Proverbs 31:1-9 Meaning: A Mother's Wisdom for a King
1The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
2“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
3Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
1The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
2What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?
3Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?
5Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul:
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.
1Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2`What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
5Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
5— lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
Meaning in one sentence
Proverbs 31:1-9 reveals a mother's urgent counsel to King Lemuel: avoid sexual immorality and drunkenness, and defend the poor and needy.
Context
This passage is the only place in Scripture where a king is taught directly by his mother. It sits as an appendix to the book of Proverbs, following the words of Agur in chapter 30. King Lemuel may be a poetic name for Solomon (it means “for God”), or he may be an otherwise unknown ruler from the region of Massa. Either way, his mother speaks with an oracle, a solemn revelation. She gives three urgent warnings: do not waste your strength on women, do not drink wine as a king, and instead use your authority to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. The chapter that follows (the famous poem about a worthy woman) shows that a virtuous wife is a gift; this section shows that a just king is a necessity.
Key Words
The Hebrew word translated prophecy or oracle is massa (H4853), which literally means a “burden.” It is the same word used for the heavy messages God gave through the prophets. So the mother’s words are not light advice; they carry divine weight, as if God Himself is speaking through her to the king.
When she warns against giving your strength to women, the word is chayil (H2428), the same word used later in the chapter for the “worthy” woman of Proverbs 31:10. It means ability, wealth, and moral force. To waste chayil on empty relationships is to squander the very resources God gives you to rule well.
At the end, the command open your mouth uses petach (H6605), which means to open wide, not a timid whisper. The Hebrew also says to judge tzedek (H6664), God’s standard of rightness. You are not asked to do a small thing. You are asked to use your voice the way God uses His: to set things straight for those who have no power.
How Christians Read This Verse
Most Jewish and Christian traditions have understood Lemuel to be Solomon, and his mother Bathsheba, who knew the cost of sin and wanted better for her son. Matthew Henry notes that the name Lemuel means “for God” and may have been the affectionate name Bathsheba used for Solomon, much like Jedediah (“beloved of the Lord”) that Nathan gave him. Other commentators, like those of the Cambridge Bible, treat Lemuel as an otherwise unknown Arabian king whose words were preserved by the wisdom tradition. Either way, the passage is treasured across the Church as a model of godly leadership: the ruler who fears the Lord, avoids excess, and champions the poor. Catholics and Orthodox see in it a type of Christ the righteous King; Protestants emphasize the moral duty of every leader; Evangelicals draw application to all who hold authority, not only monarchs.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that Proverbs 31:6-7 commands Christians to give alcohol to the dying or depressed as a general practice. In fact, the mother is drawing a sharp contrast: what ruins a king (drunkenness) can medicinally dull the pain of the hopeless. She is not prescribing Christian ministry; she is showing how serious the king’s sobriety must be when vulnerable lives depend on his clear judgment.
Living This Out
You may not wear a crown, but you hold power somewhere, at work, in your family, in your church, or simply as a citizen. This passage asks you to examine how you use that power. Have you given your strength away to things that drain you? Are you blurring your judgment with habits that cloud your ability to think clearly for others? And when you see someone who cannot speak for themselves, a neighbour in debt, a child in a difficult home, a coworker being treated unfairly, do you open your mouth? This week, ask God to show you one person whose cause needs your voice, and then speak.
Main takeaway: A leader's first duty is not to indulge his own appetites but to use his voice for those who have no voice.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
King Lemuel’s mother taught him to be a good king. She said, “Speak up for people who can’t speak for themselves.” That means you can help someone who is too shy or too sad to ask for help. God loves it when you do that.
For ages 9, 12
These verses are a mother’s warning to her son the king. She tells him three things: don’t waste your life on bad relationships, don’t get drunk (especially if you’re in charge), and instead use your power to defend poor people who have no one to help them. Even if you’re not a king, you can practice this. Think about a kid at school who gets picked on or left out. You can be the one who says, “Hey, let them play too.” That’s opening your mouth for the mute.
Questions People Ask
Who was King Lemuel?
We don't know for certain. Many Jewish and Christian commentators believe Lemuel is a poetic name for Solomon, meaning 'for God.' Others think Lemuel was a king from the Arabian tribe of Massa. Either way, the wisdom his mother gave him is preserved in Scripture as a model for godly leadership.
Why does Lemuel's mother speak as a prophet?
The word translated 'prophecy' or 'oracle' in verse 1 is the Hebrew massa, which means a 'burden', the same word used for the messages God gave the prophets. Her counsel is presented as a divine pronouncement, not merely parental advice. She speaks with God's authority to warn her son of dangers that could ruin his kingdom.
Does Proverbs 31:1-9 forbid all drinking?
No. The passage forbids kings and rulers from drinking wine and strong drink because intoxication impairs their judgment and they may pervert justice (verses 4-5). In contrast, verses 6-7 permit giving strong drink to those who are perishing or bitter in soul as a form of medicinal comfort. The Bible does not forbid alcohol outright but warns against its abuse, especially for those in positions of authority.
What does 'open your mouth for the dumb' mean?
The Hebrew word for 'dumb' (illem) describes someone unable to speak, whether due to fear, ignorance, oppression, or disability. The king is commanded to use his authority to plead the cause of those who cannot defend themselves: the poor, the orphan, the foreigner, and anyone 'appointed to destruction' (literally 'children of passing away'). It is a call to advocate for the vulnerable.
How is Proverbs 31:1-9 connected to the famous 'virtuous woman' passage that follows?
The two sections form a single chapter. Verses 1-9 describe the ideal king: one who avoids self-indulgence and defends the poor. Verses 10-31 describe the ideal wife: a woman of strength, wisdom, and generosity. Together they picture a society where both the throne and the home are governed by reverence for God and care for others.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study