Proverbs 23:30

They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

They that tarry long {H309} at the wine {H3196}; they that go {H935} to seek {H2713} mixed wine {H4469}.

Those who spend their time over wine, those always trying out mixed drinks.

Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.

They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine.

Proverbs 23:30 serves as a vivid description of individuals deeply entangled in the abuse of alcohol, forming part of a broader warning against the dangers of intemperance found in this chapter.

Context

This verse is nestled within a powerful passage (Proverbs 23:29-35) that graphically details the woes and physical consequences of drunkenness. It immediately follows a rhetorical question in verse 29 that asks, "Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?" The answer, implied by verse 30, is those described here. The broader context of Proverbs frequently emphasizes wisdom and self-control, contrasting them with folly and indulgence, as seen in warnings against gluttony and being among winebibbers (Proverbs 23:20-21).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Prolonged Indulgence: "They that tarry long at the wine" highlights a deliberate and prolonged presence with alcohol, indicating a lack of self-control and a habitual pattern of excess rather than moderate consumption.
  • Seeking Heightened Intoxication: "They that go to seek mixed wine" points to an active pursuit of stronger or more potent alcoholic beverages. In ancient times, wine was often mixed with spices or other ingredients to increase its intoxicating effect or alter its flavor, signifying a desire for deeper inebriation.
  • The Path to Ruin: This verse characterizes those who are on a dangerous path towards addiction and the destructive consequences elaborated upon in the surrounding verses, including physical harm, social disgrace, and spiritual blindness.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "tarry long" comes from the Hebrew word yāḥar (יָחַר), meaning to wait, linger, or delay. It conveys the idea of spending excessive time in the act of drinking, indicating a profound lack of discipline. "Mixed wine" translates the Hebrew mesekh (מֶסֶךְ), which refers to wine mingled with spices or other substances, often to enhance its strength or intoxicating properties. This detail underscores the deliberate intent of those described to achieve a greater level of drunkenness.

Practical Application

Proverbs 23:30 serves as a timeless warning against the pitfalls of alcohol abuse. It speaks to the insidious nature of addiction, where initial indulgence can lead to a compulsive seeking of more potent experiences. For believers, this verse reinforces the call for self-control and sobriety, echoing New Testament admonitions like "be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). It encourages discernment, avoiding situations and habits that lead to spiritual and physical harm, and instead pursuing wisdom and a life pleasing to God. The wise person avoids not only outright drunkenness but also the habits and desires that lead to it.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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 20:1

    ¶ Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

  • Proverbs 9:2

    She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

  • Psalms 75:8

    For in the hand of the LORD [there is] a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring [them] out, [and] drink [them].

  • Amos 6:6

    That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

  • Genesis 9:21

    And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

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