Proverbs 31:8

“Open thy mouth for the dumb, etc.] Not who are naturally so, but who cannot speak in their own behalf, either through want of elocution, or knowledge of the laws; or who are bashful, timorous, and fearful, being overawed by the majesty of a court of judicature, or by their prosecutors; or who, as they have not a tongue, so not a purse, to speak for them, the fatherless and the widow; which latter has her name, in the Hebrew language, from dumbness. Here Lemuel’s mother advises him to open his mouth freely, readily, boldly, and intrepidly, and plead for such persons. Even in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction; whose destruction is resolved on by their accusers and…”

“Open . . . cause--Plead for those who cannot plead for themselves, as the orphan, stranger, &c. (compare Psa 72:12; Isa 1:17). appointed to destruction--who are otherwise ruined by their oppressors (compare Pro 29:14, Pro 29:16).”

“In contrast with the two besetting sins of Eastern monarchs stands their one great duty, to give help to those who had no other helper. Such as are appointed to destruction - literally, “children of bereavement,” with the sense, either, as in the text, of those “destined to be bereaved of life or goods,” or of “bereaved or fatherless children.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“The dumb - For such as cannot speak in their own cause, either through ignorance, or because of the dread of their more potent adversaries. Destruction - Who, without such succour from the judges, are like to be utterly ruined. Proverbs 31:10”

“31:8-9 Rather than opening his mouth to drink wine (31:4-7), the king should speak up on behalf of the defenseless.”

“Open: Pro 24:7, Pro 24:11, Pro 24:12; Sa1 19:4-7, Sa1 20:32, Sa1 22:14, Sa1 22:15; Est 4:13-16; Job 29:9, Job 29:17; Psa 82:3, Psa 82:4; Jer 26:16-19, Jer 26:24, Jer 38:7-10; Joh 7:51 such: etc. Heb. the sons of destruction, Psa 79:11 \*marg. Proverbs 31:9”

“8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all the children of leaving; 9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And do right to the poor and needy. He is called dumb who suffers the infirmity of dumbness, as עוּר and פּסּח, Job 29:15, is he who suffers the infirmity of blindness or lameness, not here figuratively; at the same time, he who, on account of his youth, or on account of his ignorance, or from fear, cannot speak before the tribunal for himself (Fleischer). With ל the dat. commodi (lxx after Lagarde, μογιλάλῳ; Aquila, Symmachus, Theodotion, ἀλάλῳ; the Venet. after Gebhardt, βωβῷ) אל, of the object aimed at, interchanges, as e.g., Kg1 19:3; Kg2 7:7, אל־נפשׁם, for the…”