Proverbs 23:29 kjv

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

Proverbs 23:29 nkjv

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?

Proverbs 23:29 niv

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

Proverbs 23:29 esv

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?

Proverbs 23:29 nlt

Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?
Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?
Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

Proverbs 23 verses

Proverbs 23 29 Meaning

Proverbs 23:29 presents a series of rhetorical questions, probing into the origins of distress, conflict, and physical debilitation. It asks who experiences woe, sorrow, contentions, complaints, wounds without cause, and redness of eyes. The verse implicitly, and the subsequent verses explicitly, link these negative consequences directly to the folly of drunkenness and persistent indulgence, serving as a stark warning about the visible and self-inflicted sufferings associated with a lack of self-control.

Proverbs 23 29 Context

Proverbs chapter 23 contains a series of wisdom sayings and admonitions primarily directed at young men concerning prudent living. It covers warnings against various temptations and pitfalls, including dining with an autocratic ruler (vv. 1-3), the pursuit of fleeting wealth (vv. 4-5), inhospitable hosts (vv. 6-8), disregarding the poor (vv. 9-11), and engaging with "strange women" (vv. 27-28). The immediate context for verse 29, which uses rhetorical questions to describe negative consequences, directly leads into a vivid depiction of the drunkard's specific behaviors and fate in verses 30-35. The historical-cultural background highlights the prevalence of wine consumption in ancient Near Eastern societies, making the warnings against its abuse particularly relevant and urgent for the original audience. The warnings implicitly contrast the disciplined, wise life with the chaotic, self-destructive path of folly.

Proverbs 23 29 Word analysis

• Who has woe? (לְמִי־אֳוֹי - ləmî-ʾôy)
  • לְמִי (ləmî): A rhetorical question meaning "To whom?" or "Whose?" It challenges the listener to identify the subject.
  • אֳוֹי (ʾôy): An exclamation of pain, lament, or sorrow. It expresses deep distress and calamity, often associated with judgment or severe affliction. Here, it denotes intense, personal suffering.
• Who has sorrow? (לְמִי־אֲלִי - ləmî-ʾălî)
  • אֲלִי (ʾălî): Similar to ʾôy, it is an expression of lament or grief, "alas." Some interpret it as referring to a specific type of dark, festering grief or distress that might accompany significant personal failings.
• Who has contentions? (לְמִי מִדְיָנִים - ləmî miḏyānîm)
  • מִדְיָנִים (miḏyānîm): Meaning "quarrels," "strife," "disputes," or "contentions." Derived from a root suggesting "to contend" or "to judge." It points to relational conflict and social disruption.
• Who has complaints? (לְמִי שִׂיחַ - ləmî śîaḥ)
  • שִׂיחַ (śîaḥ): This word can mean "complaint," "lament," "meditation," or "conversation." In this context, given the preceding and following words, it refers to expressions of grumbling, moaning, or profound dissatisfaction, likely from suffering and misery.
• Who has wounds without cause? (לְמִי פְּצָעִים חִנָּם - ləmî pəṣāʿîm ḥinnām)
  • פְּצָעִים (pəṣāʿîm): "Wounds," "bruises," or "injuries." This refers to physical harm.
  • חִנָּם (ḥinnām): "Without cause," "for nothing," "in vain," "gratuitously." It signifies that the wounds are not the result of an external attacker or legitimate conflict but are self-inflicted, or incurred due to poor judgment, accidents, or confrontations instigated while impaired.
• Who has redness of eyes? (לְמִי חֲכַלְלֻת עֵינָיִם - ləmî ḥǎḵal·lulūṯ ʿênayim)
  • חֲכַלְלֻת (ḥǎḵal·lulūṯ): Refers to a dull or hazy redness, associated with bloodshot eyes, a tell-tale sign of prolonged intoxication, sleepless nights, or chronic poor health due to excess. It paints a picture of physical deterioration.
  • עֵינָיִם (ʿênayim): "Eyes." The plural form specifically points to the physical manifestation in both eyes.

Words-group analysis

• Who has...?: The repetitive "Who has...?" (לְמִי) structure creates a rhetorical interrogative sequence, building momentum and urging the listener to identify the common source of these many woes. It functions as a puzzle whose solution is made clear in the subsequent verses: the one who "tarries long over wine" (v. 30).
• Woe...sorrow...complaints: This trio highlights emotional and vocal expressions of deep suffering and dissatisfaction. It speaks to the inner turmoil and outward lament that a life of unbridled indulgence generates.
• Contentions...wounds without cause: These phrases depict the social and physical manifestations of such a lifestyle. Lack of self-control leads to quarrels with others (contentions) and self-inflicted injuries or involvement in fights resulting in "unjustified" wounds, emphasizing the personal cost and responsibility.
• Redness of eyes: This vivid physical detail serves as a concluding, undeniable symptom. It's an observable mark of dissipation, signaling both the internal degradation and the outward, visible shame and consequence of sustained indulgence.

Proverbs 23 29 Bonus section

The rhetorical "Who has...?" questions in this proverb exemplify a common didactic method in wisdom literature, drawing the listener in to solve a riddle whose answer points to the destructive nature of certain behaviors. This verse not only highlights physical and social detriments but also subtly points to a deeper spiritual ailment. The inability to exercise self-control is presented elsewhere in Scripture as a characteristic of those operating outside God's wisdom, contrasting sharply with the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal 5:23). The "wounds without cause" can also allude to the deeper shame and internal suffering that come from self-inflicted ruin, where one becomes the author of one's own undoing. This vivid imagery creates an almost immediate association, making the subsequent explicit warning against wine even more impactful by showcasing its ugly fruits.

Proverbs 23 29 Commentary

Proverbs 23:29 is a striking preamble to a potent warning against the perils of drunkenness, posing a series of penetrating questions designed to evoke self-reflection. It enumerates the tell-tale signs of a life marked by folly and lack of self-control, particularly in the realm of excessive drink. The questions collectively paint a picture of utter misery: internal emotional agony ("woe," "sorrow," "complaints"), external social disruption ("contentions"), and palpable physical decay ("wounds without cause," "redness of eyes"). The genius of the verse lies in its rhetorical power, compelling the listener to acknowledge that these widespread sufferings have a common, avoidable source. It reveals how reckless indulgence, far from bringing pleasure, invariably leads to predictable and often self-inflicted pain and conflict. This serves as a vital call to wisdom, advocating for self-mastery and a life aligned with discernment to avoid such a sorrowful existence.