Lemuel
Textsâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Lemuel is a king addressed in Proverbs 31:1-9, containing advice on governance and justice, followed by an acrostic poem in verses 10-31 describing an ideal wife; the name may derive from a Semitic root meaning 'for God' or 'king of Massa,' suggesting a possible non-Israelite origin or a literary pseudonym.
What is the meaning of Lemuel in the Bible?
Lemuel is a king addressed in Proverbs 31:1-9, containing advice on governance and justice, followed by an acrostic poem in verses 10-31 describing an ideal wife; the name may derive from a Semitic root meaning 'for God' or 'king of Massa,' suggesting a possible non-Israelite origin or a literary pseudonym.
TEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Lemuel helps readers recognize the diverse cultural influences within the wisdom literature of the Old Testament and appreciate the structural complexity of the final chapter of Proverbs as a distinct literary unit.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Lemuel in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Lemuel clarify?
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.