What is the meaning of Proverbs 31:2? What shall I say, O my son? - A mother pauses, weighing her words because she knows her counsel will shape a king’s character (Proverbs 1:8; 4:1–4). - The phrase underlines the gravity of parental instruction; she will not speak lightly but with purposeful wisdom, echoing Deuteronomy 6:6–7, where parents are urged to teach God’s commands diligently. - It signals urgency—“My son, you must grasp this”—similar to Paul’s charge to Timothy to guard the good deposit (2 Timothy 1:14). What, O son of my womb? - She appeals to their life-long bond, reminding him that her guidance springs from sacrificial love (Psalm 139:13; Isaiah 49:15). - By invoking the womb, she emphasizes God’s sovereignty in his birth and destiny, mirroring Jeremiah 1:5, where the Lord knew Jeremiah before he was formed. - The tenderness recalls Mary treasuring all things in her heart concerning Jesus (Luke 2:51), underscoring a mother’s unique perspective on her child’s calling. What, O son of my vows? - “Vows” points to a deliberate dedication of the child to the Lord, much like Hannah’s pledge concerning Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11, 28). - The statement presses the king to remember he is not his own; he belongs to God by solemn promise (Numbers 30:2; Ecclesiastes 5:4–5). - It frames the coming counsel (verses 3–9) as covenantal responsibility, paralleling kings like Josiah who renewed covenant vows before leading the nation (2 Kings 23:3). summary Proverbs 31:2 captures a mother’s heartfelt appeal before issuing life-defining instruction. She speaks with deliberation (“What shall I say”), affection rooted in shared life (“son of my womb”), and covenantal seriousness (“son of my vows”). Together these phrases call the son—and every reader—to receive godly counsel with the weight, warmth, and worshipful commitment it deserves. |
    |