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Proverbs 31:1 open_in_new
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 Lemuel. to El and for El,. king. Compare Jedidiah. beloved of Jah (2 Samuel 12:25). Solomon was the royal seed in the line of Him Who is King of kings and Lord of lords. The Talmud says (Avoth d'Rab. Nathan, c. 39): "Solomon was called by six names: Solomon, Jedidiah, Koheleth, Son of Jakeh, Agur, and Lemuel".
prophecy. oracle, oracular utterance, or burden.
his mother. Compare the Structure, (p. 864).
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Proverbs 31:2 open_in_new
my son? Compare the Structure, (p. 864),
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Proverbs 31:4 open_in_new
wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27.
strong drink. Hebrew. shekar. App-27.
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Proverbs 31:6 open_in_new
of heavy hearts. bitter of soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
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Proverbs 31:7 open_in_new
poverty. Hebrew. rush. See note on Proverbs 6:11,
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Proverbs 31:8 open_in_new
such as are appointed to destruction. Hebrew. sons of destruction. Genitive of Relation, as in Romans 8:36. App-17 (5).
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Proverbs 31:9 open_in_new
the poor-. poor one. Hebrew. 'ani. See note on Proverbs 31:6; Proverbs 31:11.
needy. a needy one. Hebrew. ' ebyon. See note on Proverbs 31:6; Proverbs 31:11.
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Proverbs 31:10 open_in_new
Who can find... ? This heading is the Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6. The twenty-two verses which follow, each begin with the twenty-two successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The acrostic cannot be reproduced in English, because the letters of the two alphabets vary in their number, order, and equivalents. This is to emphasize the great lesson King Solomon was to learn. Note the warnings against foreign women (p. 865), which, alas! Solomon failed to heed. This is why the book closes with the eulogy of the model Israelitish matron. See the evidence in App-74.
virtuous. The English use of this word limits it to one kind of excellence. The meaning of the Hebrew is wider: hayil = strong in all moral qualities. Ruth is the only one so called in the O.T. May it not be that we have here Bathsheba's or Solomon's (and David's) commendation of Ruth?
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Proverbs 31:11 open_in_new
doth... trust in. hath confided in. Hebrew. batah. App-69.
no need. no lack.
spoil. gain,
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Proverbs 31:12 open_in_new
evil. mischief. Hebrew. ra'a', App-44.
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Proverbs 31:13 open_in_new
willingly with her hands. with her hands' good will.
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Proverbs 31:15 open_in_new
meat. [live] prey. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6, for all kinds of food.
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Proverbs 31:18 open_in_new
candle. lamp.
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Proverbs 31:20 open_in_new
the poor. a poor one. Hebrew. 'ani. See note on "poverty", Proverbs 6:11.
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Proverbs 31:21 open_in_new
is not. will not.
scarlet. double change of garments.
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Proverbs 31:23 open_in_new
known. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the result of that knowledge; viz. respect from all at the city gate, which includes high and low, rich and poor, peasants, labourers and judges.
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Proverbs 31:25 open_in_new
she shall rejoice, &c.. she laugheth at the future.
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Proverbs 31:26 open_in_new
wisdom. Hebrew. chakmah. See note on Proverbs 1:2.
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Proverbs 31:28 open_in_new
children. sons.
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Proverbs 31:30 open_in_new
deceitful. Hebrew. sheker. See note on Proverbs 11:18.