The Meaning of Proverbs 31:3 Explained

Proverbs 31:3

KJV: Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

YLT: Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

Darby: Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.

ASV: Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

Discover Proverbs 31:3

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Proverbs 31:3?

MEANING: What does Proverbs 31:3 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Proverbs 31:3 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Proverbs 31:3?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Give  not thy strength  unto women,  nor thy ways  to that which destroyeth  kings. 

What does Proverbs 31:3 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 31:3 mean?

not do give to women your strength nor your ways to that which destroys kings
אַל־ תִּתֵּ֣ן לַנָּשִׁ֣ים חֵילֶ֑ךָ וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָ לַֽמְח֥וֹת מְלָכִֽין

תִּתֵּ֣ן  do  give 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לַנָּשִׁ֣ים  to  women 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
חֵילֶ֑ךָ  your  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.
וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָ  nor  your  ways 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
לַֽמְח֥וֹת  to  that  which  destroys 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: מָחָא 
Sense: to wipe, wipe out.
מְלָכִֽין  kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.

What are the major concepts related to Proverbs 31:3?

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Similar Scriptures for Proverbs 31:3

Nehemiah 13:26 [7]
Deuteronomy 17:17 [6]
Proverbs 7:26-27 [2]
Proverbs 5:9-11 [2]
1 Kings 11:1 [2]
Hosea 4:11 [1]