Proverbs 31:1
New International Version
The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

New Living Translation
The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.

English Standard Version
The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

Berean Standard Bible
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

King James Bible
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

New King James Version
The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

New American Standard Bible
The words of King Lemuel, the pronouncement which his mother taught him:

NASB 1995
The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:

NASB 1977
The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him.

Legacy Standard Bible
The words of King Lemuel, the oracle unto which his mother disciplined him:

Amplified Bible
The words of King Lemuel, the oracle, which his mother taught him:

Christian Standard Bible
The words of King Lemuel, a pronouncement that his mother taught him:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:

American Standard Version
The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The words of Moayl, The King, the Prophet, which his mother taught him and she said to him:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
My words have been spoken by God - the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.

Contemporary English Version
These are the sayings that King Lemuel of Massa was taught by his mother.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.

English Revised Version
The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The sayings of King Lemuel, a prophetic revelation, used by his mother to discipline him.

Good News Translation
These are the solemn words which King Lemuel's mother said to him:

International Standard Version
The words of King Lemuel— a pronouncement with which his mother encouraged him.

JPS Tanakh 1917
The words of king Lemuel; the burden wherewith his mother corrected him.

Literal Standard Version
Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

Majority Standard Bible
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

New American Bible
The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, the instruction his mother taught him:

NET Bible
The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:

New Revised Standard Version
The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

New Heart English Bible
The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.

Webster's Bible Translation
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

World English Bible
The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:

Young's Literal Translation
Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Words of King Lemuel
1These are the words of King Lemuel— the burden that his mother taught him: 2What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?…

Cross References
Proverbs 30:33
For as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife."

Proverbs 31:2
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?


Treasury of Scripture

The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

prophecy

Proverbs 30:1
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

his

Proverbs 1:8
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Proverbs 6:20
My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

2 Timothy 1:5
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Jump to Previous
Burden Corrected Declaration Lemuel Massa Mother Oracle Prophecy Sayings Taught Teaching Wherewith Words
Jump to Next
Burden Corrected Declaration Lemuel Massa Mother Oracle Prophecy Sayings Taught Teaching Wherewith Words
Proverbs 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














XXXI.

APPENDIX (b).

(1) The words of king Lemuel. . . .--More probably this should be translated," The words of Lemuel, king of Massa." (See above on Proverbs 30:1.) "Lemuel," which most likely signifies (dedicated) "to God," has been, like Agur, supposed to be a designation of Solomon, but with no good reason.

The prophecy that his mother taught him.--Mothers were looked upon with great veneration in the East. (Comp. Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 6:20.) The mothers of kings especially were treated with marked respect, receiving the title of "queen-mother." (Comp. 1Kings 2:19; 1Kings 15:13.) This seems to be the reason why the mothers of Jewish kings are so constantly mentioned, e.g., 1Kings 14:31; 1Kings 15:2; 2Kings 12:1. At the present time the mother of the Khedive ranks before his principal wife. . . .

Verses 1-9. - Part VIII. SECOND APPENDIX TO THE SECOND COLLECTION, containing "the words of Lemuel" on the subjects of impurity and intemperance. Verse 1. - The superscription. The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy which his mother taught him. Who is intended by "Lemuel king" is much disputed. Those who connect the following word massa ("oracle") with the preceding melek ("king"), translate "King of Massa," as Proverbs 30:1 (where see note). Of the country, or the king, or his mother, we have absolutely no information. The name Lemuel, or Lemoel (ver. 4), means "unto God," i.e. dedicated to God, like Lael (Numbers 3:24); hence it is regarded by many authorities, ancient and modern, as an appellation of Solomon, one from infancy dedicated to God and celled by him Jedidiah, "beloved of the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:25). But there is nothing in the contents of this section to confirm this idea; indeed, there are expressions which militate against it. Possibly Hezekiah may be meant, and his remarkable piety somewhat confirms the opinion; yet we see no reason why he should be here addressed under a pseudonym, especially if we consider that he himself was concerned in making this collection. On the whole, it seems best to take Lemuel as a symbolical name, designating an ideal king, to whom an ideal mother addressed the exhortation which follows. Solomon's own proverbs contain many warnings against the very sins of which this mother speaks, so that the section is conceived in the spirit of the earlier portion of the book, though it is assigned to a different author and another age. The prophecy (massa); the inspired utterance (see on ch. 30:1). This maternal counsel forms one compact exhortation, which might with more propriety be so termed than the words of Agur. His mother. The mother of a reigning king was always regarded with the utmost respect, taking precedence of the king's wife. Hence we so often find the names of kings' mothers in the sacred record; e.g. 1 Kings 2:19; 1 Kings 14:21; 1 Kings 15:2; 2 Kings 12:1. It is difficult to say what reading was seen by the LXX., who render, "My words have been spoken by God, the oracle of a king whom his mother instructed." There are many wise women mentioned in Scripture; e.g. Miriam, Deborah, the Queen of Sheba, Huldah, etc., so there is nothing incongruous in Lemuel being instructed by his mother in wisdom.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The words
דִּ֭בְרֵי (diḇ·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of King
מֶ֑לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

Lemuel—
לְמוּאֵ֣ל (lə·mū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3927: Lemuel -- king of Massa

an oracle
מַ֝שָּׂ֗א (maś·śā)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4853: A burden, tribute, porterage, an utterance, chiefly a, doom, singing, mental, desire

that
אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־ (’ăšer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

his mother
אִמּֽוֹ׃ (’im·mōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

taught him:
יִסְּרַ֥תּוּ (yis·sə·rat·tū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3256: To discipline, chasten, admonish


Links
Proverbs 31:1 NIV
Proverbs 31:1 NLT
Proverbs 31:1 ESV
Proverbs 31:1 NASB
Proverbs 31:1 KJV

Proverbs 31:1 BibleApps.com
Proverbs 31:1 Biblia Paralela
Proverbs 31:1 Chinese Bible
Proverbs 31:1 French Bible
Proverbs 31:1 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Proverbs 31:1 The words of king Lemuel (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 30:33
Top of Page
Top of Page