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Wednesday 08/13/25
Thru the Bible: Proverbs 7
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Hear my wisdom son – Avoid the adulterous woman!
Tonight we are covering Proverbs 7.
I have divided this chapter between two translations.
We open up with the Holman for the first 5 verses and then switch to the NET.
The reason for this is they both have their strengths and I think this approach allows us to benefit from where they both shine.
I encourage you to read the passage from both translations and more all the way through. It’s just that the Holman starts off with a father’s advice which is more clearly communicated, but when the narrative changes in verse 6, the NET presents the illustration offered in what reads more like a story form and I think it carries the message home more clearly.
Proverbs 7:1-27,
“(1) My son, obey my words, and treasure my commands. (2) Keep my commands and live;”
The construction of the phrase ending with “Keep my commands and live” (an imperative with the vav of sequence after another imperative) denotes a logical sequence of purpose or result: so that even though it does not openly say so, the idea is still causal in nature meaning if you keep these commands with the desire to live – you will live!
“that you may live,” or “and you will live.”
In essence and function it is a promise! Then Solomon continues with…
“protect my teachings as you would the pupil of your eye.” Now that’s a visual (no pun intended).
There are few things that all humans will instinctively protect as quickly and ardently as their eyes. We like them – seeing is a wonderful blessing we take all too much for granted until it is threatened.
Not to mention, eyes are rather sensitive. So this is a great example.
From a linguistic perspective this is an interesting phrase, because it has been historically translated as “the apple of your eye” and more contemporarily as “your most prized possession”.
So what does the Hebrew actually say and furthermore, what did it mean by phrasing it like it did?
I’m glad you asked…
The Hebrew phrase refers to the pupil of the eye, perhaps due to the idiom “the little man in [the] eye.” Which idiom may have arisen because the pupil will make a small reflection of the person looking into another’s eyes.
The term אִישׁוֹן (ʾishon, “pupil”) appears to be a diminutive from אִישׁ (ʾish, “man”). Because of the importance of protecting the eye from harm, the “pupil” of the eye carries the idea of something precious that was to be guarded jealously.
The clear intention of this instruction is that the teaching being offered this son must be the central focus of his vision and attention and protected ardently!
“(3) Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”
In light of a similar passage in Deuteronomy 6:8 the words “tie them on your fingers” appears to be a metonymy for the lower part of the arm or the hands. By itself that isn’t too terribly important, but it explains why some translations read differently here.
Also, we should remember that the cubit was a measurement of the arm which in the east covered the distance between the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, which would agree with this example.
“(4) Say to wisdom,
“You are my sister,” and call understanding your [close] relative.
(5) She will keep you from a forbidden woman, a stranger with her flattering talk.”
The words “forbidden woman” can be interpreted as an adulterous woman. It is her waywardness from her covenant of loyalty which makes her both strange and forbidden.
Her flattering talk is empty talk. It is talk with a motive intended to coax you into her will. We’ve already encountered a phrase like this in Proverbs 5:3. The seductive speech of a temptress is as sweet as honey and smooth as oil and like oil, her words create a slippery surface for the stability of the feet.
Now, though the following is an example of a young man, a son, who does not follow the above advice – it is unclear from whose perspective it is observed. It is either Solomon as the teacher here, or David as Solomon’s teacher and father or it is wisdom being personified again.
Since in the next two chapters wisdom is in fact personified again as it was in chapter 1 it seems likely that such is the way to understand these next verses.
For our purposes anyway, we are going to take Solomon’s advice and call “wisdom” our “sister” and “understanding” our close “relative” and witness the following illustration as if it is being viewed from their perspective.
So use your imaginations, aided by the Holy Spirit to BE wisdom, who is observing her young wayward student as he walks right into the trap she warned him of. He is the embodiment of the naive we’ve covered a few times since beginning our study of Proverbs. These people are referred to as ‘simpletons’, meaning they lack discernment and are easily swayed to the right or left of the correct path with little effort due to their gullibility.
“(6) For at the window of my house through my window lattice I looked out (7) and I saw among the naive – I discerned among the youths – a young man who lacked sense.”
(8) He was passing by the street near her corner, making his way along the road to her house (9) in the twilight, the evening, in the dark of the night.”
The notes in the NET says,
“Part of succumbing to temptation often involves becoming narrowly focused on something perceived as pleasurable and blocking out any thought of the consequences. (Compare Eve in Gen 3.) The sage goes on to tell a story in order to make the trap and the consequences vivid.”
“(10) Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent.”
“(11) (She is loud and rebellious, she does not remain at home – (12) at one time outside, at another in the wide plazas, and by every corner she lies in wait.) (13) So she grabbed him and kissed him, and with a bold expression she said to him,
(14) “I have meat from my peace offerings at home; today I have fulfilled my vows! (15) That is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I found you!” We will circle back to this at the end, because there is something very valuable we need to reaffirm from this, but I do not want to break the flow of the passages so we will revisit this later.
“(16) I have spread my bed with elegant coverings, with richly colored fabric from Egypt. (17) I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
(18) Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning, let’s delight ourselves with love’s pleasures.
(19) For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a journey of some distance. (20) He has taken a bag of money with him; he will not return until the end of the month.”
“(21) She turned him aside with her persuasions; with her smooth talk she was enticing him along.
(22) Suddenly he was going after her like an ox that goes to the slaughter, like a stag prancing into a trapper’s snare (23) till an arrow pierces his liver – like a bird hurrying into a trap, and he does not know that it will cost him his life.”
There are SO many angles to approach this and learn beyond the one suggested here as the counsel of a wise father to a son. In particular the tragedy of the feminine movement in our day. It has all but wrecked and crippled our society and women, but we will visit this in a moment.
I believe if this is read from the other two perspectives it offers even more depth through the advantage of two different perspectives – that of a father with a son and that of a son who’s been there and is instructing those who will listen.
The proverb wraps up with some solid fatherly advice.
“(24) So now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words I speak.
(25) Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways – do not wander into her pathways; (26) for she has brought down many fatally wounded, and all those she has slain are many. (27) Her house is the way to the grave, going down to the chambers of death.”
Now concerning the wayward or strange woman mentioned back in verses 10-11. I want you to consider how the attributes of a godly woman as set forth by Paul in 1 Timothy and by Peter in 1 Peter 3:1-6 the New Testament are held in stark contrast to the ways of this woman.
Particularly what Christian women are TO DO as opposed to what they are to NOT DO.
I say that only because of what is known as “the law effect” which states that if we are told NOT TO DO something or to STOP doing something THAT will channel our thoughts to focus upon that single restriction alone rather than upon what we ARE to do.
I will illustrate in our first passage for consideration in 1 Timothy…
1 Timothy 2:9-15,
“(9) Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control.
Their adornment MUST NOT BE with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing, (10) but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God.”
The “must not” statement is not so much a prohibition against looking nice, but against making appearance the primary focus. What truly adorns ANY human being is their character, not their clothes. You can paint a tomb to look like a work of art, but it doesn’t change that it is only a house for decaying flesh.
“(11) A woman must learnquietly with all submissiveness. (12) But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain of quiet demeanor.”
The meaning of the word translated as “quiet” has two primary meanings, one of total silence and one of non-aggressive, non-outspoken demeanor. Both would apply here contingent upon what she is doing. She is NOT to take the position of being a man’s teacher so in this she is to not speak, but in regard to her overall demeanor she should be non-aggressive and not outspoken. We know that women were allowed to pray as this very passage shows earlier in the chapter. You can’t very well pray in the public assembly and be silent at the same time. But if a woman DOES pray in public, she should pray – not teach or instruct in her prayer. She is speaking to God, not trying to voice her opinions cloaked as a prayer.
Next we are given the reason and it is NOT due to culture, the time period in history or even due to Judaism as a system of belief, but because of God’s original intent both BEFORE the fall as well as the CAUSE of it.
“(13) FOR Adam was formed first and then Eve. (14) AND Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression.
(15) But she will be delivered through childbearing, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.”
This latter portion is SO important. It does not mean that having children will save her spirit from death, but her heart from being ungodly. God said to Eve in the garden, “your desire will be towards your husband, but he MUST rule over you.” – Genesis 3:16. The meaning of these words is that the desire of the woman will be to rule her husband from the sidelines, but by design God intended that the woman be the helper of the man, not his captain, leader or teacher. One of the things which will give purpose to a woman which has the chance of saving her from this desire to rule her husband instead of being his helper is motherhood. This is a primary reason WHY motherhood has been under attack for centuries now.
Like the American constitution, Godly marriage and motherhood is only sustainable by those who own a genuine faith in God and reverence for Him. Attempting to retrofit what is now referred to as “traditional values” onto an unbeliever who draws their value from modeling what society sets forth as “normal” will nearly always fail!
and,
1 Peter 3:1-6,
“(1) In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands.
Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live, (2)
when they SEE your pure and reverent conduct.”
Now Peter makes the point I highlighted above.
“(3) Let your beauty not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes – (4) but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
(5) For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, (6) like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.
You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so.”
In our society, one of the “fears of doing so” come from the lies of our culture. That masculinity is toxic or that by being submissive, you are losing out of being your best self. Let me tell you, you cannot be your “best self” by being ANYTHING other than what God designed you to be and modern feminism has done MUCH to validate this! There is a lot on social media addressing this very thing and many of them are not even Christian or entirely conservative, but they can see through the smoke screen. One I’ve heard from even believes married women should not vote since it only serves to divide the family rather than unite them as one voice – which is something I have said for some time!
In closing, I want you to consider three other things.
- The slow influence of our western culture to move women more and more towards this outcome. Back in the early days of the settlement of this country women were more like the description offered in Peter.
- Today, women are MUCH more like this prostitute which begins with casting off decorum, femininity and dignity. She has become the aggressor and though for a man this has its points of initial attraction, in the end, it is off putting and unbecoming!
- Finally I want you to consider how this has infiltrated the church so much so that the “common” Christian woman is far more in attitude and expression like this wayward woman than the one who humbly restricts herself to the godly attributes described by Peter.
Blessings!
Tri
