What does Proverbs 31:2 mean?

Lemuel's mother (Proverbs 31:1) repeats a certain phrasing three times. This uses the Hebrew root word mah, a generic term usually translated as some variation of the question "what?" Different English versions apply this to Lemuel's actions. Others see it as a call to pay attention. Some translate the phrase as a further introduction, like "what can I say to you?" One can imagine a mother with a thoughtful look, sighing deeply, as she considers how to advise her son.

The mother reminds Lemuel of their close bond, referring to him repeatedly as her son. In this case, the son is her own, natural child: the "son of [her] womb." The reference to vows may refer to her marriage. Or the woman may have made promises similar to those of Hannah, who fervently prayed for a son (1 Samuel 1:10–11). The book of Proverbs notes often that children's decisions reflect on the parents (Proverbs 19:26; 28:7; 29:15). Perhaps Lemuel's mother reflects on a promise to raise her child in a godly way (Proverbs 22:6), and this advice is meant to summarize her instruction.