Proverbs 27:27

27 You shall have enough goats' milk for your food, For the food of your household, And the nourishment of your maidservants.

Proverbs 27:27 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 27:27

And [thou shalt have] goats' milk enough for thy food
The word for "goats", in ( Proverbs 27:26 ) , signifies he goats, which were sold to buy fields, pay servants or rent, or purchase the necessaries of life; and this here signifies she goats, which were kept for their milk; and which was daily used for food in some countries, and is still in use for the same purpose in some parts of our kingdoms; and in medicine it has been preferred by some physicians above others, next to the milk of women ^F23: and the diligent husbandman is promised not only plenty of this his own eating, at least a sufficiency of it, but for his family; for the food of thy household;
his wife and children: and [for] maintenance for thy maidens:
or "the lives" ^F24 of them, on which they should live; for, though menservants might require strong meat yet the maidens might live upon milk; besides, Athenaeus ^F25 speaks of most delicious cheese made of goats' milk, called "tromilicus". The design of the whole is to show that a man diligent in his business shall have a sufficiency for himself and his family; and, though it may be but the meaner sort of food and clothing he may get, yet, having food and raiment, he should therewith be content.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 28. c. 9. Vid. Scheuehzer. Physic, Sacr. vol. 5. p. 1016.
F24 (Myyxw) "vitas", Montanus; "ad vitam", Gejerus; "life" is often put for "bread"; or for that by which life is maintained, both in Greek and Latin writers; so (biov) , in Hesiod. Opera, l. 1. v. 31, 328. and "vita", in Plaut. Stichus, Act. 3. Sc. 2. v. 9. Trinum, Act. 2. Sc. 4. v. 76.
F25 Deipnosoph. l. 14. c. 22. p. 658. see also l. 1. c. 8. p 10.

Proverbs 27:27 In-Context

25 When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,

26 The lambs will provide your clothing, And the goats the price of a field;

27 You shall have enough goats' milk for your food, For the food of your household, And the nourishment of your maidservants.