Proverbs 9:2

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

She hath killed {H2873} her beasts {H2874}; she hath mingled {H4537} her wine {H3196}; she hath also furnished {H6186} her table {H7979}.

Complete Jewish Bible

She has prepared her food, spiced her wine, and she has set her table.

Berean Standard Bible

She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Proverbs 9:2 vividly portrays Lady Wisdom's meticulous and lavish preparations for a grand feast, detailing her slaughter of beasts, mingling of wine, and furnishing of her table. This verse sets the scene for her gracious and universal invitation, symbolizing the abundant, satisfying, and meticulously prepared spiritual nourishment that divine wisdom offers to all who are willing to partake, contrasting sharply with the emptiness of folly.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Proverbs 9:2 directly continues the powerful personification of wisdom introduced in [Proverbs 9:1](/proverbs/9-1 "Proverbs 9:1 - Lady Wisdom Builds Her House"), where Lady Wisdom is depicted constructing her magnificent house upon seven pillars. This verse elaborates on the internal preparations, detailing the sumptuous feast she has prepared within her dwelling. The entire chapter serves as a climactic summary of the book's opening exhortations (Proverbs 1-9), presenting a stark contrast between the life-giving invitation of Lady Wisdom and the destructive allure of Lady Folly. The subsequent verses in [Proverbs 9](/proverbs/9 "Proverbs 9 - Wisdom's Invitation vs. Folly's Deception") reveal Wisdom's direct call to the simple and the foolish ([Proverbs 9:3-6](/proverbs/9-3 "Proverbs 9:3 - Wisdom Sends Her Maidens")), while the latter half of the chapter ([Proverbs 9:13-18](/proverbs/9-13 "Proverbs 9:13 - Lady Folly's Deceptive Call")) vividly portrays Lady Folly's deceptive and ultimately fatal invitation, highlighting the critical choice presented to the reader.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of a grand feast was a powerful symbol of hospitality, abundance, and celebration in the ancient Near East. Hosting such a banquet required significant resources and meticulous planning, signifying wealth, generosity, and social standing. The "killing of beasts" indicates a sacrificial offering of prime animals, ensuring a rich meat supply, a luxury in ancient times. "Mingling wine" was a common practice to enhance flavor, dilute potency for extended enjoyment, or mix with spices for medicinal or celebratory purposes, not necessarily to weaken it. A "furnished table" implied that everything was meticulously arranged and ready for guests, underscoring the completeness of the preparations. This cultural backdrop amplifies the generosity and comprehensive nature of Lady Wisdom's provision, emphasizing its value and desirability.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent in the Book of Proverbs. Firstly, it highlights the **personification of wisdom**, presenting an abstract concept as an active, benevolent, and inviting hostess. This makes wisdom relatable and accessible. Secondly, it emphasizes the **abundance and generosity of divine wisdom**, contrasting with the scarcity and emptiness offered by folly. The lavish feast symbolizes the rich, satisfying, and life-sustaining nourishment that wisdom provides, going beyond mere intellectual knowledge to offer spiritual vitality and fulfillment. Thirdly, it underscores the theme of **invitation and choice**, setting the stage for humanity's decision to embrace wisdom's life-giving path or succumb to folly's destructive one, a central tension throughout [Proverbs](/proverbs/1 "Proverbs - The Book of Wisdom").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **killed (Hebrew, _ṭâbach'_):** H2873, a primitive root meaning "to slaughter (animals or men)." In this context, it refers specifically to the preparation of animals for a feast. The associated noun, _ṭebach_ (H2874), refers to the slaughtered animal or meat. This signifies a substantial, even sacrificial, provision of food, indicating the lavishness and richness of the feast Lady Wisdom prepares. It's not a meager meal but one of significant substance and cost, highlighting the generosity of wisdom's offering.
* **mingled (Hebrew, _mâçak'_):** H4537, a primitive root meaning "to mix, especially wine (with spices)." This act of mingling wine was a common, sophisticated practice in the ancient world. It could involve diluting strong wine with water to make it more palatable for extended consumption, or, more significantly, mixing it with aromatic spices to enhance its flavor and quality. This suggests a careful, intentional preparation, ensuring the "wine" of wisdom is not raw or harsh, but refined, enjoyable, and perfectly suited to nourish the soul.
* **table (Hebrew, _shulchân'_):** H7979, from a root meaning "to spread out," referring to a table (as spread out) or, by implication, a meal. The "furnished table" is the culmination of all preparations. It symbolizes readiness, hospitality, and the availability of the prepared provisions. It is the place where the feast is consumed, representing the point of reception and enjoyment of wisdom's offerings. The furnishing implies not just food, but all the necessary accoutrements for a complete and satisfying experience, emphasizing the completeness of wisdom's provision.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"She hath killed her beasts":** This clause highlights the substantial and costly nature of Wisdom's provision. The act of slaughtering animals for a feast indicates a lavish supply of meat, a luxury in ancient times, signifying that wisdom offers abundant and rich spiritual nourishment, far beyond mere sustenance. It speaks to the generosity and completeness of what wisdom provides, implying a sacrifice has been made to prepare this bounty.
* **"she hath mingled her wine":** This phrase emphasizes the careful and refined preparation of wisdom's offerings. The mingling of wine was a deliberate act to enhance its quality, flavor, or to make it more suitable for prolonged enjoyment. This suggests that the teachings of wisdom are not crude or unpalatable, but thoughtfully prepared, perfectly balanced, and designed to bring delight and refreshment to the soul, making it accessible and desirable.
* **"she hath also furnished her table":** This final clause signifies the completion of preparations and the readiness of the feast. The "furnished table" is the place where the bounty is laid out, symbolizing the accessibility and immediate availability of wisdom's provisions. It represents an open invitation, signaling that everything is ready for those who choose to partake, underscoring the welcoming and complete nature of wisdom's call, and the immediate opportunity for engagement.

#### Literary Devices
Proverbs 9:2 is rich with **Personification**, as Lady Wisdom, an abstract concept, is given human attributes and actions: she kills, mingles, and furnishes. This vivid portrayal makes wisdom relatable and active, presenting her as a gracious hostess preparing a feast. The entire scene functions as an extended **Metaphor**, where the physical act of preparing a lavish banquet symbolizes the spiritual and intellectual nourishment that wisdom provides. The "beasts," "wine," and "table" are not literal but represent the profound and satisfying truths, insights, and life-giving principles that wisdom offers. Furthermore, the verse employs powerful **Imagery** that appeals to the senses, evoking the sights and smells of a grand feast, thereby making the abstract concept of wisdom's provision tangible, desirable, and inviting to the reader.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Proverbs 9:2 profoundly illustrates the proactive and generous nature of divine wisdom, portraying it not as a distant, abstract concept, but as an inviting hostess who has gone to great lengths to prepare a feast for humanity. This imagery speaks to God's abundant provision for His people, offering not just survival, but rich, satisfying life. The meticulous preparation of the feast underscores the perfection and suitability of God's truth for the human soul, tailored to meet our deepest needs. Theologically, this verse foreshadows the ultimate divine invitation to a spiritual banquet, where God Himself provides the sustenance for eternal life. It connects to the broader biblical theme of God's desire to commune with humanity and provide for their deepest needs, inviting them to partake in His wisdom and life, ultimately leading to a relationship with Him.

* [Isaiah 55:1-2](/isaiah/55-1 "Isaiah 55:1-2 - God's Invitation to Feast") - "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price."
* [Matthew 22:1-4](/matthew/22-1 "Matthew 22:1-4 - The Parable of the Wedding Feast") - Jesus' parable of the wedding feast illustrates the King's lavish preparations and invitation, which many reject.
* [Revelation 19:9](/revelation/19-9 "Revelation 19:9 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb") - "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Proverbs 9:2 offers a compelling invitation to consider the source of our spiritual nourishment. Lady Wisdom's lavish preparations remind us that God's truth is not meager or difficult to access, but abundant, satisfying, and meticulously prepared for our benefit. In a world that often offers fleeting pleasures and empty promises, this verse beckons us to turn to the enduring and life-giving sustenance found in divine wisdom. It challenges us to actively seek out and partake in the "feast" that wisdom provides, recognizing its immense value over the fleeting allure of worldly folly. Embracing this wisdom transforms our lives, guiding our decisions, shaping our character, and leading us towards true fulfillment and life, impacting every aspect of our being.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "beasts" and "wine" are you currently consuming in your life – are they truly nourishing or are they leaving you spiritually famished?**
* **How does the imagery of a "furnished table" encourage you to approach God's wisdom with expectation and readiness?**
* **In what practical ways can you "partake" more deeply in the feast of divine wisdom in your daily life, and what might you need to "fast" from?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "mingling her wine" in ancient contexts?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, "mingling wine" (Hebrew: _mâçak_) was a common and often sophisticated practice. It did not primarily imply dilution to weaken the wine, but rather a careful preparation to enhance its quality and palatability. This could involve mixing potent wine with water to make it suitable for extended feasting without excessive intoxication, or, more significantly, blending it with various spices, herbs, or other ingredients to create a more complex, aromatic, and enjoyable beverage. This practice elevated the wine from a simple drink to a refined part of a lavish banquet. In the context of [Proverbs 9:2](/proverbs/9-2 "Proverbs 9:2 - Lady Wisdom's Feast Preparations"), it underscores the meticulous care and excellence with which Lady Wisdom prepares her offerings, ensuring that the "wine" of her teaching is not raw or harsh, but refined, delightful, and perfectly suited to nourish the soul.

**How does this verse relate to the concept of hospitality in the Bible?**

Answer: Proverbs 9:2 is a powerful illustration of biblical hospitality, a virtue highly esteemed in ancient Near Eastern and biblical cultures. Hospitality was not merely an act of kindness but a moral and religious obligation, often involving lavish provision for guests, especially strangers or those in need. Lady Wisdom's actions—killing beasts, mingling wine, and furnishing her table—embody the highest form of generous and meticulous hospitality. She prepares a complete and abundant feast, making everything ready for her invited guests. This imagery reflects the divine character of God, who is the ultimate host, continually inviting humanity to partake in His abundant grace, wisdom, and life. It sets the stage for Wisdom's direct invitation in [Proverbs 9:5](/proverbs/9-5 "Proverbs 9:5 - Wisdom's Direct Invitation"), "Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled," paralleling God's universal invitation for all to come and find spiritual sustenance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Proverbs 9:2, with its vivid depiction of Lady Wisdom's lavish feast preparations, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Christ is revealed as the very embodiment of divine wisdom, as stated in [Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Christ, in whom are hidden all treasures of wisdom"), "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." The feast prepared by Lady Wisdom foreshadows the spiritual sustenance offered by Christ. He is the true "Bread of Life" who came down from heaven, declaring in [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." The "mingled wine" speaks to the new covenant established through His blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins ([Matthew 26:27-28](/matthew/26-27 "Matthew 26:27-28 - The New Covenant in His Blood")), offering spiritual refreshment and life to all who partake. The "furnished table" points to the open invitation Christ extends to all humanity: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Jesus' Invitation to the Weary")). Ultimately, the feast of wisdom culminates in the eschatological banquet of the Kingdom of God, the "marriage supper of the Lamb" ([Revelation 19:9](/revelation/19-9 "Revelation 19:9 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb")), where Christ Himself is both the host and the sustenance, providing eternal life and joy to all who accept His gracious invitation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 25:6

¶ And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

Proverbs 9:5

Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine [which] I have mingled.

Matthew 22:3

And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Matthew 22:14

For many are called, but few [are] chosen.

Proverbs 23:30

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

Luke 14:16

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

Luke 14:17

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.