· Translation: KJV

Proverbs 23:30Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.

The setting

Ancient Near East, ~950 BC. The wise father answers his own question from verse 29...

The emotion here: urgently warning of escalation

The original word

mimsāk (מִמְסָךְ) — mixed wine, spiced wine made stronger with additives

Why it matters

Mixed wine was ancient Israel's equivalent of modern cocktails — wine mixed with spices and herbs to increase potency

Read with care

What most readers miss in Proverbs 23:30

The progression: first you stay LONG at wine, then you SEEK OUT stronger stuff

Common misconceptionPeople think this is about quantity, but it's about pattern. The danger isn't how much you drink — it's that you're always seeking it.

Bible Genome reading

Proverbs 23:30 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerSolomon
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionanxious
Literary typewisdom

Emotional genome

Comfort power20%
Quotability70%
Memorability70%
Crisis relevance60%
Standalone60%
Themes:temperanceaddiction

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23:30 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include temperance, addiction. Notable phrases: stay long at wine; mixed wine.

Your reflection

What does Proverbs 23:30 mean to you, today?

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