Proverbs 31:3–5

Footnotes

1. 5 The word translated “strength” refers to physical powers here, i.e., “vigor” (so ) or “stamina.” It is therefore a metonymy of cause; the effect would be what spending this strength meant—sexual involvement with women. It would be easy for a king to spend his energy enjoying women, but that would be unwise.
2. 6 The word “ways” may in general refer to the heart’s affection for or attention to, or it may more specifically refer to sexual intercourse. While in the book of Proverbs the term is an idiom for the course of life, in this context it must refer to the energy spent in this activity.
3. 7 The construction uses Qal infinitive construct לַמְחוֹת (lamkhot, “to wipe out; to blot out; to destroy”). The construction is somewhat strange, and so some interpreters suggest changing it to מֹחוֹת (mokhot, “destroyers of kings”); cf. 562 מָחָה Qal. 3. Commentators note that the form is close to an Aramaic word that means “concubine,” and an Arabic word that is an indelicate description for women.
4. 8 Heb “[It is] not for kings.”
5. 9 This second warning for kings concerns the use of alcohol. If this passage is meant to prohibit any use of alcohol by kings, it would be unheard of in any ancient royal court. What is probably meant is an excessive and unwarranted use of alcohol, or a troubling need for it, so that the meaning is “to drink wine in excess” (cf. “to guzzle wine”; “should not get drunk”). The danger, of course, would be that excessive use of alcohol would cloud the mind and deprive a king of true administrative ability and justice.
6. 10 The has אֵו (’ev), a Kethib/Qere reading. The Kethib is אוֹ (’o) but the Qere is אֵי (’ey). Some follow the Qere and take the word as a shortened form of וַֹיֵּה, “where?” This would mean the ruler would be always asking for drink (cf. ). Others reconstruct to אַוֵּה (’avveh, “to desire; to crave”). In either case, the verse would be saying that a king is not to be wanting/seeking alcohol. Here “strong drink” probably refers to barley beer (cf. , “beer”).
7. 11 The verb means “change,” perhaps expressed in reversing decisions or removing rights.
8. 12 Heb “all the children of poverty.” This expression refers to the poor by nature. Cf. , , “the afflicted”; “oppressed.”
9. 13 The word is דִּין (din, “judgment”; so ). In this passage it refers to the cause or the plea for justice, i.e., the “legal rights.”