Proverbs 31:2
New International Version
Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!

New Living Translation
O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,

English Standard Version
What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?

Berean Standard Bible
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?

King James Bible
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

New King James Version
What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

New American Standard Bible
What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

NASB 1995
What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?

NASB 1977
What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?

Legacy Standard Bible
What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?

Amplified Bible
What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what [shall I advise you], O son of my vows?

Christian Standard Bible
What should I say, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
What should I say, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows?

American Standard Version
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?

Contemporary English Version
My son Lemuel, you were born in answer to my prayers, so listen carefully.

English Revised Version
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb, and what, O son of my vows?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"What, my son? What, son to whom I gave birth? What, son of my prayers?

Good News Translation
"You are my own dear son, the answer to my prayers. What shall I tell you?

International Standard Version
No, my son! No, my son whom I conceived! No, my son to whom I gave birth!

Majority Standard Bible
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?

NET Bible
O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,

New Heart English Bible
"Oh, my son. Oh, son of my womb. Oh, son of my vows.

Webster's Bible Translation
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

World English Bible
“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

Young's Literal Translation
'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

Smith's Literal Translation
What, my son? and what the son of my womb? and what the son of my vows?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?

Catholic Public Domain Version
“What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?

New American Bible
What are you doing, my son! what are you doing, son of my womb; what are you doing, son of my vows!

New Revised Standard Version
No, my son! No, son of my womb! No, son of my vows!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Oh my son! Oh the son of my womb! Oh the son of my vows!

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Oh, my son, oh, son of my body, and oh, son of my vows!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Words of King Lemuel
1These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him: 2What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows? 3Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.…

Cross References
1 Kings 2:1-3
As the time drew near for David to die, he charged his son Solomon, / “I am about to go the way of all the earth. So be strong and prove yourself a man. / And keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commandments, ordinances, and decrees, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you turn,

Deuteronomy 6:6-7
These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. / And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.

2 Timothy 3:14-15
But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. / From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 78:5-6
For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, / that the coming generation would know them—even children yet to be born—to arise and tell their own children

Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. / “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), / “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”

Proverbs 1:8-9
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. / For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.

Proverbs 4:1-4
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. / For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive. / When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother, ...

Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 4:9-10
Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren. / The day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, “Gather the people before Me to hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach them to their children.”

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

1 Samuel 1:27-28
I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him, / I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.

Luke 2:51-52
Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart. / And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Genesis 18:19
For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

the son of my womb

Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

the son of my vows

1 Samuel 1:11,28
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head…

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Proverbs 31
1. Lemuel's lesson of chastity and temperance
6. The afflicted are to be comforted and defended
10. The praise and properties of a good wife














What shall I say
This phrase introduces a rhetorical question, emphasizing the importance and weight of the message that follows. In Hebrew, the word "mah" (מָה) is used, which can express a sense of urgency or deep contemplation. The speaker, traditionally understood to be King Lemuel's mother, is about to impart wisdom that is both personal and divinely inspired. This opening sets the tone for a heartfelt and earnest plea, underscoring the gravity of parental guidance in the biblical tradition.

O my son
The Hebrew word for "son" is "ben" (בֵּן), a term that conveys not only biological relationship but also a deep sense of responsibility and affection. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a son was seen as a continuation of the family line and a bearer of the family's legacy. This phrase reflects the intimate bond and the profound sense of duty a parent feels towards their child, highlighting the personal nature of the wisdom being shared.

What, O son of my womb
Here, the phrase "son of my womb" emphasizes the physical and emotional connection between mother and child. The Hebrew word "beten" (בֶּטֶן) refers to the womb, symbolizing the nurturing and life-giving role of the mother. This expression serves to remind the reader of the sacredness of life and the divine role of motherhood in God's creation. It also underscores the authenticity and sincerity of the advice being given, as it comes from one who has borne and nurtured the child.

What, O son of my vows
The term "vows" in Hebrew is "neder" (נֶדֶר), which refers to a solemn promise or commitment made to God. This phrase suggests that the son is not only a biological offspring but also a child dedicated to God through a vow. It reflects the biblical practice of making vows to God, often seen in the lives of figures like Hannah, who dedicated her son Samuel to the Lord. This highlights the spiritual dimension of parenting, where children are seen as gifts from God, entrusted to parents to be raised in accordance with divine principles.

(2) What, my son?--i.e., what shall I say? The question, thrice repeated, shows her extreme anxiety to give good advice to this son, who was "tender, and only beloved in the sight of his mother."

The son of my vows.--Perhaps given, like Samuel, in answer to her prayers and vows.

Verses 2-9. - Here follows the exhortation, which seems to come from the same source as the "burden" of Agur above. In this section the connection and parallelism of the parts are exhibited by repetition of thought and often of words in the several clauses. Verse 2. - What, my son? Mah, "what," is repeated thrice, both to enforce the attention of the son, and to show the mother's anxious care for his good. She feels the vast importance of the occasion, and asks as in perplexity, "What shall I say? What advice shall I give thee?" "Son" is here not ben, but bar, one of the Aramaic forms which are found in these two last chapters. The word occurs also in Psalm 2:12. Son of my vows. This might mean, "son who wast asked in prayer," like Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11), and dedicated to God, as the name Lemuel implies; or it may signify, "thou who art the object of my daily vows and prayers." Septuagint, "What, my son, wilt thou observe (τηρήσεις)? What? the sayings of God. My firstborn son, to thee I speak. What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows?"

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
What [shall I say],
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

O my son?
בְּ֭רִי (bə·rî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1248: The heir

What,
וּמַֽה־ (ū·mah-)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

O son
בַּר־ (bar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1248: The heir

of my womb?
בִּטְנִ֑י (biṭ·nî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything

What,
וּ֝מֶה (ū·meh)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

O son
בַּר־ (bar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1248: The heir

of my vows?
נְדָרָֽי׃ (nə·ḏā·rāy)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5088: A promise, a thing promised


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 31:2 Oh my son! (Prov. Pro Pr)
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