ProverbsChapter 7

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My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.

Keep my commands and live; guard my teaching like the pupil of your eye.

Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your kin,

so they may keep you from the wife of another, from the stranger with her smooth words.

From the window of my house I looked out through the lattice,

and I saw among the naive, I noticed among the young men, a youth with no sense.

He was crossing the street near her corner, striding toward her house,

at twilight, as the day faded, in the black of night, in the darkness.

And there was a woman coming to meet him, dressed like a prostitute, with cunning in her heart.

She is loud and defiant; her feet never stay at home.

Now she is in the street, now in the squares, lying in wait at every corner.

She seized him and kissed him, and with a brazen face she said to him:

"I had fellowship offerings to make, and today I have paid my vows.

So I came out to meet you, to seek your face — and I have found you!

I have spread my couch with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt.

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Come, let us drink deep of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with caresses.

My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.

He took a bag of silver in his hand; he will not be home until the full moon."

With her persuasive words she led him astray; with her smooth talk she seduced him.

At once he followed her, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose — [FOOTNOTE: The Hebrew of this line is uncertain; it may read "like a fool in fetters, on his way to punishment."]

until an arrow pierces his liver. Like a bird darting into a trap, he does not know it will cost him his life.

So now, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to the words of my mouth.

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray onto her paths.

For many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.

Her house is the road down to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death. [FOOTNOTE: Sheol: the realm of the dead.]

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Summary2

Chapter 7

Main Theme: A warning against sexual immorality through a dramatic story about an inexperienced young man who is seduced by the foreign woman.

Content: The chapter opens with a father's exhortation to keep wisdom like a sister and hold fast to his commandments, in order to protect oneself from the foreign woman. Through a window, the author observes an inexperienced young man who, in the darkness of night, is lured by a seductive woman dressed as a harlot. She entices him with flattery, a perfumed bed, and promises that her husband is away. He follows her like an ox going to the slaughter—unaware that his life is at stake. The chapter concludes with a warning: her house is the road to the realm of the dead.

Key Words/Images:

The foreign woman (אִשָּׁה זָרָה): Represents the temptation of sexual immorality that deceives the ignorant.
Inexperienced/lacking understanding (חֲסַר־לֵב): Describes the young man who lacks the wisdom to resist temptation.
Ox going to the slaughter (כְּשׁוֹר אֶל־טָבַח): A picture of how the seduced person moves toward their own destruction without understanding the consequences.
Roads to the realm of the dead (דַּרְכֵי שְׁאוֹל): Her house leads to death—a serious warning about the ultimate consequence of immorality.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for Proverbs 7

Events and Customs

Chapter 7 offers a rare glimpse into urban life in ancient Israel, particularly nighttime activity in the city streets. The scene unfolds at twilight and in the darkness of night (בְּנֶֽשֶׁף־בְּעֶ֥רֶב יוֹם, v. 9), a time that underscores the secretive nature of the encounter. The description of the young man wandering "at the corner" and taking the path toward her house (v. 8), and the woman who lurks "in the street", "in the squares" and "at every corner" (v. 12), reflects the typical layout of Israelite cities with narrow streets, open plazas, and street corners serving as natural meeting places. Windows with latticework (אֶשְׁנָב, eshnav, v. 6) were common in fine houses and allowed people to observe street life while remaining hidden.

The woman's reference to "peace offerings" (זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים, zivhei shelamim, v. 14) is culturally significant. The peace offering was one of the few sacrifices where the offerer could eat part of the meat, and this had to be consumed on the same day or the following day (Lev 7:15-16). She thus uses a religious obligation as a pretext for an extravagant feast—a perversion of something holy that would have been especially shocking to Israelite readers.

Key Terms

The expression "foreign woman" (אִשָּׁה זָרָה, ishah zarah) and "the foreigner" (נָכְרִיָּה, nokhriyyah) in verse 5 have been the subject of much discussion. These terms can mean a foreigner by nationality, but in Proverbs they are used primarily to describe a woman who is "foreign" in a moral sense—one who stands outside the boundaries of the marriage covenant, whether she is unmarried, married to another man, or a prostitute.

The expression "dressed like a prostitute" (שִׁית זוֹנָה, shit zonah, v. 10) suggests a specific garment or appearance that signaled sexual availability. Although we do not know all the details, this indicates that ancient societies had visual codes to identify prostitutes.

The luxurious items described by the woman—Egyptian linen (אֵטוּן מִצְרָיִם, etun mitsrayim), myrrh, aloes and cinnamon (vv. 16-17)—reflect the international trade that characterized Israel, especially during the monarchy. Egyptian linen was particularly prized for its fineness. Myrrh and cinnamon came from Arabia and East Africa via trade routes passing through Israel, while aloe (אֲהָלִים, ahalim) likely refers to the aromatic aloewood tree from India or Southeast Asia. These exotic goods emphasize the woman's attempt to create an atmosphere of wealth and seduction.

People

No known people in this chapter.

Key words8

Wisdom — The ability to think and act with knowledge, experience, understanding, and sound judgment; highly valued in Proverbs.
Understanding — Mental sharpness and the capacity to comprehend, evaluate, and solve problems; closely linked to wisdom.
Woman — In Proverbs 7, a woman is used as a symbol of temptation and sin; a warning to avoid immoral behavior.
Instruction — Knowledge or skills acquired through experience, study, or teaching; essential for developing wisdom and understanding.
Fear — A reverent awe and respect for God, which forms the foundation of wisdom and righteous living.
Listen — To be attentive and receive advice and guidance from others, especially from God and those who possess wisdom and understanding.
Keep away — A warning to stay clear of temptations and bad influences in order to live a righteous life.
Snares — Traps or dangers that can lead to sin and destruction; Proverbs 7 warns against being caught in such situations.