Proverbs 9:5

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

Come {H3212}, eat {H3898} of my bread {H3899}, and drink {H8354} of the wine {H3196} which I have mingled {H4537}.

"Come and eat my food! Drink the wine I have mixed!

“Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.

Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled.

Commentary

Context

Proverbs Chapter 9 presents a vivid contrast between Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly, each issuing an invitation. In Proverbs 9:1-4, Lady Wisdom is depicted as having built her house, hewn out her seven pillars, prepared her feast, and sent out her maidens to call people to her banquet. Verse 5 is the heart of this invitation, directly urging individuals to partake in what she offers.

Key Themes

  • The Gracious Invitation of Wisdom: This verse highlights wisdom's proactive and generous call. Lady Wisdom does not wait to be sought out but actively invites all who are simple or lack understanding to come. It’s a personal, direct appeal to engage with truth and discernment.
  • Spiritual Nourishment and Sustenance: "Bread" and "wine" are universal symbols of sustenance and refreshment. In this context, they represent the profound spiritual and intellectual nourishment that true wisdom provides. Just as physical food sustains the body, wisdom sustains the soul, offering life, understanding, and peace. This imagery echoes the concept of spiritual food found elsewhere in Scripture, such as Jesus declaring Himself the Bread of Life.
  • Prepared Abundance: The phrase "which I have mingled" suggests that the wine (and by extension, the entire feast) has been thoughtfully prepared and made ready for consumption. This implies that wisdom is not chaotic or inaccessible, but rather ordered, available, and designed to be beneficial and enjoyable to those who receive it.

Linguistic Insights

The term "mingled" (Hebrew: masakh) in relation to wine typically refers to mixing wine with spices or water. While sometimes used to denote diluting wine, here it more likely implies preparing it for a pleasant and perhaps potent consumption, making it more palatable or enhancing its qualities. It signifies a careful, intentional preparation of what Lady Wisdom offers.

Related Scriptures

This invitation stands in stark contrast to the deceptive and ultimately destructive invitation of Lady Folly later in the chapter (Proverbs 9:16-17), whose "stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." The choice presented in Proverbs 9 is between two paths, one leading to life through wisdom (Proverbs 4:13), and the other to death through folly.

Practical Application

Proverbs 9:5 serves as a timeless invitation for us to actively pursue and embrace wisdom. To "eat of my bread" and "drink of the wine" means to internalize God's truth, to meditate on His Word, and to allow its principles to shape our thoughts and actions. It's an encouragement to seek understanding, apply discernment in daily life, and choose the path of righteousness that leads to genuine flourishing. Just as we need physical sustenance daily, we need spiritual nourishment from wisdom to navigate life's complexities and grow in spiritual maturity.

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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 6:27

    Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

  • Song Of Solomon 5:1

    ¶ I am come into my garden, my sister, [my] spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

  • Proverbs 9:17

    Stolen waters are sweet, and bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.

  • Jeremiah 31:12

    Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

  • Jeremiah 31:14

    And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

  • Psalms 22:29

    All [they that be] fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

  • Psalms 22:26

    The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
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