Proverbs 31:3

3 Give thou not thy chattel to women (Give thou not all thy substance to women), and thy riches to do away kings.

Proverbs 31:3 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 31:3

Give not thy strength unto women
Strength of body, which is weakened by an excessive use of venery F2 with a multiplicity of women; see, ( Proverbs 5:9 ) ; and strength of mind, reason, and wisdom, which is impaired by conversation with such persons; whereby time is consumed and lost, which should be spent in the improvement of knowledge: or "thy riches", as the Septuagint and Arabic versions, thy substance, which harlots devour, and who bring a man to a piece of bread, as the prodigal was, ( Proverbs 6:26 ) ( Luke 15:30 ) ; and even drain the coffers of kings and princes; nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings;
do not give thy mind to take such courses, and pursue such ways and methods, as bring ruin on kings and kingdoms, as conversation with harlots does; see ( Proverbs 7:26 ) . Some think the design of this advice is to warn against any ambitious views of enlarging his dominions by invading neighbouring countries, and making war with neighbouring kings, to the ruin of them; but the former sense seems best. The Targum is,

``nor thy ways to the daughters of kings.''
Solomon was given to women, who proved very pernicious to him, ( 1 Kings 11:1-5 ) . Some render it, "which destroyeth counsel" F3; for whoredom weakens the mind as well as the body.
FOOTNOTES:

F2 "Venus enervat vireis", Avienus.
F3 Don Joseph apud Schindler. col. 990.

Proverbs 31:3 In-Context

1 The words of Lemuel, the king; the vision by which his mother taught him.
2 What, my darling? what, the darling of my womb? what, the darling of my desires? (What, my darling? what is it, the darling of my womb? what is it, the answer to my prayers?)
3 Give thou not thy chattel to women (Give thou not all thy substance to women), and thy riches to do away kings.
4 A! Lemuel, do not thou give wine to kings; for no private there is, where drunkenness reigneth. (O! Lemuel, do not thou give wine to kings; for there is no secret place, where drunkenness can reign.)
5 Lest peradventure they drink, and forget dooms, and change the cause of the sons of a poor man. (Lest perhaps they drink, and forget justice, and pervert the cause of the poor.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.