Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Parallel translations
- WEB Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish; and wine to the bitter in soul:
- BSB Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
- NKJV Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
- NASB Give intoxicating drink to one who is perishing, And wine to one whose life is bitter.
- NLT Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Strong drink may rightly be given to those perishing or bitter in soul to ease their suffering.
Overview
Having forbidden wine to rulers, the mother allows its compassionate use to comfort the dying and deeply distressed. The contrast shows wisdom in matching things to their proper purpose. The verse models mercy toward the suffering, though believers must apply it carefully, for true and lasting comfort for the perishing is found in Christ alone.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 1 Tim 5:23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
- Ps 104:15And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.
- 1 Sam 1:10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
- 2 Kgs 4:27And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.
- Job 3:20Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
- 1 Sam 30:6And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
- Job 29:13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 31:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.