Does Proverbs 31:6 condone alcohol consumption for those in distress? Full Text “Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul. Let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his misery no more.” (Proverbs 31:6-7) Immediate Literary Setting Verses 1-9 record “the words of King Lemuel—an oracle his mother taught him.” The context is maternal wisdom addressed to a ruler (v. 4 “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine”). Verses 4-5 prohibit the king’s self-indulgence so that justice is not impaired, while verses 6-7 direct him to channel intoxicants toward those in terminal anguish. The contrast clarifies that alcohol impairs judgment but may ease suffering for the dying. Ancient Near-Eastern Medical Practice Cuneiform texts from Ugarit (14th c. BC) list beer and wine in pharmacopoeia for pain relief. The Egyptian Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BC) prescribes beer-wine mixtures for sedation during surgery. Proverbs 31:6 fits this medical paradigm: alcohol as analgesic in societies lacking opiates. The directive is compassionate hospice care, not blanket permission for escapism. Canonical Harmony Scripture uniformly forbids drunkenness: • “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat” (Proverbs 23:20). • “Wine is a mocker… whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). • “Do not be drunk with wine…but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Proverbs 31:6-7 stands as an exception guarded by purpose (pain relief) and audience (the dying), keeping harmony with the broader prohibition against intoxication for pleasure or escape. Theological Considerations 1. Imago Dei: Human life, even in dying moments, retains worth. Providing comfort is an act of love (James 1:27). 2. Stewardship of the Mind: Kings and believers must keep faculties clear for righteous decision-making (1 Peter 5:8). 3. Eschatological Hope: For believers, ultimate solace is in the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Temporary palliatives do not replace eternal comfort. Practical Application for Christians Today • Hospice care may legitimately employ morphine or controlled alcohol analogues, aligning with Proverbs 31:6’s principle. • Personal sorrow is not license for self-medication; believers are invited to cast cares on Christ (1 Peter 5:7). • Church leaders (1 Timothy 3:3) and all disciples exercise liberty within love (Romans 14:21), avoiding stumbling blocks. Answer to the Question Proverbs 31:6 does not endorse routine consumption of alcohol for emotional distress. It authorizes compassionate, medicinal use for those in terminal physical or extreme existential agony, while simultaneously forbidding every form of intoxication that dulls moral responsibility. The passage strengthens, rather than weakens, the biblical ethic of sobriety, mercy, and godly care for the vulnerable. |
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