Proverbs 5:11 kjv

And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

Proverbs 5:11 nkjv

And you mourn at last, When your flesh and your body are consumed,

Proverbs 5:11 niv

At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.

Proverbs 5:11 esv

and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed,

Proverbs 5:11 nlt

In the end you will groan in anguish
when disease consumes your body.

Proverbs 5 verses

Proverbs 5 11 Meaning

Proverbs 5:11 warns of the severe, belated sorrow and physical ruin that follow the pursuit of the immoral woman or foolish choices. The verse depicts a man consumed by deep regret, lamenting the irreversible decay of his physical vitality and bodily strength due as a direct consequence of his past self-indulgent sins, particularly sexual transgression. This lament occurs "at the last," signifying that the consequences are ultimately inescapable and arrive after all pleasure has faded.

Proverbs 5 11 Context

Proverbs chapter 5 is a stark warning from a father to his son against the perils of sexual immorality, specifically against the "forbidden woman" or adulteress. The chapter emphasizes the deceptive sweetness of her initial allure, contrasting it sharply with the bitter consequences that ultimately follow. It encourages devotion to one's wife, seen as a "fountain" or "spring" of life (Pr 5:18). Proverbs 5:11 specifically depicts the final, agonizing stage of this downward spiral, where the temporary pleasure has long faded, replaced by profound regret and irreparable physical damage. The cultural context in ancient Israel highly valued integrity, health, and progeny, all of which were threatened or destroyed by promiscuity. Adultery brought not only spiritual condemnation but also social disgrace, financial ruin, and physical decay, demonstrating how violations of covenant faithfulness yielded tangible and devastating effects within the community. This verse functions as a powerful polemic against the pervasive enticement to fleeting physical pleasure at the expense of lifelong well-being and honor, a warning particularly relevant in a society where such temptations were ever-present.

Proverbs 5 11 Word analysis

• And thou mourn: Hebrew: wenahemta (וְנָהַמְתָּ). Derived from the root naham (H5098), which means "to growl, groan, roar" like a lion. This word denotes a deep, guttural sound of anguish, bitter lamentation, and intense remorse, rather than mere sadness. It suggests an inescapable, consuming pain born from a desperate, self-aware realization of ruin.
• at the last: Hebrew: bĕʾaḥărîtéḵā (בְּאַחֲרִיתֶ֑ךָ). Derived from aḥărît (H319), meaning "the end, the latter part, outcome, consequence." This signifies not a momentary feeling, but the ultimate, final, and inescapable result or destination of one's chosen path. It emphasizes the deferred but inevitable reckoning that cannot be avoided, long after the fleeting pleasure has passed.
• when thy flesh: Hebrew: biklo't biśārekhā (בִּכְל֣וֹת בְּשָׂרְךָ) and body: uś'ērkhā (וּשְׁאֵרֶֽךָ).
  • biśārekhā (בְּשָׂרְךָ - H1320): "flesh," refers to the soft part of the body, often denoting the entire human body, life, or vital force.
  • uś'ērkhā (וּשְׁאֵרֶֽךָ - H7607): "body" or "remains." Used in parallel with "flesh" to emphasize the complete physical being. It speaks to the entire physical constitution and vitality being wasted away.
  • The pairing of "flesh" and "body" emphasizes a comprehensive physical degeneration, implying not just illness but the loss of strength, vigor, and vital essence, consistent with the destructive nature of dissolute living.
• are consumed: Hebrew: kalâ (כָּלֶה - H3615). Means "to be finished, come to an end, completely spent, exhausted, or wasted away." It implies utter depletion and cessation, emphasizing the irreparable damage and depletion of physical and possibly mental and spiritual resources. This consumption is a result of self-destructive choices, signifying a complete loss of life-force and health.

Proverbs 5 11 Bonus section

• The "groaning" (nāham) implies an internal, primal sound of suffering, like that of an injured animal, signaling an uncontainable grief that speaks to a total collapse of being.
• The phrase "when your flesh and your body are consumed" extends beyond mere physical ailment; it can also encompass the wasting of financial resources, social standing, and emotional well-being that often accompany a dissolute lifestyle. Adultery, especially in ancient cultures, could lead to loss of wealth, ruin of family, public shame, and legal penalties.
• This verse stands as a powerful counter-narrative to the short-term enticement of sin, showing that what appears initially pleasurable brings about long-term, irreversible destruction and a final, bitter harvest. It underscores the profound consequences of neglecting wise counsel and the painful lessons learned too late.

Proverbs 5 11 Commentary

Proverbs 5:11 serves as a grim culmination of the warnings in Proverbs 5. It paints a vivid picture of the inevitable and painful outcome for those who forsake the path of wisdom and purity for fleeting indulgence. The "groaning" or "roaring" is not mere regret, but a deep, visceral anguish that signifies complete despair—a private suffering that cannot be contained. This distress is exacerbated by the awareness that the cause is self-inflicted and the consequences are irreparable. "At the last" stresses that these dire results are not immediate but deferred, appearing when one's "flesh and body are consumed"—a direct reference to the draining of physical health, strength, and vitality.

The sin of adultery or profligacy saps one's life essence. This isn't just about sexually transmitted diseases (though they were certainly a concern in ancient times) but about the broader physical and mental decay that results from a life consumed by destructive appetites. It depletes energy, focus, and drive, diverting them from productive, life-giving endeavors into destructive ones. The wisdom tradition consistently emphasizes the holistic connection between moral choices and physical well-being. By giving one's body over to immoral pleasure, a person effectively consumes their own life, their vitality, and their future prospects. The "strength" and "body" (which often includes one's substance and reputation) are metaphorically devoured by folly. The lament comes when there is nothing left—no strength, no vitality, no reputation, only bitter remorse and a ruined vessel. This verse powerfully warns that a life devoted to sensual pleasure ends in ultimate depletion, not fulfillment, highlighting the Christian principle of stewardship over one's body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20).