At the end of your lifeThis phrase emphasizes the culmination of one's earthly journey, highlighting the consequences of a life lived without wisdom. In biblical context, the "end of life" often refers to a time of reflection and judgment.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 speaks to the importance of fearing God and keeping His commandments as the ultimate duty of man, suggesting that the end of life is a time when one's actions are evaluated. The phrase also echoes the biblical theme of mortality and the brevity of life, as seen in
Psalm 90:10, which reminds us that our days are numbered.
you will groan
The groaning here signifies deep regret and sorrow. In the Hebrew context, groaning is often associated with suffering and distress, as seen inExodus 2:23, where the Israelites groaned under the weight of their bondage. This groaning is a result of realizing the consequences of one's foolish choices, particularly in the context of Proverbs, which frequently contrasts the outcomes of wisdom and folly. The emotional weight of this groaning underscores the importance of heeding wisdom's call throughout one's life.
when your flesh and your body are spent
This phrase highlights the physical decline that accompanies the end of life, serving as a metaphor for the spiritual and moral decay resulting from a life of sin. The imagery of a spent body reflects the biblical understanding of the consequences of sin, as seen inRomans 6:23, which states that the wages of sin is death. The physical deterioration is also a reminder of the temporal nature of earthly pleasures and the ultimate futility of pursuing them at the expense of spiritual well-being. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative that emphasizes the importance of spiritual health over physical indulgence, as seen in1 Timothy 4:8, which contrasts bodily training with godliness.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
SolomonTraditionally considered the author of Proverbs, Solomon was known for his wisdom and his role as the king of Israel. He wrote Proverbs to impart wisdom and understanding.
2.
The Adulterous WomanWhile not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of
Proverbs 5 warns against the temptations of the adulterous woman, symbolizing the dangers of infidelity and moral compromise.
3.
The Wise FatherThe speaker in
Proverbs 5 is often seen as a father figure imparting wisdom to his son, representing the voice of wisdom and instruction.
4.
The Young ManThe recipient of the wisdom in Proverbs, often depicted as a young man who is being warned against the pitfalls of immorality.
5.
The Path of FollyThe broader context of
Proverbs 5 contrasts the path of wisdom with the path of folly, emphasizing the consequences of choosing the latter.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of SinSin, particularly sexual immorality, has long-lasting consequences that can lead to regret and physical deterioration.
The Importance of WisdomSeeking wisdom and adhering to God's commandments can prevent the regret and groaning described in
Proverbs 5:11.
The Value of Self-ControlPracticing self-control and avoiding temptation is crucial to living a life that honors God and avoids future regret.
Reflecting on Life's ChoicesRegularly evaluate your life choices in light of Scripture to ensure they align with God's will and avoid future remorse.
The Role of AccountabilitySurround yourself with godly counsel and accountability partners to help you stay on the path of righteousness.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Proverbs 5:11?
2.How can we avoid the regret mentioned in Proverbs 5:11 in our lives?
3.What does Proverbs 5:11 teach about the consequences of ignoring wisdom?
4.How does Proverbs 5:11 connect with the warnings in Proverbs 1:7?
5.In what ways can we apply Proverbs 5:11 to modern temptations?
6.How can Proverbs 5:11 guide us in making wise, God-honoring decisions?
7.What does Proverbs 5:11 mean by "flesh and body are consumed"?
8.How does Proverbs 5:11 warn against the consequences of immorality?
9.What historical context influenced the writing of Proverbs 5:11?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 5?
11.What is the Assumption of Mary?
12.What defines emotional intelligence?
13.In Job 5:3, how could a fool suddenly flourish only to be cursed, and does this reflect any historical or archeological anomaly?
14.What is the Bible's stance on terrorism?What Does Proverbs 5:11 Mean
At the end of your life• Solomon pictures a very real moment every person will face, the close of earthly days (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7;Hebrews 9:27).
• Choices that once felt private are finally weighed in public view (Romans 14:12).
• The chapter’s earlier warnings about adultery (Proverbs 5:3-9) now reach maturity; time reveals whether we cherished wisdom or chased folly.
•Galatians 6:7-8 reminds us, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap”. Harvest day comes at life’s sunset.
you will groan• “Groan” conveys audible regret—anguish that cannot be hidden (Romans 2:9;Matthew 13:42).
• In contrast to the fleeting pleasure of sin, pain lingers;Proverbs 1:31 speaks of those who “eat the fruit of their own way.”
• The fatherly tone of Proverbs urges us to hear this groan now, while change is still possible (Hebrews 3:13).
•Luke 16:24 shows a rich man too late begging for relief. Groaning is a literal outcome for those who dismiss God’s counsel.
when your flesh and your body are spent• Sin affects the body as well as the soul. Sexual immorality especially “sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18).
•Proverbs 5 pictures squandered vitality: wealth drained (v. 10), strength sapped (v. 11).
•Psalm 32:3-4 links unconfessed sin with physical weakness: “my bones wasted away… my strength was drained.”
• Modern experience confirms Scripture: broken health, fractured families, diseases, and emotional scars all echo this verse.
• Yet repentance can still bring cleansing (1 John 1:9) and even physical restoration within God’s will (James 5:15-16).
summaryProverbs 5:11 is a loving but stern warning: ignore God’s design, and you will meet a literal day of painful reckoning—mind, heart, and body drained. Hear the warning early, cherish the Lord’s wisdom, and finish life rejoicing instead of groaning.
(11)
When thy flesh and thy body are consumed.--Ruin of health has followed ruin of property.
Verse 11. - The last argument is the mental anguish which ensues when health is ruined and wealth is squandered.
And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed. The Hebrew
v'nahamta is rather "and thou groan." It is not the plaintive wailing or the subdued grief of heart which is signified, but the loud wail of lamentation, the groaning indicative of intense mental suffering called forth by the remembrance of past folly, and which sees no remedy in the future. The verb
naham occurs again in
Proverbs 28:15, where it is used of the roaring of the lion, and the cognate noun
naham is met with in
Proverbs 19:12 and Proverbs 20:2 in the same sense. By Ezekiel it is used of the groaning of the people of Jerusalem when they shall see their sanctuary profaned, their sons and their daughters fall by the sword, and their city destroyed (
Ezekiel 24:23). Isaiah (
Isaiah 5:29, 30) applies it to the
roaring of the sea. The Vulgate reproduces the idea in
gemas, equivalent to "and thou groan." The LXX. rendering,
καὶ μεταμεληθήσῃ, "and thou shelf repent," arising from the adoption of a different pointing,
nikhamta, from the niph.
nikham, "to repent," for
nahamta, to some extent expresses the sense.
At the last; literally,
at thine end;
i.e. when thou art ruined, or, as the teacher explains,
when thy flesh and thy body are consumed. The expression, "thy flesh and thy body," here stands for the whole body, the body in its totality, not the body and the soul, which would be different. Of these two words "the flesh" (
basar) rather denotes the flesh in its strict sense as such (cf.
Job 31:31;
Job 33:21), while "body" (
sh'er) is the flesh adhering to the bones. Gesenlus regards them as synonymous terms, stating, however, that
sh'er is the more poetical as to use. The word
basar is used to denote the whole body in ch. 14:30. It is clear that, by the use of these two terms here, the teacher is following a peculiarity observable elsewhere in the Proverbs, of combining two terms to express, and so to give force to, one idea. The expression describes "the utter destruction of the libertine" (Umbreit). This destruction, as further involving the ruin of the soul, is described in ch. 6:32, "Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding; he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul (
nephesh)" (cf.
Proverbs 7:22, 23).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
At the end of your lifeבְאַחֲרִיתֶ֑ךָ(ḇə·’a·ḥă·rî·ṯe·ḵā)Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 319:The last, end, the future, posterityyou will groanוְנָהַמְתָּ֥(wə·nā·ham·tā)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5098:To growl, groanwhen your fleshבְּ֝שָׂרְךָ֗(bə·śā·rə·ḵā)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1320:Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, manand your bodyוּשְׁאֵרֶֽךָ׃(ū·šə·’ê·re·ḵā)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7607:Flesh, as living, for, food, food of any kind, kindred by bloodare spent,בִּכְל֥וֹת(biḵ·lō·wṯ)Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3615:To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent
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OT Poetry: Proverbs 5:11 You will groan at your latter end (Prov. Pro Pr) 
