Proverbs 9:5

Come, eat of my bread,.... Which stands for all the provisions of Christ's house; it designs the Gospel, which to a believer is more than his necessary food; and the ordinance of the supper, one of

Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine (which) I have mingled. The feast is not to see, but to enjoy (Bridges). 'The bread of wisdom' is the bread of life.

Proverbs 9:5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine [which] I have mingled.Ver. 5. Come, eat of my bread.] Stand not off in a sinful modesty; say not, I am not worthy, &c., but "Come," for "the Master calls you," as they said to the blind man, who therefore came. And those recusant guests, by not coming when invited, might "not taste" of Christ’ s supper; for they were unworthy. And drink of the wine which I have mingled.] Lo, here a full feast, not a dry feast! Lyrannus noteth on this chapter, that the Eucharist was anciently delivered in both kinds: but because of the danger of spilling the blood, the Church ordained that laymen should have the bread only. The Council of Constance comes in with a non obstante against Christ’ s institution, withholding the cup from the sacrament. Caranza.

(5) Come, eat of my bread . . .—Comp. the invitations of Isa 55:1 and John 6:35.

Verse 5. Come, eat of my bread] Not only receive my instructions, but act according to my directions. Drink of the wine - I have mingled.] Enter into my counsels; be not contented with superficial knowledge on any subject, where any thing deeper may be attained. Go by the streams to the fountain head. Look into the principles on which they were formed; investigate their nature, examine their properties, acquaint thyself with their relations, connections, influences, and various uses. See the skill, power, and goodness of God in their creation. And when thou hast learned all within thy reach, know that thou knowest but little of the manifold wisdom of God. Let what thou hast learned humble thee, by showing thee how very little thou dost know. Thou hast drunk of the provided wine; but that wine was mingled with water, for God will hide pride from man. He dwells only on the surface of religious and philosophical learning, who does not perceive and feel that he is yet but a child in knowledge; that he see through a glass darkly; that he perceives men like trees walking; and that there are lengths, breadths, depths, and heights, in the works and ways of God, which it will require an eternity to fathom. Here below the pure wine is mingled with water: but this is God's work. Yet there is enough; do not therefore be contented with a little. To this subject the words of the poet may be well applied: - A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: For scanty draughts intoxicate the brain, But drinking largely sobers us again. POPE Among the ancient Jews, Greeks, and Romans, wine was rarely drank without being mingled with water; and among ancient writers we find several ordinances for this. Some direct three parts of water to one of wine; some five parts; and Pliny mentions some wines that required twenty waters: but the most common proportions appear to have been three parts of water to two of wine. But probably the יין מסך yayin masach, mingled wine, was wine mingled, not with water, to make it weaker; but with spices and other ingredients to make it stronger. The ingredients were honey, myrrh, mandragora, opium, and such like, which gave it not only an intoxicating but stupifying quality also. Perhaps the mixed wine here may mean wine of the strongest and best quality, that which was good to cheer and refresh the heart of man. If we consider the mixed wine as meaning this strong wine, then the import of the metaphor will be, a thorough investigation of the works of God will invigorate the soul, strengthen all the mental powers, enlarge their capacity, and enable the mind to take the most exalted views of the wonders of God's skill manifested in the operations of his hand.

5. eat] Rather, eat ye, R.V. The word is plural. The invitation though addressed to each (Proverbs 9:4) is extended to all. Comp. Isaiah 55:1.

A parallel to the higher teaching of the Gospels (compare John 6:27; Matthew 26:26).

5. Come — The sense is continued from the preceding verse. The sentiment, stripped of metaphor, is: Wise instructions, received with relish, will afford comfort, satisfaction, and pleasure of the highest and noblest kind. Comp.