Proverbs 31:5lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. King Lemuel's mother warns him about wine corrupting judgment in the royal court, Jerusalem, Israel
The emotion here: maternal fear watching son gain power
The original word
mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט) — justice, legal decision, the act of rendering fair judgment
Why it matters
Ancient Near Eastern kings often held court while drinking, making this warning particularly relevant
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 31:5
This is a MOTHER speaking to her son who will be king — maternal wisdom about power
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about total abstinence, but it's specifically about drinking while making decisions that affect others' lives.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 31:5
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 31:5 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 31:5 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Lemuel's mother. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include justice, consequences of intoxication. Notable phrases: forget the law; pervert justice.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 31:5 mean to you, today?
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