Proverbs Chapter 7 — Warning Against Temptation
A father warns his son to cling to wisdom as a shield against the seductive words and dangerous path of an unfaithful woman.
1My son, keep my words.
2Keep my commandments and live!
3Bind them on your fingers.
4Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.”
5that they may keep you from the strange woman,
6For at the window of my house,
7I saw among the simple ones.
8passing through the street near her corner,
9in the twilight, in the evening of the day,
10Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute,
11She is loud and defiant.
12Now she is in the streets, now in the squares,
13So she caught him, and kissed him.
14“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me.
15Therefore I came out to meet you,
16I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry,
17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18Come, let’s take our fill of loving until the morning.
19For my husband isn’t at home.
20He has taken a bag of money with him.
21With persuasive words, she led him astray.
22He followed her immediately,
23Until an arrow strikes through his liver,
24Now therefore, sons, listen to me.
25Don’t let your heart turn to her ways.
26for she has thrown down many wounded.
27Her house is the way to Sheol,*Sheol is the place of the dead.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Proverbs 7:4
“Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your relative.”
This verse personifies wisdom as a close family member to emphasize the intimacy and protection it provides.
Proverbs 7:22
“He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.”
This vivid metaphor illustrates the sudden and destructive nature of yielding to harmful temptations.
Chapter Summary
Proverbs 7 begins with an urgent plea for a son to treasure the commandments and treat wisdom as a close family member. The narrator then describes watching from a window as a young man with no sense walks through the streets at night. He is approached by a woman dressed as a prostitute who uses flattery and the promise of a luxurious setting to entice him. She assures him that her husband is away on a long trip and will not return soon. The young man eventually yields to her persuasive speech, following her like an ox to the slaughter. The chapter concludes by warning that many have been brought low by this path, which leads directly to the place of the dead, known as Sheol.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 'strange woman' refers to a person who is outside the bounds of a covenant relationship, specifically an adulteress or seductress. In this chapter, she represents the antithesis of wisdom, using flattery and deceit to lead others away from a righteous path.
Binding commandments on your fingers is a metaphor for keeping God's laws constantly visible and ready for use in daily actions. It suggests that wisdom should be as close and accessible as one's own hands.
The father observes the scene from a window to provide an objective, cautionary perspective on how easily a person lacking discernment can be led astray. By describing the young man's journey from a distance, the narrator highlights the trap that wisdom would have helped him avoid.
Study Note
The graphic description of the 'strange woman's' home as the 'way to Sheol' utilizes a common Ancient Near Eastern motif where moral failure is equated with physical death.
Related Chapters
Proverbs 2
Similar warnings are given in chapter 2 regarding the protection wisdom offers from the adulteress.
Proverbs 5
Chapter 5 also deals extensively with the theme of avoiding unfaithfulness and its bitter end.
Proverbs 6
The end of chapter 6 provides specific warnings about the dangers of adultery that lead directly into this chapter's narrative.
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