“Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress;
let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.”
—Proverbs 31:6–7
Someone recently asked me about this passage—specifically whether it condones the consumption of alcohol as a remedy for depression. Read flatly, the text seems to endorse the idea that those who are dying, emotionally distraught, poverty stricken, and in misery should use alcohol to relieve their discomfort and escape their problems. That seems inconsistent with the general message of Scripture.
I spent a few hours last Sunday afternoon compiling some information. These are the questions I was trying to answer:
- Is Lemuel’s mother really commending alcohol as a way to drown out one’s pain and sorrow, or is it merely a recognition of what was commonly practiced?
- Is this advice merely a record of a human opinion or divinely inspired prescription?
- Is there anything different about the present that would influence how we apply this today (e.g., the differences in alcoholic beverages)?
- Is this a condoning of drunkenness or just moderate drinking to relieve physical and emotional pain?
- What is the precise meaning of לְאֹובֵד? Is this a reference to death, or possibly to some more general misfortune?
- What is the precise meaning of לְמָרֵי נָפֶשׁ? Is this a reference to an emotional condition?
- What is the precise force of the verbs יִשְׁתֶּה, וְיִשְׁכַּח, and יִזְכָּר? Do they all have the same force? Are they jussive, carrying an imperatival force? Are they modal? Are they merely futurative?
I never did get to my own conclusions. I had to set the study aside for the time being. (My dissertation continues to call!) But it does have the Hebrew and Greek text with translations, the argument of the pericope, two dozen English versions compared side by side, and a lot of helpful discussion from a number of commentaries.
Read the full study: An Analysis of Proverbs 31:6–7—also available as Word and PDF.
Linda says
I think this means that if someone is dying, give them something to take away physicial or emotional pain. Today, that could mean strong pain medicine, or even perhaps assisted death. To “remember their misery no more”…………sounds permanent to me.
mark says
Aggree with the above. My wife is in a Catholic Hospice waiting for death to carry her forward onto her next journeywith the Lord. St John’s Hospice of Denver, Colorado has a Happy-Trolly that comes round once a day, 3pm’ish, with Wine, Spirits and some nibbles. (Maximum is a small-double per patient and guest.) I cannot think of a more appropiate time to embibe, if for no other reason than to ease the fear that some patients are obviously feeling. Thats just the begining and YES, nowadays, it could and should be seen as a collective statement to include strong pain meds.
Bob Kraft says
Hello,
I am not any means a bible scholar or authorty but the word perish could imply a condition where one was not at peace with his/her soul and needing an escape from the looming doom. Denying God’s power has been a subject of study to me. Faith witout works is dead, works without faith is dead. Our work is the belief in our faith. God’s blessing is a peace that is not understood by this world and therefore a dependance on an alternate relief is needed. Paul said,”I have run the race and I have finished the race.” Spiritual comfort is what is sought in all forms of worldly manifestations. This world is driven by the flesh and man’s attempt to became God through the form of technology. Trust in man’s technology is denying God. There is no place in the bible for medical training to become a doctor, or a “miracle medicine” manufacturer. Man made physicians, God made man. He also made a Son that has opened a way to Heaven for whosoever will believe: without drugs.
Andrew says
To the people who think this refers to death only there is a part that says “to forget their poverty”…poverty is not caused by being near death, this was simply refering to those people whose lives have turned out less than favorable…as wishful as it is to think that the bible would never condone “drinking your sorrows away” that is exactly what it is saying to do, and quite frankly it works quite well for me
Benjamin says
I agree with Andrew, it seems fairly obvious to me that in this passage that is what it is implying. Of course everything in moderation but it helps. Matthew 7:1 Judge not lest you be so judged. I would think that people omitting proverbs 31:7 are being somewhat prejudice about their fellow man, I would be more concerned about you thinking poorly of another person based soley on them drinking to forget stress and tension possibly due to overwork in work and such.
Scott Backle says
I know from personal experience that alcohol used in a manner to escape life and numb or passions is a sin. It is a disorder of worship and becomes the slave master called addiction. From the responses above I would recommend rehab and addiction support groups. THIS IS NO LIGHT MATTER. Read Pro. 9:13-18 drug and alcohol addiction is utter folly. Keep on getting high and drunk and be sure you will wake up one day in an institution, jail or dead. Addiction is modern idolatry don’t kid yourselves. Our trust and all our anxieties belong to Christ who are you O man to say this evening I will not rely on the Lord but rather on Jack Daniels. Do you seek God and wisdom in your drunkenness. Your just playing the fool and need to repent