New King James Version
Proverbs 31:6
6Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
Proverbs 31:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
- New International Version (NIV)Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish!
- English Standard Version (ESV)Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.
Context of Proverbs 31:6
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; 5Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. 7Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. 8Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
Read all of Proverbs 31Proverbs 31:6 word by word
תְּנוּ־שֵׁכָ֣ר לְאוֹבֵ֑ד וְ֝יַיִן לְמָ֣רֵי נָֽפֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 31:6
- Psalms 104:15And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man’s heart.
- 1 Timothy 5:23No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
- 1 Samuel 1:10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.
- 1 Samuel 30:6Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
- 2 Kings 4:27Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”
Commentaries on Proverbs 31:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish - We have already seen, that inebriating drinks were mercifully given to condemned criminals, to render them less sensible of the torture they endured in dying. This is what was offered to our Lord; but he refused it. See note on Psalm 104:15.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6The true purpose of the power of wine over man‘s mind and body, as a restorative and remedial agent. Compare the margin reference. The same thought showed itself in the Jewish practice of giving a cup of wine to mourners, and (as in the history of the crucifixion) to criminals at their execution.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-7Drinking too much wine dulls the senses. A king needs to stay alert and should not drink too much alcohol.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 31:6
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries