Proverbs 27:27

Pro 27:27 And [thou shalt have] goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and [for] the maintenance for thy maidens.

Ver. 27. And thou shalt have goat’s milk enough.] And this was anciently accounted good cheer indeed. By goat’s milk understand all manner of white meat, as they call it; and see how sparingly they lived in those days, content with that they had at hand, and not running every hand’s while to the butcher’s or draper’s, as now. Or if the men, being harder wrought, had stronger meat sometimes, yet the maidens were well content with a more slender diet. Apelles painted a servant with his hands full of tools - to show that he should be work brittle; with broad shoulders - to bear hard usage; with hind’s feet - to run about his businesses; with ass’s ears, and his mouth shut - to signify that he should be swift to hear, slow to speak; lastly, with a lean belly - that he should be content with coarse fare, spare diet, &c.

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.

household--literally, "house," the family (Act 16:15; Co1 1:16).

Next: Proverbs Chapter 28

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 27. Goats' milk enough for thy food] ללחמך lelachmecha, "to thy bread;" for they ate the bread and supped the milk to assist mastication, and help deglutition. And it seems that bread, with goats' milk, was the general article of food for the master and his family; and for the servant maids who assisted in the household work, and performed the operations required in the dairy.

The reader who wishes to see these maxims detailed and illustrated at large, may consult the writers De Re Rustica, where he will find much curious information.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(27) For the maintenance for thy maidens, who tend the cattle.

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

27. for the maintenance of] Rather, maintenance for, R.V.

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.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Milk. We cannot but admire such frugality. Septuagint are rather different; (Calmet) ver. 25., "Be careful of the grass of thy field....that thou mayst have lambs for thy clothing. Honour the field, that there may be lambs for thee. (27) Son, thou hast from me solid instructions for thy life, and for that of thy servants." (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Goats’ milk enough for thy food; or, if thou choosest rather to keep than to sell thy goats, the milk of them will serve thee for food to thyself, and to thy family. In ancient times men used a plain and simple diet, and neither knew nor used that curiosity and luxury in it which after-ages invented.

For thy maidens; who are named, because this nourishment was more proper for the weaker sex, whereas men required a stronger diet.

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

27. Maintenance — חיים, (hhayyim,) the means of livelihood — sustenance.

Maidens — Never wanting in a large household. Here, naturally, shepherdesses, milkmaids.

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

Goats" milk. Dr. Geikie ("Holy Land and Bible," 1:311) notes that in most parts of Palestine goats" milk in every form sour, sweet, thick, thin, warm, or cold makes, with eggs and bread, the main food of the people. And maintenance for thy maidens; who milk the goats, etc., and tend the cattle, and do the household work. There is no mention of the use of animal flesh as food. It was only on great occasions, as high festivals, or the presence of an honoured guest, that kids, lambs, and calves were killed and eaten. This picture of rural peace and plenty points to a time of security and prosperity, free alike from internal commotion and external danger. The famous passage in Cicero, "De Senect.," 15., on the pleasures and advantages of the agricultural life. will occur to all classical readers. So also Horace ("Epod.," 2), "Beatus ille qui procul negotiis," etc. The LXX makes short work of this verse, "My son, thou hast from me sayings mighty for thy life and for the life of thy servants."

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

Goat's milk - Or, if thou chusest rather to keep thy goats, the milk will serve thee for food to thyself and family. In ancient times men used a plain and simple diet.

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

and enough for your sustenance.

For your food and the food of your household; you will have sufficient goat milk. This is the figure. The allegory is: the condition of your flocks The teacher who is appointed over the congregation is required to carry them in his bosom and to lead them slowly. For riches are not forever and thereby, he eats the fruit, and the principal remains.

When the hay is carried away When his laws are disseminated and the Torah is magnified through him, then these lambs will be his clothing, and the disciples shall be to him for a name and for raiment of glory and beauty.

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.