What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
PROVERBS 31:2KJVWhat does Proverbs 31:2 mean?
Proverbs 31:2 shows a mother speaking directly to her son, using emotional and repeated questions to get his attention and stress the importance of what she is about to say. She calls him her son, the son she carried, and the son she prayed for, highlighting their close bond and the seriousness of her words.
The speaker in Proverbs 31:2 is traditionally understood as King Lemuel’s mother, addressing her son with deep feeling. By repeating “What, my son?” and describing him as “the son of my womb” and “the son of my vows,” she reminds him—and the reader—of their personal connection and her hopes for him. This introduction sets the stage for the wise advice she is about to give in the following verses.
The Hebrew behind Proverbs 31:2
- בֵּן (ben, H1248): This word means “son.” The mother uses it three times, each with a slightly different phrase, to emphasize her personal relationship and concern for her child.
- בֶּטֶן (beten, H990): This word means “womb.” By calling him “the son of my womb,” the mother points to their physical connection and her role in giving him life.
- נֶדֶר (neder, H5088): This word means “vow.” Referring to him as “the son of my vows” suggests he may have been born after a special promise or prayer, showing her spiritual investment in his life.
Why Proverbs 31:2 matters
- Proverbs 31:2 clears up that the advice in the following verses is not just general wisdom, but heartfelt guidance from a mother to her son, making the words more personal and weighty.
- The verse highlights the mother’s deep emotional and spiritual connection to her son, reminding readers that wisdom often comes from those who care for us most.
- By repeating “son” and mentioning both the womb and vows, the verse connects the coming advice to both family ties and spiritual commitments, showing that wisdom is rooted in both love and faith.