from Massa (see study note on Proverbs 30:1). Lemuel’s mother teaches him to control his desires, especially for women and alcohol, so he can rule fairly. Besides this passage, we know nothing about Lemuel.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-31Pr 31:1-31. 1. On the title of this, the sixth part of the book, see Introduction. prophecy--(See on Pr 30:1).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 31:1

• Lemuel
• Young Men

In the dictionaries

• Above
• Deceitful
• Distaff
• Excel
• Lay
• Lemuel
• Price
• Prophecy
• Scarlet
• Bath-Sheba

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