English Standard Version
Proverbs 31:3
3Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
Proverbs 31:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
- New Living Translation (NLT)do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.
Context of Proverbs 31:3
1The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: 2What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, 5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
Read all of Proverbs 31Proverbs 31:3 word by word
אַל־תִּתֵּ֣ן לַנָּשִׁ֣ים חֵילֶ֑ךָ וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָ לַֽמְח֥וֹת מְלָכִֽין׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 31:3
- Proverbs 5:9lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless,
- Proverbs 7:26for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng.
- Hosea 4:11whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding.
- Deuteronomy 17:17And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
- Nehemiah 13:26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.
Commentaries on Proverbs 31:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Give 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 the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3To that which destroyeth - The temptations of the harem were then, as now, the curse of all Eastern kingdoms.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3The advice to avoid wasting energy on desire for women repeats earlier warnings (Proverbs 5; 6:20–35; 7:1–27).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 31:3
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries