New International VersionSpeak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
New Living TranslationSpeak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
English Standard VersionOpen your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Berean Standard BibleOpen your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
King James BibleOpen thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
New King James VersionOpen your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
New American Standard BibleOpen your mouth for the people who cannot speak, For the rights of all the unfortunate.
NASB 1995Open your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all the unfortunate.
NASB 1977Open your mouth for the dumb, For the rights of all the unfortunate.
Legacy Standard BibleOpen your mouth for the mute, For the justice of all those passing away.
Amplified BibleOpen your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all who are unfortunate and defenseless;
Christian Standard BibleSpeak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed.
Holman Christian Standard BibleSpeak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed.
American Standard VersionOpen thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.
Contemporary English VersionBut you must defend those who are helpless and have no hope.
English Revised VersionOpen thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are left desolate.
GOD'S WORD® Translation"Speak out for the one who cannot speak, for the rights of those who are doomed.
Good News Translation"Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless.
International Standard VersionSpeak for those who cannot speak; seek justice for all those on the verge of destruction.
NET BibleOpen your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying.
New Heart English BibleOpen your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
Webster's Bible TranslationOpen thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleOpen your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
World English BibleOpen your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionOpen your mouth for the mute, "" For the right of all sons of change.
Young's Literal Translation Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
Smith's Literal TranslationOpen thy mouth for the dumb, for the judgment of all the sons of the surviving. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleOpen thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
Catholic Public Domain VersionOpen your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.
New American BibleOpen your mouth in behalf of the mute, and for the rights of the destitute;
New Revised Standard VersionSpeak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleOpen your mouth with words of truth, and judge all the sons of the wicked.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedOpen your mouth with the word of truth and judge all the sons of evil. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationOpen thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Words of King Lemuel… 7Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. 8Openyour mouthfor those with no voice,forthe causeof allthe dispossessed.9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.…
Cross References Isaiah 1:17Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”
Psalm 82:3-4Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.
Isaiah 58:6-7Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
James 1:27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Matthew 25:35-40For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ...
Luke 4:18-19“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, / to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Jeremiah 22:16He took up the cause of the poor and needy, and so it went well with him. Is this not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD.
Zechariah 7:9-10“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another. / Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’
Micah 6:8He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Job 29:12-17because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper. / The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. / I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban. ...
Amos 5:24But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Matthew 5:7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Luke 10:30-37Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. / Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. / So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side. ...
1 John 3:17-18If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? / Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
Galatians 6:2Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Treasury of Scripture Open your mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. open Proverbs 24:7,11,12
Wisdomis too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate… 1 Samuel 19:4-7
And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his workshave been to theeward very good: … 1 Samuel 20:32
And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? such Psalm 79:11
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; Jump to Previous AppointedCauseChangeDeathDesolateDestituteDestructionDumbMouthMuteOpenReadyRightRightsSpeakThemselvesUnfortunateVoiceJump to Next AppointedCauseChangeDeathDesolateDestituteDestructionDumbMouthMuteOpenReadyRightRightsSpeakThemselvesUnfortunateVoiceProverbs 31 1.Lemuel's lesson of chastity and temperance6.The afflicted are to be comforted and defended10.The praise and properties of a good wifeOpen your mouthThis phrase emphasizes the importance of speaking out, particularly in defense of others. In biblical times, leaders and those in positions of authority were expected to advocate for justice and righteousness. The act of opening one's mouth signifies taking a stand and using one's voice to influence and bring about change. This aligns with the biblical principle of being a voice for the voiceless, as seen in Isaiah 1:17, which calls for defending the oppressed. for those with no voice
This part of the verse highlights the responsibility to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. In ancient Israel, the marginalized, such as widows, orphans, and foreigners, often lacked representation and protection. The call to speak for them reflects God's heart for justice and care for the vulnerable, as seen inPsalm 82:3-4, which urges defending the weak and fatherless. This advocacy is a reflection of God's character, who is described as a defender of the powerless. for the cause of all the dispossessed
The term "dispossessed" refers to those who have been deprived of their rights, property, or status. In the historical context of the Old Testament, this could include those who lost their land due to debt or injustice. The call to speak for their cause is a call to restore justice and equity, resonating with the Year of Jubilee laws inLeviticus 25, which aimed to restore land and freedom to those who had lost them. This advocacy is a type of Christ, who in His ministry, consistently reached out to the marginalized and offered them hope and restoration. Persons / Places / Events 1. King LemuelTraditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs 31, King Lemuel is believed to have received these teachings from his mother. The identity of Lemuel is not clearly defined in the Bible, and some scholars suggest it may be a symbolic name. 2. The DispossessedThis term refers to individuals who are marginalized, oppressed, or deprived of their rights and possessions. In the context of ancient Israel, this could include widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. 3. The Mother of King LemuelShe is the source of the wisdom imparted in Proverbs 31. Her teachings emphasize justice, righteousness, and the importance of speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Teaching Points The Call to AdvocacyAs Christians, we are called to be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. This involves actively seeking justice and advocating for the rights of the marginalized in our communities. Understanding the DispossessedRecognize who the dispossessed are in today's society. This includes the poor, the homeless, refugees, and others who are marginalized. Understanding their plight is the first step toward effective advocacy. Biblical JusticeBiblical justice goes beyond legal justice; it involves restoring relationships and ensuring that everyone has access to what they need to live a dignified life. This aligns with God's heart for justice as seen throughout Scripture. Practical Steps for AdvocacyEngage in practical actions such as volunteering, supporting organizations that work for justice, and using your voice in public forums to advocate for policies that protect the vulnerable. The Role of PrayerPrayer is a powerful tool in advocating for the dispossessed. Pray for wisdom, courage, and opportunities to make a difference in the lives of those who are marginalized. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 31
How does the Bible define human dignity?
Does the Bible address birth defects?
Can a Christian support pro-choice beliefs?
What are Gypsies and their beliefs?(8) Open thy mouth for the dumb.--Who cannot from timidity or ignorance plead his own cause, and who would therefore be crushed by his antagonist. Such as are appointed todestruction.--Certain to perish if left unaided. Comp. Job's account of his exertions for victims of high-handed oppression, an ever recurring evil under weak despotic governments (Job 29:12,sqq.). Verses 8, 9. - The third exhortation, admonishing the king to judge righteously. Verse 8. - Open thy mouth for the dumb. The "dumb" is any one who for any reason whatever is unable to plead his own cause; he may be of tender age, or of lowly station, or ignorant, timid, and boorish; and the prince is enjoined to plead for him and defend him (comp. Job 29:15). In the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction; literally, the sons of passing away ( Isaiah 2:18); i.e. not orphans, children whose parents have vanished from the earth, nor strangers from a foreign country, nor, generally, mortals, subjects of frail human nature (all of which explanations have been given), but persons who are in imminent danger of perishing, certain, if left unaided, to come to ruin (comp. Job 29:12). Septuagint, "Open thy mouth for the Word of God, and judge all men soundly ( ὑγιῶς)."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Openפְּתַח־(pə·ṯaḥ-)Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6605:To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carveyour mouthפִּ֥יךָ(pî·ḵā)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6310:The mouth, edge, portion, side, according tofor those with no voice,לְאִלֵּ֑ם(lə·’il·lêm)Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 483:Mute (unable to speak)forאֶל־(’el-)Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, tothe justiceדִּ֝֗ין(dîn)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1779:Judgement, strifeof allכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everythe dispossessed.בְּנֵ֥י(bə·nê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121:A son
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OT Poetry: Proverbs 31:8 Open your mouth for the mute (Prov. Pro Pr) |
