Reference

Proverbs 31:6

Annihilation / Destruction Destruction / Perishing Language Permissible Use (Moderation)Wine vs Strong Drink Distinction

“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.”

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

Why This Verse Was Tagged

Permissible Use (Moderation)

Keyword Match

90% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Wine vs Strong Drink Distinction

Keyword Match

90% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Annihilation / Destruction

The verse speaks of giving strong drink to those who are "ready to perish" or "of heavy hearts," implying a state of despair or suffering, not necessarily a description of the wicked being destroyed as a result of judgment. The drink is offered as a comfort or anodyne, not as a cause or description of annihilation.

Destruction / Perishing Language

The verse suggests giving strong drink to those who are perishing or heavy-hearted as a form of comfort or palliative, not as a description of their destruction or the fate of the wicked. The "perish" here refers to a state of suffering or despair, not a divine judgment or act of destruction.

Permissible Use (Moderation)

The verse does not present wine or alcohol as a blessing or gift, but rather as a means of temporary relief for those in extreme distress. It's a pragmatic suggestion for a specific, dire situation, not a general endorsement of its use as a "blessing" or "gift" in the way food or family might be described.

Wine vs Strong Drink Distinction

While the verse uses both "strong drink" and "wine," it does not explicitly define them as different substances or detail their implications. The distinction is inferred from the parallel structure and the general understanding of these terms, rather than being explicitly stated within the verse itself.

Annihilation / Destruction

Cross-References

1 Timothy 5:23Thematic

“Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.”

1 Samuel 22:2Thematic

“And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.”

2 Samuel 16:2Thematic

“And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.”

Job 3:20Thematic

“Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;”

Job 29:13Thematic

“The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.”

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Thematic Connections