Proverbs 31:2 kjv
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
Proverbs 31:2 nkjv
What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
Proverbs 31:2 niv
Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
Proverbs 31:2 esv
What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?
Proverbs 31:2 nlt
O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,
Proverbs 31 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 1:8 | My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother. | General parental instruction. |
| Prov 4:1 | Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; | Parental wisdom as foundational guidance. |
| Prov 6:20 | My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. | Valuing and keeping parents' teachings. |
| Eph 6:4 | And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. | Nurturing children in biblical principles. |
| 2 Tim 1:5 | ...the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice... | Influence of maternal and familial faith. |
| 1 Sam 1:11 | And she made a vow... if You will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life... | Hannah's vow for Samuel, a direct parallel to "son of my vows." |
| Jer 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you and ordained you a prophet to the nations." | Divine predestination and calling from before birth. |
| Isa 49:1 | Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the loins of My mother He has made mention of My name. | God's specific call and purpose for individuals from birth. |
| Lk 1:15 | For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink... he will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. | John the Baptist's dedication and calling from birth. |
| Deut 17:18-20 | When he sits on the throne... he shall write for himself a copy of this law... that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law... | King's duty to study and live by God's law. |
| Ps 72:1-4 | Give the king Your judgments, O God... He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice. | Prayer for a king's righteous and just rule. |
| Prov 8:15-16 | By Me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. By Me princes rule, And nobles, All who judge rightly. | Wisdom's role in righteous governance. |
| Prov 22:6 | Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it. | Importance of early spiritual and moral training. |
| Prov 23:24-25 | The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your father and your mother be glad; And let her who bore you rejoice. | Parental joy in a child's wisdom and uprightness. |
| Deut 4:9 | Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep your soul, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen... | Importance of teaching and remembering divine truth to subsequent generations. |
| Col 3:20 | Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. | Encouragement for children to respect parental authority. |
| Phil 4:8 | Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just... meditate on these things. | Exhortation to serious thought and conduct. |
| Heb 12:5-6 | My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens... | Divine parental instruction and discipline. |
| Ps 78:1-7 | Give ear, O my people, to My law... which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us... that they may set their hope in God... | Passing on divine truths and wisdom through generations. |
| Judg 13:5 | For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb... | Another example of a son set apart from birth. |
| Rom 12:1-2 | ...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. | Consecration to God, echoing the spirit of a "vow." |
Proverbs 31 verses
Proverbs 31 2 Meaning
Proverbs 31:2 presents a solemn and intense rhetorical address from King Lemuel's mother to her son. The triple repetition of "What?" is not a question seeking information, but a powerful exclamation demanding absolute attention and conveying deep concern, urgency, and profound love. It sets a grave and serious tone for the critical instruction that follows regarding his conduct as a ruler, emphasizing the weighty responsibility laid upon him through birth ("son of my womb") and potential divine dedication ("son of my vows"). This maternal voice highlights the immense personal investment in her son's moral and spiritual formation.
Proverbs 31 2 Context
Proverbs 31:2 is the opening line of a powerful instruction given by King Lemuel's mother, as introduced in Proverbs 31:1. This entire chapter stands as a queen mother's vital counsel to her royal son on matters of wise and righteous governance and character. Historically, queen mothers held a unique and often influential position in ancient Near Eastern courts, especially in Judah, serving as advisors and regents. Her words are not mere suggestions but foundational principles for his life and kingship. The setting implies a significant, possibly a rite-of-passage, teaching session. This deeply personal address aims to prepare Lemuel for the grave responsibilities of his position, focusing on preventing destructive behaviors (lust, alcohol) and seeking wisdom, encapsulated particularly in finding a virtuous wife, the subject of the famous "woman of valor" poem that follows. The original audience would have understood the gravitas of a queen mother's advice to her ruling son. There are no direct polemics here, but the call for justice and avoiding carnal excesses subtly stands in contrast to common pagan royal practices.
Proverbs 31 2 Word analysis
- What? (מַה - mah):
- An interrogative particle in Hebrew.
- Its repeated use three times is a rhetorical device for intense emphasis, urgency, and solemnity.
- It doesn't seek an answer but rather expresses deep concern, astonishment, or solemnity, serving to command full attention for the significant discourse to follow. It underscores the profound weight of her words.
- my son (בְּרִי - b'rī):
- The most common and general term for "my son."
- Denotes affection and the direct relationship of a parent imparting wisdom, a frequent address in the Book of Proverbs (e.g., Prov 1:8, 2:1).
- son of my womb (בַּר־בִּטְנִי - bar-biṭnī):
- "Son" (בַּר - bar) here is Aramaic, common in later biblical Hebrew, reflecting the intimate connection of shared life, common in Proverbs 31.
- "Womb" (בִּטְנִי - biṭnī) emphasizes the biological, undeniable maternal origin and the deep, inherent bond forged through pregnancy and childbirth.
- This phrase highlights the unique, intimate, and unconditional love of a mother, signifying her unique perspective and profound emotional investment in her son's well-being and future. It reinforces the authority of her instruction stemming from her deepest physical and emotional connection.
- son of my vows (בַּר־נְדָרָי - bar-nəḏārāy):
- "Son" (בַּר - bar) again is Aramaic.
- "My vows" (נְדָרָי - nəḏārāy) refers to sacred promises or solemn commitments made to God.
- This is the most unique and significant phrase. It implies that Lemuel was either:
- Dedicated to God through a vow before or at his birth (like Samuel, 1 Sam 1:11), signifying a sacred purpose or divine calling upon his life.
- Born in answer to her vows, possibly during a period of barrenness or distress, implying a miraculous or divinely orchestrated birth.
- Subject to the mother's ongoing vows for his moral and spiritual uprightness, which underscores her continued commitment to his godly walk.
- It places Lemuel under a spiritual obligation, highlighting that his life is not merely his own but is subject to a higher, consecrated purpose.
- Words-Group Analysis:
- "What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?": The threefold repetition creates a crescendo of solemnity and gravity. It begins with general familial address ("my son"), intensifies with the physical origin ("son of my womb"), and culminates in the spiritual/covenantal dedication ("son of my vows"). This progression highlights the escalating seriousness and profound weight of the counsel, moving from natural affection to the depth of maternal intimacy and finally to sacred consecration. It positions the coming advice not merely as good ideas, but as indispensable guidance flowing from a covenant relationship and a divinely recognized purpose for the king.
Proverbs 31 2 Bonus section
The strong emphasis on the mother's voice in Proverbs 31 is significant, challenging any notion that wisdom was exclusively the domain of men or fathers in ancient Israel. The queen mother, the Gebirah, held a position of considerable authority and influence, making her wisdom potent for statecraft and personal character. This verse sets the stage for a unique insight into the upbringing of royalty and underscores the crucial role of parental, particularly maternal, instruction in shaping leadership that honors God. The structure of the address also mirrors the escalating personal investment and sacred weight the mother attributes to her son's life and calling.
Proverbs 31 2 Commentary
Proverbs 31:2 is a profound and poignant introduction to a mother's wisdom for her son, King Lemuel. The rhetorical "What?" emphasizes her urgent concern and love, signaling that the ensuing counsel is not casual advice but foundational truth essential for his life and reign. Each address—"my son," "son of my womb," and especially "son of my vows"—deepens the gravity of her message, highlighting her general affection, the unbreakable bond of birth, and his unique spiritual dedication. The "son of my vows" suggests that Lemuel's life may have been divinely consecrated, either by her promises for his birth or her ongoing prayers for his righteous path, much like Hannah's dedication of Samuel. This means his kingship is understood not merely as a political office but as a sacred trust, making the mother's instructions all the more critical for fulfilling his divine destiny. Her words serve as a living reminder of the king's sacred responsibilities to his people and to God.