Proverbs 23:30

Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

Ver. 30. They that tarry long at the wine.] These men do not want time, but waste it. Pliny, if he were alive, would surely say to such, as once he did to his nephew, Poteras has horas non perdidisse, Thou mightest have spent thy time much better. How may those winebibbers more justly lament their loss than good Bernard did, and say each man for himself, Totum vitae meae tempus perdidi, quia perdite vixi!

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Which by art make wine stronger and more pleasant.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(30) They that go to seek mixed wine.—Or, To test; to see whether it is to their taste. The wines of the ancients were not generally drunk pure, but diluted with water or flavoured with spices. (See above on Pro_9:2.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

30. seek] There is a touch of irony (non caret sale, Maur.) in the use of a word in such a connection, which is used elsewhere of the diligent search for wisdom (Job_28:27), or other noble objects (Psa_139:1).

mixt] i.e. with spices, Pro_9:2; Isa_5:22.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

They that tarry long at the wine,.... At drinking it. Do not care to stir from it when at it; spend whole days and nights in it, and are overcome by it, and so bring upon them all the above evils;

they that go to seek mixed wine, not wine mixed with water, as used commonly by temperate people in hot countries; but either mixed with spices, to make it more palatable, or with different sorts of wine, some very strong, and more heady and intoxicating; or mere wine meant; wine "poured out", as the word (q) signifies, where there is plenty of it; and such as are given to wine go and seek out such places, and where the best is to be had. So the Targum,

"they go and seek the house of mixture, or mixed wine;''

or, as the Syriac version,

"the house of feasting;''

and so the Arabic:

"where there are junketing and drinking bouts,''

as the Septuagint.

(q) "calicibus epotandi", V. L.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Either mixed with water, or with other ingredients, to make it strong and delicious. Heb. mixture; mixed drinks of several sorts suited to their palates.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

30. Tarry long at the wine — Compare Isa_3:11; Job_1:4; Job_28:9. The goodness of the wine of Candia renders the Candiots great drinkers, and it often happens that two or three such will sit down together at the foot of a cask, from whence they will not depart till they have emptied it. (Calmet’s Fragments, 199.)

That go to seek mixed wine — Wine flavoured with aromatic spices, that increase its stimulating properties.

Isa_5:22; Pro_9:2. “Going to seek,” means going to prove, test, or make trial of it, as connoisseurs or “winetasters” do.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The answer to the above searching questions is here given. They that tarry long at the wine, (Isa_5:11) who sit till late hours drinking. They that go to seek mixed wine; i.e. go to the wine house, place of revelry, where they may taste and give their opinion upon "mixed wine," mimsak, wine mingled with certain spices or aromatic substances, or else simply with water, as it was too luscious to be drunk undiluted. (see on Pro_9:2) Septuagint, "those who hunt out where carousals are taking place."

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Mixt wine - Either mixed with water, or with other ingredients to make it strong and delicious.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

v. 30. They that tarry long at the wine, being engaged regularly in drinking it; they that go to seek mixed wine, the strong spiced liquor whose inebriating effects were even worse than that of wine. The admonition, therefore, is spoken:

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

for mixed wine [as translated,] for mixed wine; this word is a noun, like ממכר, merchandise.

to search for mixed wine Who search and hunt where good wine is sold.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.