Proverbs 23:30
in Proverbs 23Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine.
KJV
They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
⋯
This verse in Proverbs 23
Commentary
11 notes on this verseIs it not to those who linger over wine? etc. He does not forbid drinking wine for need, but lingering in wine beyond time and usefulness, and competing to empty each other's chalices; according to Isaiah: Woe to you who are mighty to drink wine, …
This site's exposition
Who has woe? Who has sorrow
on Proverbs 23:29-30
The chapter closes with its most vivid poem, six questions: who has woe, sorrow, contentions, complaints, needless wounds and bloodshot eyes. The answer lands as its own line, "Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks." The suspense of the riddle is part of the poem's craft.
This site's exposition
Those who linger over wine
Those who linger over wine are the ones with the woe, sorrow and bloodshot eyes of verse 29. Bede allows wine taken for need and faults lingering over it past all use. Matthew Henry says mixed drinks trade reason for taste.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Understand this, brethren, that every drunkard who has made drinking a habit will have leprosy within, in his soul, because the soul of the drunkard is known to be such as the flesh of the leper is seen to be. Therefore one who wishes to …
People who want to be like this try miserably to excuse themselves. They say, My friend will be unpleasant if I do not give him as much as he wants to drink when I invite him to a banquet. [But I say to you,] Do …
Since you are the presbyters and deacons of Christ, you ought always to be sober, both among yourselves and among others, so that you may be able to warn the unruly. Now the Scripture says, "The men in power are passionate. But let them not …
By the mention of redness of eyes—a sign of death—it is made clear that the wine-bibber is already dead to the Word and to reason. It declares his death to the Lord. If one forgets the motives that prompt him to seek the true life, he is dragged down to corruption. With good reason, then, the Educator, in his concern for our salvation, sternly forbids us, "Do not drink wine to drunkenness."
The Medieval Church1 voice
For those who tarry long over wine and go to seek mixed wine, etc. Symbol is a Greek name, and it means conference. There is a conference of words, as is usual in councils; there is also one of money or other things, as the …
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
(2.) Of drinking that which is strong and intoxicating. They go up and down to seek wine that will please them; their great enquiry is, "Where is the best liquor?" They seek mixed wine, which is most palatable, but most heady, so willingly do they sacrifice their reason to please their palate!
They that tarry long at the wine,.... At drinking it.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11). give me--This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.). heart--confidence. observe--keep. my ways--such as I teach you (Pr 3:17;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לַֽמְאַחֲרִ֥ים | lamacharim | to <the> [those who] delay | H309 → | |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הַיָּ֑יִן | haiyayin | the wine | H3196 → | 141 times |
| לַ֝בָּאִ֗ים | labaim | to <the> [those who] go | H935 → | 2568 times |
| לַחְקֹ֥ר | lachkor | to examine | H2713 → | 27 times |
| מִמְסָֽךְ׃ | misakh | mixed wine | H4469 → |
לַֽמְאַחֲרִ֥יםto <the> [those who] delay
lamacharimH309 →
עַל־over
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הַיָּ֑יִןthe wine
haiyayinH3196 →141 times
לַ֝בָּאִ֗יםto <the> [those who] go
labaimH935 →2568 times
לַחְקֹ֥רto examine
lachkorH2713 →27 times
מִמְסָֽךְ׃mixed wine
misakhH4469 →
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
Ephesians 5:18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
it leads to
- Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 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.
- Galatians 5:21–25
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.
- Proverbs 20:1
Through
Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
- Hosea 4:11
Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away understanding.
- Ephesians 5:18
Through
Psalms 75:8For a cup is in the hand of the LORD, full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours from His cup, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to the…
it leads to
- Job 21:20
Let his eyes see his own destruction; let him drink for himself the wrath of the Almighty.
- Jeremiah 25:15
This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink…
- Job 21:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 189:5; Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 46:4; Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor Book 2; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Nilus of Sinai, CONSTITUTIONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES 8:4.44.