Proverbs 31:7 Meaning and Explanation
“Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Drink offers temporary relief to the destitute and suffering.
The Context of Proverbs 31:7
The merciful purpose of drink for the suffering.
What Does Proverbs 31:7 Mean?
This verse completes the compassion of verse 6. The suffering person drinks in order to forget—temporarily stepping away from the grinding reality of poverty and pain. The emphasis on forgetting and ceasing to remember indicates this is about psychological reprieve, not permanent escape.
The verse does not endorse perpetual escape through drink, but rather acknowledges a merciful use: momentary relief for those who carry unbearable burdens. It respects the need for respite while remaining implicit that this is temporary alleviation, not a solution to poverty itself.
Proverbs 31:7 in the Original Language
עָנִי (ani), 'poverty' or 'affliction' — a state of deprivation and lowliness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 31:7
What does Proverbs 31:7 mean?
Drink offers temporary relief to the destitute and suffering.
What is the context of Proverbs 31:7?
The merciful purpose of drink for the suffering.