King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
Complete Jewish Bible:
You will feel as if lying on the waves of the sea or sprawled on top of the mast -
Berean Standard Bible:
You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
American Standard Version:
Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down{H7901} in the midst{H3820} of the sea{H3220}, or as he that lieth{H7901} upon the top{H7218} of a mast{H2260}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Thessalonians 5:2
- For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:7
- For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
Luke 21:34
- And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares.
Matthew 24:38
- For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
2 Samuel 13:28
- Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
Joel 1:5
- Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.
1 Kings 16:9
- And his servant Zimri, captain of half [his] chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of [his] house in Tirzah.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Proverbs 23:34
Proverbs 23:34, which reads, "Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast," is part of a larger section in Proverbs that warns against the dangers of drunkenness and overindulgence in wine. The verse uses vivid imagery to convey the perilous state one puts oneself in when succumbing to the effects of alcohol.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition, which includes the book of Proverbs. This tradition sought to impart practical advice for living a virtuous and successful life, often through pithy sayings and vivid metaphors. The sea in the ancient world was a symbol of chaos and danger, a place where the unwary could quickly perish. Similarly, the top of a mast is an unstable and precarious position, suggesting a lack of control and the risk of a great fall.
In this verse, the themes of instability, danger, and the consequences of poor choices are highlighted. It suggests that the person who drinks to excess will find themselves in a situation as precarious as someone trying to sleep in the turbulent sea or perched atop the swaying mast of a ship. This metaphor serves to illustrate the potential for disaster and the loss of control that comes with excessive drinking. The verse serves as a cautionary warning, urging the reader to avoid the pitfalls of intoxication, which can lead to a life that is out of balance and fraught with peril.
*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: H7901
There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁכַב
Transliteration: shâkab
Pronunciation: shaw-kab'
Description: a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose); [idiom] at all, cast down, (lover-)lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay. - Strong's Number: H3820
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֵב
Transliteration: lêb
Pronunciation: labe
Description: a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom. - Strong's Number: H3220
There are 339 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָם
Transliteration: yâm
Pronunciation: yawm
Description: from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south; sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward). - Strong's Number: H7218
There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹאשׁ
Transliteration: rôʼsh
Pronunciation: roshe
Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. - Strong's Number: H2260
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חִבֵּל
Transliteration: chibbêl
Pronunciation: khib-bale'
Description: from חָבַל (in the sense of furnished with ropes); a mast; mast.