Proverbs 31 · Verse 3

Proverbs 31:3

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Proverbs 31:3, King James Version

Proverbs 31:3 in other translations

BSBDo not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
WEBDon’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
ASVGive not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
YLTGive not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
DARBYGive not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
BBEDo not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
WebsterGive not thy strength to women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

What does Proverbs 31:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 31:3-9
3-9. Succinct but solemn warnings against vices to which kings are peculiarly tempted, as carnal pleasures and oppressive and unrighteous government are used to sustain sensual indulgence. strength--mental and bodily resources for health and comfort. thy ways--or course of life. to that ... kings--literally, "to the destroying of kings," avoid destructive pleasures (compare Pr 5:9; 7:22, 27; Ho 4:11).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Give not thy strength - Do not waste thy substance on women. In such intercourse the strength of body, soul and substance is destroyed. Such connections are those which destroy kings, מלכין melachin, the Chaldee termination instead of the Hebrew.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 31:1-9

When children are under the mother's eye, she has an opportunity of fashioning their minds aright. Those who are grown up, should often call to mind the good teaching they received when children. The many awful instances of promising characters who have been ruined by vile women, and love of wine, should warn every one to avoid these evils. Wine is to be used for want or medicine. Every creature of God is good, and…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 31:1-9 →

Proverbs 31:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אַל\־'al-may notH408
תִּתֵּ֣ןti.Tenyou giveH5414
לַנָּשִׁ֣יםla.na.Shimto <the> womenH802
חֵילֶ֑ךָchei.Le.khastrength yourH2428
וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָu.de.ra.Khei.khaand ways yourH1870
לַֽמְח֥וֹתlam.Chotto wiping outH4229
מְלָכִֽין\׃me.la.KhinkingsH4428

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 31:3

  • Deuteronomy 17:17

    Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

  • Nehemiah 13:26

    Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

  • Proverbs 7:26-27

    For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

  • Proverbs 5:9-11

    Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

  • 1 Kings 11:1

    But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

  • Hosea 4:11

    Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
strength.
5:9-11; 7:26,27; Ho 4:11
to that.
De 17:17; Ne 13:26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 31:2

    What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

  • Proverbs 31:3

    Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

  • Proverbs 31:4

    It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Read all of Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No des á las mujeres tu fuerza, ni tus caminos á lo que es para destruir los reyes.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ne donne point ta force aux femmes, ni tes voies à celles qui perdent les rois.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Gib nicht den Weibern deine Kraft, noch deine Wege den Verderberinnen der Könige.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.