What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?
What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
"Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb, and what, O son of my vows?
What, my son? - The Chaldee בר bar is used twice in this verse, instead of the Hebrew בן ben, son. This verse is very elliptical; and commentators, according to their different tastes, have inserted words, indeed some of them a whole sentence, to make up the sense. Perhaps Coverdale has hit the sense as nearly as any other: "These are the wordes of Kynge Lemuel; and the lesson that his mother taughte him. My sonne, thou son of my body, O my deare beloved sonne!"
The son of my vows? - A child born after vows made for offsprings is called the child of a person's vows.
The repetitions are emphatic; expressive of anxious love.
Son of my vows - Like Samuel, and Samson, the child often asked for in prayer, the prayer ratified by a vow of dedication. The name Lemuel (literally "for God," consecrated to Him) may be the expression of that dedication; and the warning against indulging in wine Proverbs 31:4 shows that it had something of the Nazarite or Rechabite idea in it.
31:2 What - A short speech, arguing her great passion for him; what words shall I take? What counsels shall I give thee? My heart is full, but where shall I begin? Of my womb - My son, not by adoption, but whom I bare in the womb, and therefore it is my duty to give thee admonitions, and thine to receive them. My vows - On whose behalf I have made many prayers and sacrifices, and solemn vows to God; whom I have, as far as in me lay, devoted to the work, and service, and glory of God.