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Summarized Bible Commentary

Proverbs 31:1-31

Contents: Words of King Lemuel on the dangers of intemperance and the worth of a godly woman.

Characters: God, Lemuel, his mother.

Conclusion: A virtuous woman who has command of her own spirit, who is pious and industrious, who is firm for the principles of God's Word, is a rare prize. Such a one is of unspeakable worth, and he who has such a wife, should show to her great kindness and respect, and to God, thankfulness of heart.

Key Word: Virtuous woman, Proverbs 31:10.

Strong Verses: Proverbs 31:10; Proverbs 31:30.

Striking Facts: The scope of all the various proverbs of this book is one and the same to direct our manner of life aright and to point us to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is «made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness.»

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See also Proverbs 31:1-31 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER XXXI _The words and prophecy of King Lemuel, and what his mother_ _taught him_, 1, 2. _Debauchery and much wine to be avoided_, 3-7. _How kings should administer justice_, 8, 9. _The prai...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THAT HIS MOTHER TAUGHT HIM - Compare Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 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 wa...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    VII. THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL TAUGHT HIM BY HIS MOTHER CHAPTER 31 The Virtuous Woman “The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him”; this is the superscription of this chapter. W...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    SECOND DIVISION. SAYINGS OF LEMUEL. A manual of directions for kings. Proverbs 31:1. The title is uncertain. RV is not grammatically correct. Read _mg._ MASSA (_mg.),_ rendered oracle in Proverbs 31:3...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THE WORDS, &C. The Hebrew _dibrey_ has no governing noun; so one must be understood thus. "[An unnamed one's] words [addressed] to king Lemuel:. burden which his mother [repeatedly] taught him". KING...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    VII. The Words of King Lemuel. Chap. Proverbs 31:1-9 We have here another short Appendix. King Lemuel records, as his oracle, or wise teaching, the counsel given him by his mother (Proverbs 31:1). Wi...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy_&c. Like Agur (Proverbs 30:1) Lemuel is some unknown king, whose _oracle or prophecy_is here preserved for us among the "words of the Wise." The rendering of R...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL— This chapter, say the generality of commentators, contains Bathsheba's words to Solomon, and his commendation of her. Some, however, have doubted whether _Lemuel_ was not a d...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    CHAPTER 31 TEXT Proverbs 31:1-9 1. The words of king Lemuel: The oracle which his mother taught him. 2. Why, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows? 3. Give not thy str...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL - a figurative name for an ideal model king. It means 'Devoted to God.' Hitzig fancifully makes Lemuel ei...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    31:1 prophecy (e-7) As ch. 30.1....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MOTHER OF LEMUEL. THE EXCELLENT WOMAN 1-9. An exhortation addressed to king Lemuel by his mother, urging him to avoid women and wine. The latter leads to slackness and unfairness in the administr...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Lemuel was not a king of Israel. But his name means ‘he belongs to God’ in the Hebrew language. (Hebrew was the language of the people in Israel.) Lemuel’s birth was the answer to his mother’s prayer...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 31 V1 These are the words of King Lemuel. This section is a difficult puzzle that his mother taught to him....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    XXXI. APPENDIX (_b_). (1) THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL.... — More probably this should be translated,” The words of Lemuel, king of Massâ.” (See above on Proverbs 30:1.) “Lemuel,” which most likely sign...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    דִּ֭בְרֵי לְמוּאֵ֣ל מֶ֑לֶךְ מַ֝שָּׂ֗א אֲֽשֶׁר ־יִסְּרַ֥תּוּ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 32 A GOOD WOMAN "O woman-hearts, that keep the days of old In living memory, can you stand back When Christ calls? Shall the heavenly Master lack The serving love, which is your life's fi...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE WORTHY WOMAN Proverbs 31:1-9 In these words of King Lemuel, we notice a mother's influence in the education of her son. A woman is never more nobly occupied than in warning her son against the se...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This is the second section of the appendix. There have been many conjectures as to who King Lemuel was, but nothing certainly can be said. It is divided into two parts, the first of which consists of...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    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, because God had ordained him to be king over Israel. (b) Th...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS. This chapter, like the former, is styled a prophecy. And whether written, as some think, by Solomon, and others not; yet as in form and manner it is exactly like the former, it forms a very...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 10 THROUGH 31. In chapter 10 begin the details which teach those who give ear how to avoid the snares into which the simple might fall, the path to be followe...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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 n...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. Ver. 1. _The words of King Lemuel._] Lemuel's lesson, Bathsheba's catechism. Lemuel she calls him, because God had owned him. "I wil...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _The words of King Lemuel_ Of Solomon, by the general consent both of Jewish and Christian writers: this name signifies one _from God_, or, _belonging to God_, and such a one was Solomon eminently, be...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    OF PROPER KINGLY DEPORTMENT...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The words of King Lemuel, concerning whom nothing is otherwise known, THE PROPHECY THAT HIS MOTHER TAUGHT HIM, the words of instruction in the form of proverbial sayings which she imparted to him....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    In THE FINAL CHAPTER of the book has also a peculiar character, King Lemuel is the writer, but not the author, for he simply quotes the words of his mother. Actually, no king of Israel or Judah is kno...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    PROVERBS CHAPTER 31 Lemuel's lesson concerning chastity and temperance, PROVERBS 31:1. The proper use of wine, PROVERBS 31:6,7. An exhortation to righteous judgment, PROVERBS 31:8,9. A descripti

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Proverbs 31:1 words H1697 King H4428 Lemuel H3927 utterance H4853 mother H517 taught H3256 (H8765) the prophecy -...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Proverbs 31:1. _The words of king Lemuel._ Ancient kings had many names and surnames which embarrass history. The first name of Solomon was Jedidiah, or Jedid-jah, beloved of God. 2 Samuel 12:25. Lemu...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him._ THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL I. The first thing that strikes us here is the mother. “The prophecy which his mother taught him.” 1. A...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PROVERBS—NOTE ON PROVERBS 31:1 The Sayings of King Lemuel. The word translated “oracle” (v. Proverbs 31:1) is the same as in...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— LEMUEL. This Hebrew word signifies “_For God_,” or “_belonging to God_,” and is regarded by most commentators as a proper name. THE PROPHECY. Delitzsch, Stuart, and many other Hebrew...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION PROVERBS 31:1 PART VIII. SECOND APPENDIX TO THE SECOND COLLECTION, containing "the words of Lemuel" on the subjects of impurity and intemperance....

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now the thirty-first proverb are, The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him (Proverbs 31:1). So these are really the words of King Lemuel's mother unto him. The advice of a go...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:15; Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 30:1; Proverbs

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Lemuel — 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 Da...

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