Proverbs 9:5 kjv

Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

Proverbs 9:5 nkjv

"Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed.

Proverbs 9:5 niv

"Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.

Proverbs 9:5 esv

"Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.

Proverbs 9:5 nlt

"Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine I have mixed.

Proverbs 9 verses

Proverbs 9 5 Meaning

Proverbs 9:5 presents a direct and compelling invitation from personified Wisdom to those who are simple and lack understanding. She calls them to abandon their foolish ways and to partake deeply in her provision. The imagery of "eating my food" and "drinking the wine I have mixed" signifies an offer of profound spiritual sustenance, nourishment for the soul, and life-giving instruction that leads to understanding and eternal life, in stark contrast to the barren emptiness offered by Folly. It is an invitation to intimately partake in her truth, which is satisfying and life-sustaining.

Proverbs 9 5 Context

Proverbs chapter 9 acts as the grand climax to the initial admonitions of the book, contrasting two personified women: Lady Wisdom (Prov 9:1-6) and Lady Folly (Prov 9:13-18). Each woman builds her house, prepares a feast, and sends out invitations to "simple" ones (naive, lacking understanding) to partake in their offerings. Proverbs 9:5 is a direct, imperative call from Wisdom, following her preparations (building her house, slaying her animals, mixing her wine, setting her table) and dispatching her maidens to invite from the city's heights. It is a critical juncture where the choice between life and death, insight and destruction, is laid bare before the listener. Historically and culturally, feasts symbolized wealth, hospitality, and communal sharing, often with deep religious or social significance. Wisdom's feast implies true provision for the human spirit and mind, standing as a polemic against empty idolatrous rituals or human philosophies that ultimately lead to spiritual starvation and death.

Proverbs 9 5 Word analysis

• Come: (Lekhu - לֵכוּ) - A strong imperative, meaning "Go forth!" or "Come ye!" It's an active and personal invitation, requiring a volitional response. This is not a passive reception; one must make the effort to approach.
• eat: (Ikhelu - אִכְלוּ) - An imperative verb, "Eat!" It implies active ingestion and appropriation. Spiritually, it signifies receiving, internalizing, and digesting Wisdom's teachings, making them a part of oneself. It's a call to consume truth.
• my food: (Lachmi - לַחְמִי) - Literally "my bread." In Hebrew culture, "bread" (lehem) often signifies all forms of sustenance or nourishment for life. Here, it refers to Wisdom's teachings, principles, and life-giving truths, provided by her. It is spiritual rather than physical food, essential for enduring life.
• and drink: (Ushthu - וּשְׁתוּ) - Imperative, "and drink!" Similar to eating, it signifies internalizing, absorbing, and making the provision part of one's inner being. It speaks of refreshment and spiritual satisfaction.
• the wine: (Yayin - יַיִן) - This word refers to wine, typically a symbol of joy, abundance, or festivity. In Wisdom's invitation, it speaks of the richer, deeper aspects of her truth – the joyful, celebratory, and profound understanding she offers, leading to exhilaration and spiritual insight.
• I have mixed: (Masakh - מָסָכְתִּי) - The verb masakh implies mingling or blending. In this context, it often refers to spicing wine or diluting it with water for daily consumption to enhance taste or manage potency. For Wisdom, it conveys that her wine is carefully prepared, perfected, and potent. It implies quality, thought, and preparation. Scholars generally understand this as "mixed" in the sense of blended with spices or for ideal strength, rather than watered down, signifying the excellence and completeness of her provision.

• Words-group: "Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed": This entire phrase forms a complete and urgent summons from Lady Wisdom. It emphasizes total participation in and absorption of her provision. "Eat my food" speaks to taking in foundational nourishment and practical wisdom. "Drink the wine I have mixed" refers to partaking in the deeper, more exhilarating truths and joys that wisdom offers, indicating a profound and intimate experience with her instruction. Together, they represent a complete offer of spiritual sustenance and a pathway to true life, contrasting Folly's superficial and destructive fare. This call parallels the Lord's invitation to "taste and see" or "come to the waters."

Proverbs 9 5 Bonus section

The imagery of a feast prepared by Wisdom resonates deeply with ancient Near Eastern banquet traditions, where communal meals often symbolized covenants, fellowship, and celebration. The choice presented in Proverbs 9 is thus not merely intellectual assent but a commitment to a life lived under the guidance of Divine Wisdom. This Divine Wisdom, prefigured in Proverbs, is seen by Christian theologians as a profound foreshadowing of Jesus Christ Himself, who offers Himself as the Bread of Life and living water (John 6, John 7:37-38). Therefore, Lady Wisdom's invitation becomes Christ's call to come to Him for eternal spiritual sustenance. Her carefully "mixed wine" can also subtly allude to the covenant meal shared by Christ with His disciples, foreshadowing the New Covenant where His blood is "poured out for many" (Matt 26:28), signifying His perfect sacrifice and provision for life.

Proverbs 9 5 Commentary

Proverbs 9:5 is the direct, warm invitation from Lady Wisdom to those who are "simple" or naive. She beckons them to her lavish feast, offering not just physical sustenance, but profound spiritual and intellectual nourishment. The imagery of "food" and "mixed wine" points to the depth and richness of her teaching, which satisfies the soul and provides understanding and life. It contrasts sharply with Lady Folly's stolen and deceptively "sweet" water and bread, which ultimately lead to death. Wisdom's feast represents true covenant relationship and abundant provision, compelling a conscious choice to abandon folly and embrace a life of godly wisdom, which is characterized by joyful communion with truth. Receiving her invitation means internalizing her precepts, allowing them to shape one's thoughts and actions, and thereby securing a path to lasting life and prosperity.

Examples:

• Choosing to study God's Word daily over consuming trivial media.
• Prioritizing quiet time for spiritual reflection and prayer over distractions.
• Seeking counsel from mature believers over popular secular advice when facing life choices.