Proverbs 23:20
in Proverbs 23Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Be not among winebibbers, Among gluttonous eaters of flesh:
KJV
Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
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This verse in Proverbs 23
Commentary
7 notes on this verseBe not among winebibbers - There is much of this chapter spent in giving directions concerning eating, drinking, and entertainments in general. 1. he pupil is directed relative to the manner in which he is to conduct himself in his visits to the tables of the rich and great. 2. Relative to the covetous and his intercourse with them. And 3. To public entertainnlents, where there were generally riot and debauch. The reasons, says Calmet, which induced the wise man to give these directions were, 1. The useless expense. 2. The loss of time. 3. The danger from bad company.
This site's exposition
Listen, my son, and be wise
on Proverbs 23:19-21
"Listen, my son, and be wise" opens a fresh appeal that runs into the chapter's long drunkard poem. These verses give its first, plainer form: "Do not join those who drink too much wine." The line "the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty" names two appetites at once.
This site's exposition
those who drink too much wine
Adam Clarke counts three tables in this chapter, the ruler's table, the stingy man's bread, and the public feast where men drink too much wine. He reports three reasons for the warning. They are the useless expense, the lost time and the danger of bad company.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
Do not be among winebibbers, etc. For to bring meats to be eaten, is in conversation of derogation, to repeatedly mention the vices of neighbors, about whose punishment it is immediately added:
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Drunkenness is the cause of drowsiness; it stupefies men, and makes them inattentive to business, and then all goes to wreck and ruin: thus men that have lived creditably come to be clothed with rags. This is another sin which takes away the heart that should be given to God, Hos. iv. He shows the danger which attends that sin,
Be not amongst winebibbers,.... Who drink to excess, otherwise wine may be drank, provided moderation is used; but it is not good to be in company with, excessive drinkers of it, lost a habit of excessive drinking should be acquired; among riotous eaters of flesh; flesh may be lawfully eaten, but not in a riotous manner, so as to indulge to gluttony and surfeiting; nor should such persons be kept company with that do so, lest their ways should be learned and imitated.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
riotous . . . flesh--prodigal, or eating more than necessary. Instead of "their flesh" (compare Margin), better, "flesh to them," that is, used for pleasure.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Hear you, my son, and grow wise, and walk in the way of your heart Since you will grow wise, you will be able to walk in the ways of your heart, for the heart of a wise man will not entice you to sin.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תְּהִ֥י | tehi | you be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בְסֹֽבְאֵי־ | vesoeei- | among drunkards of | H5433 → | |
| יָ֑יִן | yayin | wine | H3196 → | 141 times |
| בְּזֹלֲלֵ֖י | bezolalei | among gluttons of | H2151 → | 8 times |
| בָשָׂ֣ר | vasar | meat | H1320 → | 270 times |
| לָֽמוֹ׃ | lamo | <for> themselves |
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תְּהִ֥יyou be
tehiH1961 →3559 times
בְסֹֽבְאֵי־among drunkards of
vesoeei-H5433 →
יָ֑יִןwine
yayinH3196 →141 times
בְּזֹלֲלֵ֖יamong gluttons of
bezolaleiH2151 →8 times
בָשָׂ֣רmeat
vasarH1320 →270 times
לָֽמוֹ׃<for> themselves
lamo
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 13:13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
it leads to
- Galatians 5:21
and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Galatians 5:21
Through
Luke 21:34But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
it leads to
- Mark 4:19
but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
- Luke 12:45–46
But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.
- Luke 12:40
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2–8
For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
- Mark 4:19
Through
Ephesians 5:18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
it leads to
- Luke 1:15
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
- Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
- Romans 13:13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
- Luke 1:15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.