King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Complete Jewish Bible:
Who has misery? Who has regret? Who fights and complains all the time? Who gets bruised for no good reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Berean Standard Bible:
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
American Standard Version:
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Who hath woe{H188}? who hath sorrow{H17}? who hath contentions{H4079}{H4066}? who hath babbling{H7879}? who hath wounds{H6482} without cause{H2600}? who hath redness{H2448} of eyes{H5869}?
Cross-References (KJV):
Ephesians 5:18
- And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Isaiah 5:11
- Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, [that] they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, [till] wine inflame them!
Proverbs 23:21
- For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe [a man] with rags.
Isaiah 5:22
- Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Isaiah 28:7
- But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble [in] judgment.
Isaiah 28:8
- For all tables are full of vomit [and] filthiness, [so that there is] no place [clean].
Nahum 1:10
- For while [they be] folden together [as] thorns, and while they are drunken [as] drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Proverbs 23:29
Proverbs 23:29, found within the wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible, is part of a larger section often referred to as the "Sayings of the Wise" (Proverbs 22:17 - 24:22). This verse poses a series of rhetorical questions that serve to highlight the negative consequences of excessive drinking. The historical context of this proverb is the ancient Near Eastern society, where wine was a common beverage but also a substance that could lead to various social and personal problems if consumed in excess.
The themes of Proverbs 23:29 revolve around the troubles associated with drunkenness. The verse enumerates a list of woes: sorrow, strife, nonsensical speech ("babbling"), unexplained injuries ("wounds without cause"), and the physical manifestation of overindulgence ("redness of eyes"). These are presented as the inevitable outcomes for those who engage heavily in alcoholic consumption. The verse uses a poetic structure to emphasize the gravity of these consequences, painting a vivid picture of the downward spiral that can result from the misuse of alcohol.
In the broader context of Proverbs, which is a collection of instructions and aphorisms intended to impart wisdom and discipline, this verse serves as a cautionary reminder of the perils of self-indulgence and the importance of moderation. It reflects the ancient wisdom tradition's concern with practical ethics and the consequences of one's actions, encouraging the reader to live a life of prudence and self-control to avoid the pitfalls of folly and its associated sorrows.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H188
There are 98 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אוֹי
Transliteration: ʼôwy
Pronunciation: o'-ee
Description: probably from אָוָה (in the sense of crying out after); lamentation; also interjectionally Oh!; alas, woe. - Strong's Number: H17
There are 1963 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲבוֹי
Transliteration: ʼăbôwy
Pronunciation: ab-o'ee
Description: from אָבָה (in the sense of desiring); want; sorrow. - Strong's Number: H4079
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִדְיָן
Transliteration: midyân
Pronunciation: mid-yawn'
Description: a variation for מָדוֹן; {a contest or quarrel}; brawling, contention(-ous). - Strong's Number: H4066
There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָדוֹן
Transliteration: mâdôwn
Pronunciation: maw-dohn'
Description: from דִּין; a contest or quarrel; brawling, contention(-ous), discord, strife. Compare מִדְיָן, מְדָן. - Strong's Number: H7879
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שִׂיחַ
Transliteration: sîyach
Pronunciation: see'-akh
Description: from שִׂיחַ; a contemplation; by implication, an utterance; babbling, communication, complaint, meditation, prayer, talk. - Strong's Number: H6482
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּצַע
Transliteration: petsaʻ
Pronunciation: peh'-tsah
Description: from פָּצַע; a wound; wound(-ing). - Strong's Number: H2600
There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חִנָּם
Transliteration: chinnâm
Pronunciation: khin-nawm'
Description: from חֵן; gratis, i.e. devoid of cost, reason or advantage; without a cause (cost, wages), causeless, to cost nothing, free(-ly), innocent, for nothing (nought, in vain. - Strong's Number: H2448
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַכְלִלוּת
Transliteration: chaklilûwth
Pronunciation: khak-lee-looth'
Description: from חַכְלִיל; flash (of the eyes); in a bad sense, blearedness; redness. - Strong's Number: H5869
There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַיִן
Transliteration: ʻayin
Pronunciation: ah'-yin
Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves).