The Meaning of Proverbs 31:4 Explained

Proverbs 31:4

KJV: It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

YLT: Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

Darby: It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers to say, Where is the strong drink?

ASV: It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes to say , Where is strong drink?

Discover Proverbs 31:4

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Proverbs 31:4?

MEANING: What does Proverbs 31:4 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Proverbs 31:4 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Proverbs 31:4?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[It is] not for kings,  O Lemuel,  [it is] not for kings  to drink  wine;  nor for  princes  strong drink: 

What does Proverbs 31:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 31:1-9 - The Worthy Woman
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 seductions of pleasure and in giving him a high sense of that which is right. The sins of the flesh have been the peculiar snare of royal personages, preventing them from pleading the cause of the desolate and ministering judgment to the poor and needy. What a contrast to the glory of the sovereignty of Jesus! When Savonarola preached with his burning eloquence in Florence, the people cried, "Jesus is our King, only Jesus!" That is what we all need. He is the King of whom His subjects need never be ashamed.
We cannot interpret Proverbs 31:6 and Proverbs 31:7 as a divine injunction, but rather as an admission that alcohol imparts a temporary stimulus to the despairing and the dying. We must remember Proverbs 20:1. Still speaking of the king, Lemuel shows how best his influence can be employed, Proverbs 31:8 and Proverbs 31:9. But the same obligation and privilege rests on us all. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Proverbs 31:4 mean?

[it is] not for kings Lemuel for kings to drink wine nor for princes - nor intoxicating drink
אַ֤ל לַֽמְלָכִ֨ים ׀ לְֽמוֹאֵ֗ל לַֽמְלָכִ֣ים שְׁתוֹ־ יָ֑יִן וּ֝לְרוֹזְנִ֗ים [או] (אֵ֣י) שֵׁכָֽר

אַ֤ל  [it  is]  not 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
לַֽמְלָכִ֨ים ׀  for  kings 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
לְֽמוֹאֵ֗ל  Lemuel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לְמוּאֵל  
Sense: the name of an unknown king to whom his mother addressed the prudential maxims contained in some of the Proverbs.
לַֽמְלָכִ֣ים  for  kings 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
שְׁתוֹ־  to  drink 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
יָ֑יִן  wine 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַיִן  
Sense: wine.
וּ֝לְרוֹזְנִ֗ים  nor  for  princes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: רָזַן  
Sense: (Qal) to be weighty, be judicious, be commanding.
[או]  - 
Parse: Conjunction
(אֵ֣י)  nor 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: אֹו 
Sense: or, rather.
שֵׁכָֽר  intoxicating  drink 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁכָר  
Sense: strong drink, intoxicating drink, fermented or intoxicating liquor.

What are the major concepts related to Proverbs 31:4?

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Similar Scriptures for Proverbs 31:4

Ecclesiastes 10:17 [6]
Proverbs 20:1 [5]
Isaiah 5:22 [4]
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Hosea 4:11-12 [3]
Esther 3:15 [2]
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