Proverbs 31:7 kjv

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Proverbs 31:7 nkjv

Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.

Proverbs 31:7 niv

Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Proverbs 31:7 esv

let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Proverbs 31:7 nlt

Let them drink to forget their poverty
and remember their troubles no more.

Proverbs 31 verses

Proverbs 31 7 Meaning

Proverbs 31:7 permits that those who are deeply distressed and impoverished be given strong drink so that they may momentarily forget their overwhelming troubles and their state of destitution. This verse follows advice about not providing strong drink to kings, highlighting a distinction in its use: for temporary solace for the utterly afflicted rather than for those who need clear judgment for governance. It underscores compassion for the suffering, providing a brief respite from crushing pain and despair, but does not endorse perpetual inebriation or shirking responsibility.

Proverbs 31 7 Context

Proverbs 31:7 is part of "the words of King Lemuel," which his mother taught him (Prov 31:1). The immediate context (Prov 31:4-5) advises against rulers consuming strong drink, lest it impair their judgment and lead to injustice. Verse 6 then presents a counter-instruction: "Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress." Verse 7 elaborates on the purpose of this concession for the perishing and distressed—to temporarily dull the overwhelming pain of their poverty and suffering. This passage comes from a segment of Proverbs likely compiled from royal or noble instruction, emphasizing moral integrity and righteous governance. Culturally, strong drink (שֵׁכָר shekar) was often distinguished from regular wine (יַיִן yayin), referring to a more intoxicating fermented beverage. While generally frowned upon due to its dangers, its medicinal or palliative use for extreme suffering was an ancient practice. There's no direct polemic, but a clear ethical distinction is drawn regarding who should and should not consume intoxicants, based on their state and role in society.

Proverbs 31 7 Word analysis

• יִשְׁתֶּה (yishteh) - "Let him drink":

  • Derived from the verb שָׁתָה (shatah), meaning "to drink."
  • Imperfect tense, functioning here as a jussive, expressing a command or permission.
  • Implies not a casual drink, but a giving or allowing for a specific purpose, echoing "Give strong drink to him who is perishing" in verse 6.
  • Significance: Highlights the active granting of permission or providing of the drink, rather than an independent act of drinking by the individual.

• וְיִשְׁכַּח (v'yishkach) - "and forget":

  • Conjunction "and" (וְ, ve) followed by the imperfect tense of שָׁכַח (shakach), "to forget."
  • Functions as a resultative or purposing clause – the reason for giving the drink is so he may forget.
  • Significance: The desired outcome is a temporary cessation of mental suffering, indicating the severity of the individual's distress. It's not about permanent oblivion but momentary relief.

• רִישׁוֹ (rîshō) - "his poverty":

  • Derived from רִישׁ (rish), meaning "poverty, destitution, indigence."
  • The suffix refers to "his," indicating the individual's personal experience of deep economic hardship.
  • Significance: This is not mere financial discomfort but abject, crushing poverty that consumes one's thoughts and being. The drink aims to provide relief from this acute mental burden.

• וְלֹא יִזְכּוֹר (v'lō yizkōr) - "and remember no more":

  • Negative particle לֹא (lo) "no," followed by the imperfect of זָכַר (zakhar) "to remember."
  • Emphasizes the absolute cessation of memory regarding the specific distress. The verb "to remember" in Hebrew can also imply "to take to heart," "to give attention to," or "to consider."
  • Significance: This reinforces the depth of relief desired. Not just to forget the existence of poverty, but to not "recall" or be burdened by "his trouble." It speaks to mental peace, however brief.

• עֲמָלוֹ (amalô) - "his trouble":

  • From עָמָל (amal), meaning "toil, labor, trouble, misery, grief, hardship, pain." It encompasses not just physical effort but the resultant weariness and emotional distress.
  • The suffix refers to "his."
  • Significance: This word encapsulates the broader scope of suffering beyond just economic poverty. It includes the exhausting and disheartening nature of his life situation, the cumulative burden of hardship and misfortune.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Let him drink and forget his poverty": This phrase directly links the consumption of strong drink to the specific purpose of achieving forgetfulness regarding severe material deprivation. The goal is palliative care, offering an escape from the relentless psychological burden of destitution.
• "and remember his trouble no more": This expands upon the previous thought, encompassing not just financial lack but the broader, holistic 'trouble' or 'misery' (amal) that accompanies such a state. The repetition with slightly different words ('forget his poverty' and 'remember his trouble no more') intensifies the desired outcome: complete, albeit temporary, disengagement from a harsh reality. This emphasizes that the suffering is all-consuming and deeply internal.

Proverbs 31 7 Bonus section

The contrast within Proverbs 31:4-7 reveals a sophisticated ethical framework regarding alcohol use, moving beyond simple prohibition or allowance. It suggests a use for severe compassion, akin to medicine for pain. This challenges modern perspectives that sometimes advocate total abstinence in all circumstances by demonstrating that there might be contexts of extreme suffering where such measures, as a form of mercy, are permitted. However, it is critical to distinguish this palliative use from recreational drinking or addictive abuse, which Scripture consistently warns against. The relief offered by the strong drink is purely temporary, addressing the symptoms of suffering but not its root cause. The ultimate and enduring forgetfulness of trouble comes not from drink, but from the true comfort and peace offered through a relationship with God, particularly in Christ who takes away our burdens (Mt 11:28-30) and offers living water (Jn 4:10). This passage subtly points to the limits of physical remedies in comparison to spiritual ones.

Proverbs 31 7 Commentary

Proverbs 31:7, a nuanced ethical directive from a royal mother, serves as a compassionate allowance for the direst human suffering. While the surrounding context, and indeed much of Scripture, cautions against or outright condemns drunkenness (especially for those in positions of leadership), this verse presents a specific, exceptional scenario. It permits strong drink not for pleasure, revelry, or daily consumption, but as a last resort for those who are "perishing" and in "bitter distress" due to overwhelming poverty and unending hardship. The purpose is therapeutic: to provide a fleeting escape from profound mental anguish that otherwise consumes the individual. It recognizes the limits of human endurance and offers a momentary balm to a soul crushed by incessant pain and despair. This brief forgetfulness is not a solution to the underlying problems, but a merciful, temporary reprieve. It highlights God's concern for the suffering, even if it allows for unconventional methods to alleviate their immediate pain, while maintaining a strong general caution against intemperate living.