Proverbs 7

The Seduction of the Simple Youth

¹My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.

²Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.

³Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your relative,

⁵that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.

⁶For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.

⁷I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,

⁸passing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house,

⁹in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness.

¹⁰Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.

¹¹She is loud and defiant. Her feet don’t stay in her house.

¹²Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.

¹³So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:

¹⁴“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows.

¹⁵Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you.

¹⁶I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.

¹⁷I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

¹⁸Come, let’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s solace ourselves with loving.

¹⁹For my husband isn’t at home. He has gone on a long journey.

²⁰He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon.”

²¹With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.

²²He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.

²³Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.

²⁴Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.

²⁵Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths,

²⁶for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.

²⁷Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the rooms of death.

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Proverbs 7 presents a vivid cautionary tale about the dangers of sexual temptation through the extended metaphor of an adulterous woman seducing a naive young man. The father begins by urging his son to internalize wisdom as protection against such temptation, then provides a detailed narrative of a foolish youth who falls prey to a seductive woman's advances. The chapter concludes with stark warnings about the deadly consequences of such folly, emphasizing that wisdom and moral discernment are essential safeguards against destructive choices.

Context

This chapter continues Proverbs' extended section on wisdom and folly (chapters 1-9), providing one of the most detailed illustrations of how lack of wisdom leads to destruction.

Key Themes

Outline

1-5
Call to Embrace Wisdom The father urges his son to treasure his teachings and make wisdom an intimate companion as protection against temptation.
6-9
The Naive Youth Observed The teacher describes watching a simple young man foolishly venture into dangerous territory at nightfall.
10-20
The Seductress's Trap A detailed portrayal of the adulterous woman's appearance, tactics, and persuasive words as she ensnares her victim.
21-23
The Fatal Deception The young man succumbs to her seduction, compared to animals walking unknowingly to their death.
24-27
Final Warning and Consequences The father concludes with urgent warnings about avoiding such paths, emphasizing their deadly outcomes.

The Seduction of the Simple Youth

7:1–7:27

wisdom instruction warning

This passage tells the story of a naive young man who is seduced by an adulterous woman, illustrating how ignoring wisdom leads to destruction and death.

theme_rarity

Proverbs 7 uniquely interweaves "commandments" and "temptation" in only four biblical passages, positioning divine law as the antidote to sexual seduction.

Insight Rare Theme

Proverbs 7 uniquely interweaves "commandments" and "temptation" in only four biblical passages, positioning divine law as the antidote to sexual seduction.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Proverbs 7:1 2 references

Lexicals 2

Proverbs 2:1 Lexical

My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you,

Proverbs 7

The Seduction of the Simple Youth

The Seduction of the Simple Youth

Insights

Cross-References

Proverbs 7:1 2 references

Proverbs 7:3 3 references

Proverbs 7:5 1 reference

Proverbs 7:6 5 references

Proverbs 7:14 3 references

Proverbs 7:17 2 references

Proverbs 7:27 2 references

Interlinear

Historical Context