Proverbs 5:11

And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

And thou mourn {H5098} at the last {H319}, when thy flesh {H1320} and thy body {H7607} are consumed {H3615},

Then, when your flesh and bones have shrunk, at the end of your life, you would moan,

At the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are spent,

And thou mourn at thy latter end, When thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

Commentary

Proverbs 5:11 issues a sobering warning about the devastating long-term consequences of yielding to sexual temptation and immorality. It vividly describes the bitter end for those who disregard wisdom's counsel and pursue illicit pleasures.

Context

This verse is part of a father's earnest admonition to his son in Proverbs chapter 5, cautioning him against the allure and destructive path of the adulteress or "strange woman." The earlier verses (e.g., Proverbs 5:3-6) describe her deceptive charm and smooth words, which lead to death and ruin. Proverbs 5:11, along with preceding verses like Proverbs 5:9-10, paints a grim picture of the ultimate outcome: loss of honor, wealth, health, and finally, profound regret. The book of Proverbs consistently contrasts the path of wisdom, which leads to life, with the path of folly, which leads to destruction.

Key Themes

  • Inevitable Regret: The phrase "mourn at the last" powerfully conveys the deep sorrow, anguish, and remorse that will ultimately consume those who choose a path of sexual sin. The initial pleasure is fleeting, but the bitter consequences endure.
  • Physical and Spiritual Decay: "When thy flesh and thy body are consumed" points to the comprehensive ruin that results from such a lifestyle. This can include physical diseases, loss of vitality, financial destitution, and a spiritual wasting away. It highlights that sin not only affects the soul but also has tangible, detrimental effects on one's entire being.
  • The Cost of Disobedience: This verse serves as a stark reminder that choices have consequences. Disregarding God's design for purity and sexual integrity leads to a painful reckoning, illustrating the principle that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "mourn" is naham (נָהַם), which can mean to groan, sigh, or even roar like a lion. It conveys a deep, guttural expression of distress and anguish, far beyond simple sadness. It speaks of profound suffering and lamentation.
  • "Consumed" comes from the Hebrew kalah (Χ›ΦΈΦΌΧœΦΈΧ”), meaning to complete, finish, or utterly waste away, perish. This emphasizes the totality of the destruction and depletion of one's physical and vital resources.
  • The repetition of "flesh and thy body" underscores the comprehensive nature of the physical decay and ruin resulting from immoral living, affecting one's entire physical self.

Practical Application

Proverbs 5:11 offers timeless wisdom for all generations. It urges believers to exercise foresight and self-control, recognizing that fleeting pleasures can lead to lasting pain and destruction. It is a powerful call to:

  • Choose Purity: Prioritize sexual purity and fidelity, understanding that God's boundaries are for our protection and flourishing. Flee sexual immorality, as it is a sin against one's own body.
  • Heed Warnings: Listen to wise counsel and the warnings in Scripture regarding sin's consequences. Don't be deceived by the immediate allure of temptation.
  • Seek Wisdom: Actively pursue God's wisdom, which provides discernment and strength to navigate life's temptations. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.

Ultimately, this verse is a compassionate warning, encouraging us to live wisely now to avoid future regret and ruin, embracing the path that leads to life and peace.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 6:21

    What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death.

  • Revelation 22:15

    For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

  • Hebrews 13:4

    Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

  • Numbers 5:27

    And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, [that], if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, [and become] bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.

  • Deuteronomy 32:29

    O that they were wise, [that] they understood this, [that] they would consider their latter end!

  • Jeremiah 5:31

    The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

  • Revelation 21:8

    But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
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