Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 7

Verses 1-5

Pro 7:1-5

Proverbs 7:1-5

"This chapter describes the way of an adulteress, contrasting with Proverbs 8 which sets forth the way of wisdom. It features an eye-witness account of the seduction of a young man by an adulteress. The account is realistic and needs only brief interpretation.”

"It is the fearful desolation which adultery causes that does not allow the author of Proverbs to abandon this theme which he has already discussed again and again. Here he reiterates the warning once more, reinforcing it with an illustration that he himself had witnessed.” "Here we see how helpless the young simpleton is under the skillful temptation that confronted him.” "This is the longest and most elaborate description of the adulteress in the Bible.” And this is indeed a classic!

WISDOM VS. THE STRANGE WOMAN (THE THIRTEENTH DISCOURSE)

Proverbs 7:1-5

"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 tablet of thy heart.

And say unto Wisdom, Thou art my sister;

And call Understanding thy kinswoman:

That they may keep thee from the strange woman,

From the foreigner that flattereth with her words."

"Lay up my commandments" (Proverbs 7:1). "The words, commandments and teachings here are the Torah. These are the words shared by the wisdom literature with the Pentateuch, Prophets and Psalms.”

"Keep ... my law, as the apple of thine eye" (Proverbs 7:2). "This is a proverbial expression for anything particularly precious and liable to be injured unless zealously guarded.”

"Write them upon the tablet of your heart" (Proverbs 7:3). This is not a reference to the prominent phylacteries ostentatiously paraded by the Pharisees. It simply means, "Whatever you do, do not forget these instructions."

"Say unto Wisdom, Thou art my sister" (Proverbs 7:4). Again we have Wisdom personified; and in this chapter she is presented in contrast to the strange woman in a dramatic challenge concerning which woman the youth will choose, whether Wisdom and life, or the strange woman and death. There is a New Testament counterpart to this. Jesus Christ is our Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30); "And Christ calls those who do God’s will his brother and sister and mother (Matthew 12:50).”

These first five verses set the stage for the confrontation and seduction of the youth next reported.

Proverbs 7:1. Before the father begins this lengthy warning against his son’s getting involved with a wicked woman, he urges him to be obedient to what he is teaching him. Why does the father go over and over this warning in Proverbs? Because he is “training up” his son in the way that he should go the promise for which is, “He will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Proverbs 7:2. The “apple” of the eye is the pupil of the eye (“Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary”). To keep something “as the apple of thine eye” was a proverbial expression for anything particularly precious and liable to be injured unless guarded with scrupulous care” (“Pulpit Commentary”). The expression is used also in Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalms 17:8; Zechariah 2:8. What does one guard or keep any more than his eye? The father’s promise was that if his son would keep his commandments as he would his eye, he would “live” and not be cut off from the living as a wicked person (Psalms 37:1-2).

Proverbs 7:3. “Bind” means to “tie”. The thought of his binding his father’s instructions upon his fingers seems similar to our talk of “tying a string on our finger” when we don’t want to forget something, The heart is here spoken of as a “tablet”, a writing surface. And indeed the heart is a place to lay up things precious and dear: Mary did so concerning many things said about her son Jesus and said by Him (Luke 2:19; Luke 2:51); we are told to write God’s Word upon our hearts (Hebrews 8:10; Psalms 119:11).

Proverbs 7:4. Claim a close relationship with those women “Wisdom” and “Understanding”, and such relationship will keep one from any relationship with the wicked, immoral woman about to be discussed (beginning in the next verse—Proverbs 7:5). Note that the young man who got involved with her did not make “Understanding” his close relative, for Proverbs 7:7 says he was “void of understanding”. From antiquity many virtues have been portrayed in sculpturing, art, and literature as women. It does seem that many virtues can reach their highest pinnacle in womanhood or if lacking can be sacrificed the most my womanhood.

Proverbs 7:5. “Keep my words,” says the father in Proverbs 7:1, “that they may keep thee from the strange woman” (this verse). “Pulpit Commentary” aptly observes: “When the heart is filled with the love of what is good, it is armed against the seductions of evil pleasure or whatever may entice the soul from God and duty.” Proverbs 2:16 and Proverbs 6:24 also speak of being kept from the evil woman—she is someone to avoid!

STUDY QUESTIONS - Proverbs 7:1-5

1. Contrast the child who regards his parents’ teachings with one who does not (Proverbs 7:1).

2. What is the “apple” of the eye (Proverbs 7:2)?

3. Why is “heart” used for “mind” so many times in the Bible (Proverbs 7:3)?

4. Why are graces and virtues often misrepresented in sculpturing, art, and literature as women (Proverbs 7:4)?

5. Yet Proverbs 7:5 shows that women may be .................. as well as virtuous.

Verses 1-27

Pro 7:1-27

How to Avoid Adultery (Proverbs 7:1-27):

"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 tablet of thy heart. Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; And call understanding thy kinswoman: That they may keep thee from the strange woman, From the foreigner that flattereth with her words" (Proverbs 7:1-5). To this point of our study we may believe the proverbs to be a dissertation over the error of adultery and sexual immorality. Let us consider what we have seen regarding the "strange" or adulterous woman:

1. She willfully forgets the laws of God (Proverbs 2:17).

2. She flatters with her words (Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 5:3-5; Proverbs 6:24; Proverbs 7:5).

3. You know where she is (Proverbs 5:8)

4. She seduces with her eyes (Proverbs 6:25).

5. Let us not forget that she is beautiful to look upon (Proverbs 6:25).

Those who have "wisdom and instruction" as the "apple of thine eye" (something precious) (i.e., those who seek and obtain wisdom and understanding like as though it were gold treasures (see Proverbs 2:4-6) - remember: "Wisdom is the principal thing" [Proverbs 4:7]) will:

1. Understand righteousness and discretion (Proverbs 1:4; Proverbs 2:9-11; Proverbs 3:21).

2. Will be delivered from evil men and the strange woman of adultery (Proverbs 2:12-16).

3. Preserve discretion (judgment and tact) (Proverbs 5:2)

4. Be satisfied with the "wife of thy youth" (Proverbs 5:18).

5. Wisdom will guide one in paths of righteousness (Proverbs 6:22).

Once again Solomon advises one to bind the laws of Jehovah upon their heart and neck so that they will not be tempted to lust and commit adultery with another woman.

"For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice; And I 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" (Proverbs 7:6-8). Solomon depicts a day in his life as he gazes out of a window through a lattice (trellis) and sees "among the simple ones... a young man void of understanding." Recall that the man "void of understanding" is the one who "commits adultery with a woman" (see Proverbs 6:32). Those void of understanding have not diligently searched for wisdom as though it were great treasures of gold, silver, and precious stones (see Proverbs 2:4-6). They treasure the things of worldliness rather than the things of God. The young man that Solomon saw was also identified as "simple." The simple are slothful and unwilling to work for their money (see Proverbs 6:6 ff). Here we find the simple being identified as "void of understanding" to the point that he would not only ponder adultery but commit adultery. What did Solomon see this slothful young man that was void of understanding do? The young man went to the house of the harlot. Solomon knew of her location and so did the young man. Rather than avoiding her the young man goes to her.

"In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness. And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart. She is clamorous and willful; Her feet abide not in her house: Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner" (Proverbs 7:9-12). A progression of time is given; i.e., from twilight, to evening, to the middle of the night. Solomon observed the young man going to the corner of the street where he knew the harlot lived. He paced back and forth obviously hoping to see her. His heart was filled with lust and he sought to fulfill all his fantasies. Finally, at midnight, she appears to him as a lion on the hunt for prey.

Solomon gives a description of the harlot:

First, the object of the young man’s lust wears "the attire of a harlot." Everything about this woman is sensual and worldly. Let us recall that she is indeed beautiful to look upon (see Proverbs 6:25). Said attire is likely tight clothing, excessive jewelry, and makeup. She is a living standing contradiction of Paul’s instruction to the woman at 1 Timothy 2:9-10.

Secondly, with no shame before her face she exercises a "wily heart" (i.e., crafty in that she likely feigns love to her husband yet lust after the flesh of other men).

Thirdly, this harlot is "clamorous" or boisterous (unruly in her dealings with others).

Fourthly, the harlot is "willful" (i.e., she does what she desires... she is only interested in selfish objectives). Her mind is sensual and devilish and she will fulfill her innermost desires even if it destroys another.

Fifthly, the harlot is a married woman (see Proverbs 7:19-20).

Lastly, the harlot is not content to stay within her own home with her own husband. She is out and about seeking whom she may devour through lust. You see her in McDonald’s, Sam’s, Walmart, the mall, and at the work place. She is beautiful, she flirts with her eyes, she will strike up a conversation with you, she will tell you things that make you feel desired, and in the end she ruins your life. She is the harlot! May the Lord help all of our young ladies seek out a life of wisdom and understanding rather than lust and worldliness. Be conscientious of the clothing that you wear. Again, may all of our young men gain wisdom and understanding that will help them identify the harlot and altogether avoid her.

"So she caught him, and kissed him, And with an impudent face she said unto him: Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me; This day have I paid my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, Diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn 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 man is not at home; He is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him; He will come home at the full moon" (Proverbs 7:13-20). The harlot’s lust has found a home with the simple young man. She catches him and kisses him. She then, with an "impudent face" (i.e., since of shamelessness or hard heartedness - hardened in the since that God’s laws forbid adulterous relationships yet adultery is what this willful woman wants) said, to paraphrase, "I have performed my duties at the altar and now am ready for a joyous meal." Please note the forwardness of this woman. One makes a grave mistake to think that it is only men who are so forward in their sensual flirtations. Many women make the most sensual men look like school boys when it comes to language, dress, and flirting.

Her joy; however, is not expressed in thanksgiving to Jehovah but rather in the fulfilling of a lustful feeling toward a young man that did not belong to her. She explains to the young man that she has prepared her bedroom for this moment with him (she had premeditated the event). No doubt the young man and this woman had previous encounters. Maybe it was not an encounter of sexual intercourse yet she had showed her unlawful interest in him through her speech and making eyes at the young man. She may have flaunted her immodesty before him to catch his eye in the first place. The wise will run the simple will lust. She is now ready to fulfill her lust as is the young man. An opportune time has arisen. The woman’s husband is away on a business trip. Her husband has taken a money bag with him and will not be home for quite some time. It is safe for the young man to come into the house and fulfill both of their longing lustful desire. Now we see another part of the equation of the harlot. She presents herself in opportune times. When the husband or wife is not around!

"With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along. He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the correction of the fool; Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life" (Proverbs 7:21-23). The adulterous harlot, "With her much fair speech causes him to yield." The young man lusted after the married woman in his heart. He has lusted hard after her immodest beauty. He has been seduced by her flirtatious eyes and words. He wanders about near her home with a heart filled with desire for this strange woman. She comes out to meet him. The young man, like a time bomb, can contain himself no longer and he yields. Once the yielding takes place there is no going back to erase what you have done. With her flattering speech he runs head first like an ox to the slaughter to have sexual intercourse with the harlot. His senses have been dulled by her to the point that he is likened unto a cow standing in line to receive a death blow to the head so that it can be chopped up and served as steak on someone’s table. Once the deed is done he is likened unto one who has his liver shot through with an arrow or a bird that has been captured in a net and knows that its life is over. Its then too late to turn back. What is done is done.

"Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me, And attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, all her slain are a mighty host. Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death" (Proverbs 7:24-27). Solomon speaks to the man who has not gone to the adulterous harlot. Give heed NOW... hearken unto me NOW... Attend to the words of my mouth NOW... Solomon pleads with his readers to see the dangers NOW before its everlasting too late. Avoid the adulterous harlot all together. That married man or woman at work that flirts with the eyes and says smooth and lustful things into your ear... get away NOW! Those who toy with the flirtatious lusts of others will be taken down in wounds and spiritual death. The harlot slays a mighty host (not just one woman but all women of her lustful ways).

Let wisdom be the apple of thine eye young man... let wisdom be the principle thing in your life...wisdom will keep you from great trouble if only we all would heed to its calling.

Verses 6-23

Pro 7:6-23

Proverbs 7:6-23

A REALISTIC PICTURE OF HOW IT HAPPENED

"For at the window of my house

I looked forth through my lattice;

And I 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 of the day,

In the middle of the night and in the darkness.

And, behold, there met him a woman

With the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart.

(She is clamorous and willful;

Her feet abide not in her house:

Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places,

And lieth in wait at every corner).

So she caught him, and kissed him,

And with an impudent face she said unto him:

Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me;

This day have I paid my vows.

Therefore came I forth to meet thee,

Diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry,

With striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.

I have perfumed my bed

With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Come, let us take our fill of love till the morning;

Let us solace ourselves with loves.

For the man is not at home;

He is gone on a long journey:

He hath taken a bag of money with him;

He will come home at the full moon.

With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield;

With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along.

He goeth after her straightway,

As an ox goeth to the slaughter,

Or as one in fetters to the correction of a fool;

Till an arrow strike through his liver;

As a bird hasteth to the snare,

And knoweth not that it is for his life."

"I looked forth through my lattice" (Proverbs 7:7). "This ancient window was something comparable to our Venetian blinds.”

"I beheld among the simple ones" (Proverbs 7:7). "The word simple is here used in the bad sense for `empty-headed, empty-hearted.’” He was hanging around a place of danger at a time when the pure in heart would have been seeking the security of their home.

"And he went the way to her house" (Proverbs 7:8). "Like meets like; the seduction is complete,”

"In the twilight, in the evening ... in the middle of the night ... in darkness" (Proverbs 7:9). The mention of these different times suggests that the young man continued to walk up and down in front of the woman’s house. "Also, there is a symbolical meaning in these pictures of the advancing gloom. As the shadows deepen, night is also falling over the young man’s life.”

"A woman with the attire of a harlot" (Proverbs 7:10). This woman was not a professional harlot; she was merely taking advantage of her husband’s absence to gratify her lust; and her bold aggressiveness in this suggests that this kind of conduct on her part had become habitual. "The fact of this woman being married technically distinguishes her from the harlot proper who was unmarried.”

"Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places" (Proverbs 7:12). "It is no common street-walker who is designated here, but the licentious married wife who is no better than such a strumpet when she walks about searching for a lover.”

"Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me; ... I have paid my vows" (Proverbs 7:14). "This woman here uses the technical words of Leviticus 3:1 for peace-offerings.” This type of offering was required to be shared with the priest and the worshipper, the worshipper being required to eat his portion on the day it was offered. What the woman was saying here was that she had a lot of good food that needed to be eaten at once. Of course, this also was mentioned in order to cast a religious aroma over the evil deed she contemplated. "The law required that the peace-offering was to be eaten on the day of the offering (Leviticus 7:16).” Thus, the very first part of this temptation was the offering of a sumptuous meal in the woman’s house. "She is alluring the young man by saying that her refrigerator is full, that the man of the house is out of town; that they can have their fling and no one will ever know. No one except God!”

It is uncertain whether this woman was an Israelite or not. "She need not be an Israelite.” Oh yes, she mentioned `paying her vows’ and certain peace-offerings; but there is a real possibility that the vows mentioned here, "Refer to the proceeds of sacred prostitution associated with pagan cults, and vowed to some goddess of fertility.”

Tate accepted this suggestion and pointed out that, "This woman was the very most dangerous threat possible for this young man. She was a religious threat because of her connection and practice with the fertility cults; she was not the ordinary prostitute, but a wealthy and presumably respected woman. She was the very paradigm of the seductive promiscuous woman.” Tate gives us this sketch of the seductive woman here, an account that he credited to McKane:

"She was the wife of a well-to-do merchant, a man who traveled away from home for long periods of time on business. She, like her husband, was likely a foreigner and probably a devotee of an Astarte cult, passionate, lonely, restless, and careless of her reputation.”

"For the man is not at home" (Proverbs 7:19). "There seems to be a note of scorn here; the woman did not say `my husband,’ but `the man.’”

"He goeth after her ... as an ox to the slaughter" (Proverbs 7:22). Harris gives his own paraphrase of this: "The obstinate fool is suddenly caught and held fast by a trap lying in a forbidden path, so has the deceitful power of the adulteress caught the young man." The young man does not know that it will cost him his life. As the ox led to the slaughter is unaware of what will happen, so those who violate God’s law are often unaware of the ultimate consequences.

Proverbs 7:6. “To show the greatness of the danger presented by the seductions of the temptress, the writer introduces...an actual example of what had passed before his own eyes” (“Pulpit Commentary”). Latticework was used over windows and other areas by crossing laths over each other for privacy (so one could look out without being seen), to keep the welcome flow of breeze coming in while keeping the hot rays of the sun out, and for ‘decorative purposes. It was through such that the father had looked out upon the sad spectacle that he mentions.

Proverbs 7:7. “The ‘simple’ are the inexperienced, who are easily led astray” (“Pulpit Commentary”). Other passages connecting the “simple” and those “void of understanding” with immorality: “He that commiteth adultery with a woman is void of understanding” (Proverbs 6:32); “Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled. Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding” (Proverbs 9:4-6); “Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet” (Proverbs 9:16-17). This verse shows that what one does is known and read by others.

Proverbs 7:8. He wasn’t aware of how dangerous it was to him to be found in her area. This verse sounds like he purposely went to her house with the idea of immorality, but the pressure she put on him (beginning in Proverbs 7:13) does not bear this out.

Proverbs 7:9. Wickedness seems to “come to life” when darkness begins to set in: “The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, Saying, No eye shall see me” (Job 24:15); “They that are drunken are drunken in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:7). The devil’s dens of iniquity are all open at night.

Proverbs 7:10. “Her attire catches the eye at once and identifies her—compare Genesis 38:14. In Revelation 17:4 the harlot is arrayed in purple and scarlet and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls; and in the present case the female is dressed in some conspicuous garments, very different from the sober clothing of the pure and modest” (“Pulpit Commentary”). “Wily” means “subtle”. She cannot be believed: her “lures” are in reality all “lies”!

Proverbs 7:11. Proverbs 9:13 also mentions her being “clamorous”, meaning loud and boisterous—something that a good woman is not (1 Peter 3:4). This is why she is so forward. Being “wilful” means she is stubborn and disobedient. “Ungovernable...In Hosea 4:16...the same word is used of a wild heifer that will not submit its neck to the yoke” (“Lange”). She does not stay in the house, for she is out working her dirty trade.

Proverbs 7:12. She knows no shame. She goes out where people are to snare men.

Proverbs 7:13. Very reminiscent of Potiphar’s wife: “She caught him by his garment saying, Lie with me” (Genesis 39:12). On “impudent face” the Hebrew indicates that “she strengthened her countenance, assumed the most confident look she could, endeavored to appear friendly and sincere” (“Clarke”).

Proverbs 7:14. When one had made a peace-offering to God, he (she) was allowed to take of portion of the meat home (Leviticus 3:1-5). She was planning a delicious meal (a banquet for two) to which she invites the young man. “The religious nature of the feast is utterly ignored or forgotten. The shameless woman uses the opportunity simply as a convenience for her sin (“Pulpit Commentary”).

Proverbs 7:15. Here is an instance of “flattery” that is so characteristic of her and which is warned against several times: “That flattereth with her words” (Proverbs 2:16); “To keep thee from the evil woman, From the flattery” (Proverbs 6:24). Notice that “flattery” is always connected with the early part of each instance—with the alluring phase of her operation.

Proverbs 7:16. Wicked women have employed every means involving beauty, fragrance, etc., beautifying themselves, their clothing, and their quarters to entice men. Bait for the trap!

Proverbs 7:17. And here comes the fragrance!

Proverbs 7:18. All of this is to get him to “come”. Dealing with the Hebrew, “Clarke” says, “Let us revel in the breasts,” for the first statement; for the second: “Let us gratify each other with loves, with the utmost delights.” And then he remarks: “This does not half express the original, but I forbear...The original itself is too gross to be literally translated, but quite in character as coming from the mouth of an abandoned woman.”

Proverbs 7:19. She takes care of any fear that he might have of her “husband”. The young man would realize that “Jealousy is the rage of a man; And he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom; Neither will he rest content though thou givest many gifts” (Proverbs 6:34-35). But she begins assuring him that her husband will know nothing about the matter: he is “not at home”; he has gone on a “long journey”.

Proverbs 7:20. The assurances continue: he has plenty of “money” with him for his long trip (probably a merchandising trip); he will not be home again until the “full moon”. Sinners always have everything taken care of, they think, but have you not noticed that they still get caught every so often? The trouble is, they think no further than not getting caught by people. But all the while God is watching and on judgment will open the book of each person’s life and judge him (or her) out of those books according to one’s works (Revelation 20:12).

Proverbs 7:21. What about her flattery of him? What about her tapestried couch? What about her perfumed bed? What about her assurances that it was safe? All this caused him to “yield”. “The lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil” (Proverbs 5:3). The young man evidently didn’t give in easily, knowing it would be wrong. But how many times temptation wins over knowledge! “Clarke” observes, “With her blandishments and lascivious talk, she overcame all his scruples and constrained him to yield.” This would appear to be the first time he had yielded to this temptation—but it would it be the last time? But he isn’t the only one: “She hath cast down many wounded” (Proverbs 7:26).

Proverbs 7:22. Once a person has given in inwardly, there is nothing to keep him from proceeding to the evil act itself: “He goeth after her straightway”. But how does he go? He sees himself as one on the verge of satisfying his curiosity concerning what happens in sex, of one who is about to experience life’s greatest thrill in an exciting setting. The pleasure, not the punishment, of sin is uppermost in his mind at the moment. But in reality he is going as an “ox goeth to the slaughter” (“Her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead” (Proverbs 2:18); “Her mouth is smoother than oil: But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on Sheol” (Proverbs 5:3-5); “He knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol” (Proverbs 9:18). Our verse also indicates that he is in for a “beating”, for he goes after her “as one in fetters to the correction of the fool”.

Proverbs 7:23. Other figures of suffering and death continue: an arrow through the liver, a bird caught in a trap. With all the promises that sin makes and with what actually follows, no wonder Hebrews 3:13 speaks of the “deceitfulness” of sin, and the devil (who is behind every temptation) is proven to be the “liar” that Jesus said he was (John 8:44). The mess he is getting his life into, the shame that he will bear in honorable society, the trouble he will involve himself in with sinned-against husbands throughout the years, the danger he will bring to the stability of his own house, the disease he will encounter in his own body, the early death he will bring upon himself, and the eternal Hell in which he will suffer forever and ever are the real outcomes of such sin.

STUDY QUESTIONS - Proverbs 7:6-23

1. Describe such a window of their times as is suggested in Proverbs 7:6.

2. Are we all “simple” when young (Proverbs 7:7)?

3. What verse in Proverbs says to stay completely away from her (Proverbs 7:8)?

4. What does the Bible say about sinning and “darkness” (Proverbs 7:9)?

5. Why is her heart described as “wily” (Proverbs 7:10)?

6. Why is she also described as “clamorous” (Proverbs 7:11)?

7. What were their “broad places” (Proverbs 7:12)?

8. Why is face described as “impudent” (Proverbs 7:13)?

9. What is Proverbs 7:14’s connection with the subject under consideration (Proverbs 7:14)?

10. Was she really looking for him personally (Proverbs 7:15)?

11. Why all of this (Proverbs 7:16)?

12. Would we put cinnamon in our beds (Proverbs 7:17)?

13. What young man in the Bible successfully resisted such talk (Proverbs 7:18)?

14. Was she, then, a married woman (Proverbs 7:19)?

15. Why tell him what she did in Proverbs 7:20?

16. Does the fact that he did not give in easily indicate that he knew it was wrong (Proverbs 7:21)?

17. Was this his view at the moment (Proverbs 7:22)?

18. When would this have been (Proverbs 7:23)?

Verses 24-27

Pro 7:24-27

Proverbs 7:24-27

FINAL WORD OF WARNING - THE EPILOGUE

"Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me,

And attend to the words of my mouth.

Let not thy heart decline to her ways;

Go not astray in her paths.

For she hath cast down many wounded:

Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.

Her house is the way to Sheol,

Going down to the chambers of death."

"The defense advised here is threefold. (1) Guard your mind. One is in danger as soon as his mind wanders in her direction. (2) Keep away. Avoid all contact, literally, as well as mentally. (3) Look past her, farther down the road, to the countless slain, to the chambers of death.”

"Her slain are a mighty host" (Proverbs 7:26). "We think of Samson, and David, and Solomon, mighty men indeed, who were victims of illicit love and suffered for it.” "The house of the evil woman is here compared to a field of battle strewn with the corpses of the many slain.”

Proverbs 7:24. Here Solomon speaks to all of his “sons”. He wants all of them to listen to the urgent appeal he is about to make in the succeeding verses.

Proverbs 7:25. Keep this type of thinking out of your “heart”, and then you will not “go” after her. If you let your heart, it will decline to her ways and go in her paths. Only the strong teaching of parents can save young men from getting involved with such a woman sometime in life. Note the words “decline” (down) and “astray” (lost); to go that way is to go down and to lose one’s way in life.

Proverbs 7:26. One woman, but she has ruined many men; her slain are a mighty host; “The harlot...as a ruthless conqueror leaves a field of battle strewn with corpses” (“Pulpit Commentary”). If you do not realize the power that women can have over men, think of how this very thing overcame the strong man Samson (Judges 16:1), how it was a pitfall for the great David on one occasion (2 Samuel 11:2-4), and what Nehemiah 13:26 says about Solomon: “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin.” The author took nothing for granted as he warned his sons, and today “let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). So keep your eyes where they belong; keep your hands to yourself; don’t flirt; don’t think upon women; don’t read about romance; don’t be entertained by it.

Proverbs 7:27. In deep-shaft coal mines there is a house built over the elevator. When one enters that house and gets on the elevator, it goes only one direction—down. And that’s the way it is when one goes to the harlot’s house. Other passages on this fact: Proverbs 2:18; Proverbs 5:5; Proverbs 9:18.

STUDY QUESTIONS - Proverbs 7:24-27

1. Would the father’s words help the young man resist such (Proverbs 7:24)?

2. The act of sin is preceded by the .................. to sin (Proverbs 7:25).

3. Was he the first to fall for her talk and to suffer the consequences (Proverbs 7:26)?

4. What does sin lead to (Proverbs 7:27)?

Warnings against the Adulteress - Proverbs 7:1-27

Open It

1. What makes sex such a powerful advertising tool?

2. What does our society’s obsession with sex tell you about our society?

3. Why do you think people cheat on their husband or wife?

Explore It

4. What did Solomon urge us to do with his advice? (Proverbs 7:1-5)

5. Why should we take Solomon’s advice? (Proverbs 7:1-5)

6. What is this chapter about? (Proverbs 7:1-27)

7. Whom did Solomon see outside his window? (Proverbs 7:6-7)

8. Where was the person Solomon saw outside his window going? (Proverbs 7:8)

9. Who came out to meet the youth lacking judgment? (Proverbs 7:10)

10. How did Solomon describe the woman who came out to meet the youth? (Proverbs 7:10-12)

11. What did the adulterous woman do? (Proverbs 7:13)

12. What did the adulterous woman say? (Proverbs 7:14-20)

13. What did the adulteress invite the youth to do? (Proverbs 7:18)

14. How did the adulterous woman entice the young man to come to her? (Proverbs 7:19-20)

15. What did the adulterous woman do to the youth? (Proverbs 7:21)

16. How did Solomon describe the youth’s conduct? (Proverbs 7:22-23)

17. Why did Solomon tell young men to avoid the adulteress? (Proverbs 7:24-27)

Get It

18. What does it mean to lack judgment?

19. What is so enticing about sexual sin?

20. How can we guard against being seduced by sexual sin?

21. How is each person to blame in an immoral relationship?

22. Why does sexual sin have such tremendous power to destroy?

23. Why do you think Solomon spent so much time warning us against adultery?

Apply It

24. What specific steps can you take to guard against temptations to sexual sin?

25. Starting today, what situations or people do you need to be more careful to avoid?