Proverbs 7: The Enticement of Folly and the Path to Destruction
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Proverbs 7 offers a powerful and sobering lesson on the seductive nature of sin, particularly sexual immorality. While presented through the vivid imagery of an adulteress preying on a naive young man, the chapter serves as a broader warning against all forms of temptation and the devastating consequences that follow yielding to them. Solomon, drawing upon both divine wisdom and keen observation, paints a picture that resonates across generations, urging us to guard our hearts and minds against the allure of evil.
Heeding Wisdom's Call (Proverbs 7:1-5)
Solomon begins, as he often does, with a heartfelt plea to his "son" (Proverbs 7:1), which can be understood as a student or anyone seeking wisdom. He implores them to internalize his teachings, to "keep my commands and live, and guard my instructions as you would the pupil of your eye" (Proverbs 7:1-2). This emphasizes the life-giving nature of wisdom and the critical importance of protecting it. He further advises, "Tie them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart" (Proverbs 7:3), echoing Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which commands the Israelites to make God's Word an integral part of their daily lives. The wisdom of God must become not just our top priority, but a part of who we are and what we do.
The chapter then introduces the concept of personifying wisdom as a sister, someone to be cherished and protected (Proverbs 7:4-5). This echoes earlier depictions of wisdom as a woman in Proverbs (Proverbs 1:20–21; 4:7–9; 8:1–3). This intimate connection with wisdom is presented as a safeguard against the "adulteress," a symbol of temptation and sin that leads to ruin. While the literal language cautions a man about a predatory woman, the principles apply to both sexes and serve as a metaphor for all sin.
The Naive Youth and the Scheming Adulteress (Proverbs 7:6-21)
Solomon's wisdom is rooted not only in divine revelation but also in his own experiences. The tale he recounts is presented as something he witnessed firsthand (Proverbs 7:6). He observes a "youth lacking judgment" (Proverbs 7:7) walking near the corner of her street, heading down the path to her house. This young man, lacking good sense and discernment, is easily led astray.
The adulteress is depicted as an aggressive predator, stalking her prey with calculated cunning. She is described as being dressed seductively and lying in wait to surprise him, using flattery, boldness, and the promise of consequence-free pleasure to lure him into her trap (Proverbs 7:8-21). "So she seized him and kissed him and with a brazen face said to him..." (Proverbs 7:13). She assures him that her husband is away and that she has everything prepared for a night of illicit pleasure. These tactics are not unique to sexual temptation; they mirror the diverse ways temptation manifests itself in our lives. Recognizing these strategies equips us to resist them.
Tony Evans rightly points out that sexual immorality is personified as a woman on the prowl, seeking victims. In today's world, immorality is readily accessible, especially through mobile devices and the pervasive nature of pornography. This underscores the urgent need for parents to actively engage in sex education within a biblical framework, as the Bible places this responsibility on parents, not public schools.
The Inevitable Consequences (Proverbs 7:22-27)
The chapter culminates in a stark warning about the devastating consequences of succumbing to temptation. The reckless youth, captivated by the adulteress's allure, follows her blindly, "like an ox going to the slaughter, or a deer stepping into a noose" (Proverbs 7:22). He doesn't realize that it will cost him his life (Proverbs 7:23). Solomon emphasizes that yielding to evil's temptation inevitably leads to death, both spiritually and often physically (Proverbs 7:27). He is like a bird darting into a snare, not knowing it will cost him his life.
The tragic end of the story serves as a powerful reminder that sin, though often presented as enticing and harmless, carries a deadly sting. Proverbs 7 is a call to vigilance, urging us to guard our hearts, resist temptation, and choose the path of wisdom that leads to life. It is a reminder that the consequences of sin are far-reaching and that true freedom and joy are found in obedience to God's commands. Too many men—including Christian men—are suffering the far-reaching consequences of sexual sin.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Proverbs 7 offers a powerful and sobering lesson on the seductive nature of sin, particularly sexual immorality. While presented through the vivid imagery of an adulteress preying on a naive young man, the chapter serves as a broader warning against all forms of temptation and the devastating consequences that follow yielding to them. Solomon, drawing upon both divine wisdom and keen observation, paints a picture that resonates across generations, urging us to guard our hearts and minds against the allure of evil.
Heeding Wisdom's Call (Proverbs 7:1-5)
Solomon begins, as he often does, with a heartfelt plea to his "son" (Proverbs 7:1), which can be understood as a student or anyone seeking wisdom. He implores them to internalize his teachings, to "keep my commands and live, and guard my instructions as you would the pupil of your eye" (Proverbs 7:1-2). This emphasizes the life-giving nature of wisdom and the critical importance of protecting it. He further advises, "Tie them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart" (Proverbs 7:3), echoing Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which commands the Israelites to make God's Word an integral part of their daily lives. The wisdom of God must become not just our top priority, but a part of who we are and what we do.
The chapter then introduces the concept of personifying wisdom as a sister, someone to be cherished and protected (Proverbs 7:4-5). This echoes earlier depictions of wisdom as a woman in Proverbs (Proverbs 1:20–21; 4:7–9; 8:1–3). This intimate connection with wisdom is presented as a safeguard against the "adulteress," a symbol of temptation and sin that leads to ruin. While the literal language cautions a man about a predatory woman, the principles apply to both sexes and serve as a metaphor for all sin.
The Naive Youth and the Scheming Adulteress (Proverbs 7:6-21)
Solomon's wisdom is rooted not only in divine revelation but also in his own experiences. The tale he recounts is presented as something he witnessed firsthand (Proverbs 7:6). He observes a "youth lacking judgment" (Proverbs 7:7) walking near the corner of her street, heading down the path to her house. This young man, lacking good sense and discernment, is easily led astray.
The adulteress is depicted as an aggressive predator, stalking her prey with calculated cunning. She is described as being dressed seductively and lying in wait to surprise him, using flattery, boldness, and the promise of consequence-free pleasure to lure him into her trap (Proverbs 7:8-21). "So she seized him and kissed him and with a brazen face said to him..." (Proverbs 7:13). She assures him that her husband is away and that she has everything prepared for a night of illicit pleasure. These tactics are not unique to sexual temptation; they mirror the diverse ways temptation manifests itself in our lives. Recognizing these strategies equips us to resist them.
Tony Evans rightly points out that sexual immorality is personified as a woman on the prowl, seeking victims. In today's world, immorality is readily accessible, especially through mobile devices and the pervasive nature of pornography. This underscores the urgent need for parents to actively engage in sex education within a biblical framework, as the Bible places this responsibility on parents, not public schools.
The Inevitable Consequences (Proverbs 7:22-27)
The chapter culminates in a stark warning about the devastating consequences of succumbing to temptation. The reckless youth, captivated by the adulteress's allure, follows her blindly, "like an ox going to the slaughter, or a deer stepping into a noose" (Proverbs 7:22). He doesn't realize that it will cost him his life (Proverbs 7:23). Solomon emphasizes that yielding to evil's temptation inevitably leads to death, both spiritually and often physically (Proverbs 7:27). He is like a bird darting into a snare, not knowing it will cost him his life.
The tragic end of the story serves as a powerful reminder that sin, though often presented as enticing and harmless, carries a deadly sting. Proverbs 7 is a call to vigilance, urging us to guard our hearts, resist temptation, and choose the path of wisdom that leads to life. It is a reminder that the consequences of sin are far-reaching and that true freedom and joy are found in obedience to God's commands. Too many men—including Christian men—are suffering the far-reaching consequences of sexual sin.