LEMUEL lĕm’ yŏŏ əl (לְמוּאֵ֣ל, devoted to God). The reputed author of Proverbs 31:1-9 who repeats his mother’s teachings about good government and the dangers of sex and wine. Rabbinic tradition equates Lemuel with Solomon, but modern critics reject this. It is not known whether Lemuel was a historical person. According to KJV and RSV (following LXX, Syr. and Targ.) he was king of Massa.