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Text -- Proverbs 31:1 (NET)

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Context
The Words of Lemuel
31:1 The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Lemuel a wise king of the Arabian tribe of Massa
 · Massa son of Ishmael son of Abraham and Hagar,a tribe of people in Arabia (OS)


Dictionary Themes and Topics: Young Men | WOMAN | WISDOM | MOTHER | MASSA | MARRIAGE | Lemuel | JAKEH | ISRAEL, RELIGION OF, 2 | CHILDREN | CHILD; CHILDREN | BATH-SHEBA | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Pro 31:1 - -- Of Solomon, by the general consent both of Jewish and Christian writers; this name signifies one from God, or belonging to God, and such an one was So...

Of Solomon, by the general consent both of Jewish and Christian writers; this name signifies one from God, or belonging to God, and such an one was Solomon eminently, being given by God to David and Bathsheba, as a pledge of his reconciliation to them after their repentance. Possibly his mother gave him this name to mind him of his great obligations to God, and of the justice of his devoting himself to God's service.

JFB: Pro 31:1 - -- (Pro. 31:1-31) On the title of this, the sixth part of the book, see Introduction.

(Pro. 31:1-31)

On the title of this, the sixth part of the book, see Introduction.

JFB: Pro 31:1 - -- (See on Pro 30:1).

(See on Pro 30:1).

Clarke: Pro 31:1 - -- The words of King Lemuel - דברי למואל מכך dibrey lemuel melech , "The words to Muel the king."So the Syriac; and so I think it should b...

The words of King Lemuel - דברי למואל מכך 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; fo

1.    Whoever this was, he appears to have been the first-born of his mother: called here emphatically בר בטני bar bitni , the son of my womb; which is not likely to be true of Solomon, as his mother had been the wife of Uriah, and possibly had borne that rough and faithful soldier some children

2.    It is intimated here that this son had come by a lawful marriage: hence בר נדרי bar nedarai , the son of my vow, her matrimonial covenant; for so it is most natural to understand the words. But is there any proper sense in which we can say that this was correct in reference to David, Bath-sheba and Solomon? For although the son born in adultery died, it is by no means likely that Bath-sheba made any particular vows relative to Solomon; for of her piety, so much vaunted of by some writers, we yet want the proofs

But, however this may be, there is no evidence whatever that Muel or Lemuel means Solomon; the chapter seems, to be much later than his time, and the several Chaldaisms which occur in the very opening of it are no mean proof of this. If Agur was not the author of it, it may be considered as another supplement to the book of Proverbs. Most certainly Solomon did not write it

Clarke: Pro 31:1 - -- The prophecy that his mother taught him - משא massa may here signify the oracle; the subject that came by Divine inspiration; see on Pro 30:1 ...

The prophecy that his mother taught him - משא massa may here signify the oracle; the subject that came by Divine inspiration; see on Pro 30:1 (note). From this and some other circumstances it is probable that both these chapters were written by the same author. Houbigant thinks that Massa here is the name of a place; and, therefore, translates, "The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, with which his mother instructed him."

Defender: Pro 31:1 - -- Since there was no king of either Judah or Israel named Lemuel, and since it is very unlikely that this chapter could refer to the king of one of the ...

Since there was no king of either Judah or Israel named Lemuel, and since it is very unlikely that this chapter could refer to the king of one of the pagan nations around the children of Israel, it seems probable that Lemuel (meaning "belonging to God") is simply another name - or title - for King Solomon."

TSK: Pro 31:1 - -- the prophecy : Pro 30:1 his : Pro 1:8, Pro 6:20; 2Ti 1:5, 2Ti 3:15

the prophecy : Pro 30:1

his : Pro 1:8, Pro 6:20; 2Ti 1:5, 2Ti 3:15

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Pro 31:1 - -- That his mother taught him - Compare Pro 1:8; Pro 6:20. If we refer the chapter to Israelite authorship, we may remember the honor paid to the ...

That his mother taught him - Compare Pro 1:8; Pro 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.

Poole: Pro 31:1 - -- Of king Lemuel i.e. of Solomon, by the general consent both of Jewish and Christian writers; to whom this name doth very fitly agree, for it signifi...

Of king Lemuel i.e. of Solomon, by the general consent both of Jewish and Christian writers; to whom this name doth very fitly agree, for it signifies one of or from God , or belonging to God ; and such a one was Solomon eminently, being given by God to David and Bathsheba, as a pledge of his reconciliation to them after their repentance; of whom it is expressly said that the Lord loved him , 2Sa 12:24 , and who was by God himself appointed to succeed David in the kingdom. Possibly his mother gave this name to mind him of his great obligations to God, and of the justice and necessity of his devoting himself unto God’ s service and glory.

The prophecy so called, either,

1. More especially, because she did either by natural sagacity, or by Divine inspiration, foresee Solomon’ s danger, and what sins he was most likely to be either inclined or tempted to commit; and therefore thought fit to give him these precautions, Or,

2. More generally, as all godly discourses or counsels are called prophecies; of which see on Pro 30:1 , and elsewhere.

His mother Bathsheba, who having truly repented of her adultery, did not only avoid it in herself for the future, but seriously endeavoured to prevent that and such-like sins in others, and especially in Solomon, whom the remembrance of her sin might possibly provoke to an imitation of her example. But when she gave him these instructions is but matter of conjecture. Probably it was either,

1. When she first discerned his inclinations to those sins of which she here warns him, to which she saw he was like to have many and strong provocations. Or,

2. After he was made king, and had more plainly discovered his proneness to these excesses, although he had not yet broken forth into those scandalous enormities into which he afterwards fell.

Haydock: Pro 31:1 - -- Lamuel. This name signifies, God with him; and is supposed to be one of the names of Solomon. (Challoner) --- Grotius would explain it of Ezechi...

Lamuel. This name signifies, God with him; and is supposed to be one of the names of Solomon. (Challoner) ---

Grotius would explain it of Ezechias. But why should we abandon the tradition of both Jews and Christians? ---

Mother; Bethsabee, who it seems was inspired, unless she received these maxims from Nathan. Solomon always speaks of her with the utmost respect, as a prudent mother may have the greatest influence over the tender minds of her children, chap. i. 8., and xxiii. 25.

Gill: Pro 31:1 - -- The words of King Lemuel,.... Not what were spoken by him, but what were spoken to him; or declaring what his mother said, as what follows shows; of t...

The words of King Lemuel,.... Not what were spoken by him, but what were spoken to him; or declaring what his mother said, as what follows shows; of this king we have no account elsewhere under this name. Grotius thinks that King Hezekiah, whose mother Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah, whom he supposes to be a wise man, from whom she had learned much, instructed her son in the following manner; but gives no other reason for this conjecture but that this chapter follows the collection of proverbs made by the men of Hezekiah; but they are expressly said to be Solomon's, and the words of Agur more immediately follow them; and besides Hezekiah does not appear ever to be addicted to the vices this prince was; much more probable is the conjecture of Bishop Patrick, that he was a prince of another country, perhaps in Chaldea, since a Chaldee word is three times used in his mother's address to him, and another word in a Chaldee termination; and he supposes his mother to be a Jewish lady, that taught her son the lessons herein contained. But the general sense of Jewish and Christian writers is, that Solomon himself is meant; whose name Lemuel is either a corruption of his name Solomon, a fond pretty name his mother Bathsheba gave him when young, and he thought fit to write it just as his mother spoke it; as mothers often do give such broken names to their children in fond affection to them: or it was another name of his, as it appears he had more than one; it signifies "to God", one that was devoted to him, as he was by his parents and by himself; or one that belonged to God, was his, as Solomon was; he was beloved of God, and therefore called Jedidiah, 2Sa 12:24; one to whom God was a father, and he a son to him; and he was chosen and appointed by him to succeed his father David in the kingdom, 2Sa 7:13. Hillerus a makes the word to signify "over against God", or "before the face of the first", or of God and was a type of the "angel of faces", or of God's presence, Isa 63:9;

the prophecy that his mother taught him; either in his youth, or when he was come to the throne; to whom she had access, and with whom she used freedom; and particularly when she saw he was inclined unto, or going into, the vices she cautions him against. Her instruction is called a "prophecy", because she delivered it on a foresight of the sins her son would be tempted with, and liable to fall into; and this foresight was either through her natural sagacity, or under a spirit of prophecy; or rather it is so called, because any wise saying, or doctrine of moment and importance, and especially if it was by divine inspiration, was so called; see Pro 30:1; as Solomon tells us what his father David taught him, so here what his mother Bathsheba instructed him in; and it would have been well if he had taken the advice she gave him, and he gave to his son; see Pro 4:3.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Pro 31:1 Some English versions take the Hebrew noun translated “oracle” here as a place name specifying the kingdom of King Lemuel; cf. NAB “...

Geneva Bible: Pro 31:1 The words of king ( a ) Lemuel, the ( b ) prophecy that his mother taught him. ( a ) That is, of Solomon who was called Lemuel, that is, of God, beca...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Pro 31:1-31 - --1 Lemuel's lesson of chastity and temperance.6 The afflicted are to be comforted and defended.10 The praise and properties of a good wife.

MHCC: Pro 31:1-9 - --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 t...

Matthew Henry: Pro 31:1-9 - -- Most interpreters are of opinion that Lemuel is Solomon; the name signifies one that is for God, or devoted to God; and so it agrees well enough...

Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 31:1 - -- Superscription: 1 Words of Lemuel the king, The utterance wherewith his mother warned him. Such would be the superscription if the interpunction ...

Constable: Pro 30:1--31:31 - --V. TWO DISCOURSES BY OTHER WISE MEN chs. 30--31 Chapters 30 and 31 form a distinct section in Proverbs because n...

Constable: Pro 31:1-31 - --B. The Wisdom of Lemuel ch. 31 Some commentators have regarded only the first nine verses of this chapte...

Constable: Pro 31:1 - --1. The introduction of Lemuel 31:1 King Lemuel was evidently not a king of Israel or Judah. No k...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Proverbs (Book Introduction) THE NATURE AND USE OF PROVERBS.--A proverb is a pithy sentence, concisely expressing some well-established truth susceptible of various illustrations ...

TSK: Proverbs (Book Introduction) The wisdom of all ages, from the highest antiquity, has chosen to compress and communicate its lessons in short, compendious sentences, and in poetic ...

TSK: Proverbs 31 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Pro 31:1, Lemuel’s lesson of chastity and temperance; Pro 31:6, The afflicted are to be comforted and defended; Pro 31:10, The praise a...

Poole: Proverbs 31 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 31 Lemuel’ s lesson concerning chastity and temperance, Pro 31:1-5 . The proper use of wine, Pro 31:6,7 . An exhortation to righteous ...

MHCC: Proverbs (Book Introduction) The subject of this book may be thus stated by an enlargement on the opening verses. 1. The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel. 2. ...

MHCC: Proverbs 31 (Chapter Introduction) (Pro 31:1-9) An exhortation to king Lemuel to take heed of sin, and to do duties. (v. 10-31) The description of a virtuous woman.

Matthew Henry: Proverbs (Book Introduction) An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of The Proverbs We have now before us, I. A new author, or penman rather, or pen (if you will) made use o...

Matthew Henry: Proverbs 31 (Chapter Introduction) This chapter is added to Solomon's proverbs, some think because it is of the same author, supposing king Lemuel to be king Solomon; others only bec...

Constable: Proverbs (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The title of this book in the Hebrew Bible is "The Proverbs of Solo...

Constable: Proverbs (Outline) Outline I. Discourses on wisdom chs. 1-9 A. Introduction to the book 1:1-7 ...

Constable: Proverbs Proverbs Bibliography Aitken, Kenneth T. Proverbs. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1986. Alden...

Haydock: Proverbs (Book Introduction) THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. INTRODUCTION. This book is so called, because it consists of wise and weighty sentences, regulating the morals of men; and...

Gill: Proverbs (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS This book is called, in some printed Hebrew copies, "Sepher Mishle", the Book of Proverbs; the title of it in the Vulgate ...

Gill: Proverbs 31 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 31 This chapter contains the last part of the book of Proverbs; which some reckon the fifth, others the sixth. It contains...

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