Proverbs 31:3

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

Context of Proverbs 31:3

1The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him. 2O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings. 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol. 5For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed.

Proverbs 31:3 word by word

אַל־תִּתֵּ֣ן לַנָּשִׁ֣ים חֵילֶ֑ךָ וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָ לַֽמְח֥וֹת מְלָכִֽין׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• not thy strengthחַ֫יִלchayil · strengthH2428
• unto womenאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• nor thy waysדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• to that which destroyethמָחָהmâchâh · to wipeH4229
• kingsמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428

Cross-references for Proverbs 31:3

• Proverbs 5:9If you do, you will lose your honor and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.
• Proverbs 7:26For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims.
• Hosea 4:11to worship other gods. “Wine has robbed my people of their understanding.
• Deuteronomy 17:17The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.
• Nehemiah 13:26“Wasn’t this exactly what led King Solomon of Israel into sin?” I demanded. “There was no king from any nation who could compare to him, and God loved him and made him king over all Israel. But even he was led into sin by his foreign wives.

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

• Adultery
• Chastity
• 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