Bible/Proverbs/31

Proverbs 31:5

31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. prevert: Heb. alter of any: Heb. of all the sons of affliction

KJV

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lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. of: Heb. bitter of soul

What does Proverbs 31:5 mean?

Proverbs 31:5 is a verse in the book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שָׁתָה (shâthâh), שָׁכַח (shâkach), חָקַק (châqaq). It connects to 16 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Lest
they
drink,שָׁתָהshâthâh/shaw-thaw'/H8354to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
and
forgetשָׁכַחshâkach/shaw-kakh'/H7911to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
the
law,חָקַקchâqaq/khaw-kak'/H2710properly, to hack, i.e. engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication, to enact (laws being cut in stone or metal tablets in primitive times) or (gen.) prescribe
and
pervertשָׁנָהshânâh/shaw-naw'/H8138to fold, i.e. duplicate (literally or figuratively); by implication, to transmute (transitive or intransitive)
the
judgmentדִּיןdîyn/deen/H1779judgement (the suit, justice, sentence or tribunal); by implication also strife
of
any
of
the
afflicted.בֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
prevert:
Heb.
alter
of
any:
Heb.
of
all
the
sons
of
affliction

Commentary on Proverbs 31:5

HENRY_FULL · Proverbs 31:5
lmist specifies some of the most common calamities of human life, and shows how God succours those that labour under them, in answer to their prayers. I. Banishment and dispersion, ver. 2-9 . 2. Captivity and imprisonment, ver. 10-16 . 3. Sickness and distemper of body, ver. 17-22 . 4. Danger and distress at sea, ver. 23-32 . These are put for all similar perils, in which those that cry unto God have ever found him a very present help. II. He specifies the varieties and vicissitudes of events concerning nations and families, in all which God's hand is to be eyed by his own people, with joyful acknowledgments of his goodness, ver. 33-43 . When we are in any of these or the like distresses it will be comfortable to sing this psalm, with application; but, if we be not, others are, and have been, of whose deliverances it becomes us to give God the glory, for we are members one of another. Exhortation to Celebrate God's Praises. 1 O give thanks unto the Lord , for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; 3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. 4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. 5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. 7 And he led them forth by the rig

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 15:16

Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

Deuteronomy 7:8

But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 15:15

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.

Isaiah 35:9

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

Isaiah 43:1

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

Isaiah 44:22

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

Jeremiah 15:21

And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.

Jeremiah 31:11

For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.

Micah 4:10

Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

Luke 1:68

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

Luke 1:74

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

Luke 24:21

But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

Galatians 3:13

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Titus 2:14

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1 Peter 1:18

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1 Peter 1:19

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Topics

Afflicted, Duty Toward TheDrunkennessInjusticeKingRulersWine

Frequently asked questions

What does Proverbs 31:5 say?

Proverbs 31:5 (King James Version) reads: "Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. prevert: Heb. alter of any: Heb. of all the sons of affliction"

Is Proverbs 31:5 in the Old or New Testament?

Proverbs 31:5 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Proverbs.

Reflect

As you read Proverbs 31:5, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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31:4Read all of Proverbs 3131:6