She is loud and defiant. Her feet don’t stay in her house.
Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.
So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:
“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows.
Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you.
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’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s solace ourselves with loving.
For my husband isn’t at home. He has gone on a long journey.
He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon.”
With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.
Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.
Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths,
for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.
Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the rooms of death.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv11, 13, 14, 16, 20, 22, 23, 26 He describeth certain conditions, which are peculiar to harlots.
He describeth certain conditions, which are peculiar to harlots.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv11–27 Pro 7:11 (She [is] loud and stubborn; her feet…
Pro 7:11 (She [is] loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Ver. 11. Her feet abide not in her house.] As the modest woman’s do, {Tit 2:5} who is therefore called domiporta, set forth by the snail, which carries her house on her back, and compared to the vine, that grows by the house side. {Psa 128:3} The Egyptian women wear no shoes, that they might the better keep home. Of the Italian women it is said, that they are magpies at the door, saints in the church, goats in the garden, devils in the house, angels in the streets, and sirens in the windows. {a}
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{a} Heylin’s Geog.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27 Loud, or clamorous, or full of talk, which served…
Loud, or clamorous, or full of talk, which served her design.
Stubborn; rebellious against God, and against her husband, and incorrigible by all admonitions of ministers or friends.
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Her feet abide not in her house; she minds not her business, which lies at home, but gives up herself wholly to idleness and pleasure, which she seeks abroad with other men.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v24 We have here the application of the foregoing story:…
We have here the application of the foregoing story: "Hearken to me therefore, and not to such seducers (Pro 7:24); give ear to a father, and not to an enemy." 1. "Take good counsel when it is given you. Let not thy heart decline to her ways (Pro 7:25); never leave the paths of virtue, though strait and narrow, solitary and up-hill, for the way of the adulteress, though green, and broad, and crowded with company. Do not only keep thy feet from those ways, but let not so much as thy heart incline to them; never harbour a disposition this way, nor think otherwise than with abhorrence of such wicked practices as these. Let reason, and conscience, and the fear of God ruling in the heart, check the inclinations of the sensual appetite. If thou goest in her paths, in any of the paths that lead to this sin, thou goest astray, thou art out of the right way, the safe way; therefore take heed, go not astray, lest thou wander endlessly." 2. "Take fair warning when it is given you." (1.) "Look back, and see what mischief this sin has done. The adulteress has been the ruin not of here and there one, but she has cast down many wounded." Thousands have been undone, now and for ever, by this sin; and those not only the weak and simple youths, such as he was of whom he had now spoken, but many strong men have been slain by her, Pro 7:26. Herein, perhaps, he has an eye especially to Samson, who was slain by this sin, and perhaps to David too, who by this sin entailed a sword upon his house, though so far the Lord took it away that he himself should not die. These were men not only of great bodily strength, but of eminent wisdom and courage, and yet their fleshly lusts prevailed over them. Howl, fir-trees, if the cedars be shaken. Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (2.) "Look forward with an eye of faith, and see what will be in the end of it," Pro 7:27. Her house, though richly decked and furnished, and called a house of pleasure, is the way to hell; and her chambers are the stair-case that goes down to the chambers of death and everlasting darkness. The cup of fornication must shortly be exchanged for the cup of trembling; and the flames of lust, if not quenched by repentance and mortification, will burn to the lowest hell. Therefore stand in awe and sin not.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv11–26 Now is she without,.... The word for whore is…
Now is she without,.... The word for whore is sometimes rendered in the Targum (i) one that goes abroad, or without her house; sitting or standing at the door of it, in an idle posture, and in order to invite her lovers in; and if she can get none this way, or quickly, grows impatient: she is
now in the streets; takes her walks abroad in the streets of the city, to see who she can light of, to pick up and bring home;
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and lieth in wait at every corner; of the street, where more ways meet, sometimes at one corner, and sometimes at another, that she may take all that comes; sometimes she is "without" in the fields, and in the country, to see what she can meet with there; and sometimes in the "streets" of the city, and in the populous places of it, in the markets, and courts, and in every private corner, trying all ways to gain lovers, and satisfy her lust (k): all which may represent the diligence and industry, art and cunning, of the Romish emissaries to gain proselytes to their idolatrous worship, who everywhere lie in wait to deceive.
(i) Targ. Onk. in Gen. xxxiv. 31. (k) "Mille modi veneris", Ovid de Arte Amandi, l. 3. prope finem.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv12, 14, 20, 22, 23 Without - Without the door of her house. Corner…
Without - Without the door of her house. Corner - Of the streets, where she might either conceal or discover herself, as she saw fit.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27 Verse 11. She is loud and stubborn] המיה homiyah,…
Verse 11. She is loud and stubborn] המיה homiyah, she is never at rest, always agitated; busily employed to gain her end, and this is to go into the path of error: סררת sorereth, "turning aside;" preferring any way to the right way. And, therefore, it is added, her feet abide not in her house; she gads abroad; and this disposition probably first led her to this vice.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv11, 14, 15, 21, 24 Pro 7:11-12. She is loud, &c. — Here the…
Pro 7:11-12. She is loud, &c. — Here the wise man draws her character. המיה היא וסררת, She is clamorous and obstinate, or refractory. She is full of talk, self-willed, disobedient to her husband, rebellious against God, and incorrigible by any admonitions of ministers or friends. Her feet abide not in her house — She minds not her business, which lies in her own house, but gives herself wholly up to idleness and pleasure, which she seeks in gadding abroad, and in changing her place and company. Now she is without — Standing, or waiting nigh the door of her house; now in the streets — In places of resort; and lieth in wait at every corner — To pick up such as she can make a prey of.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv11, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26 Loud and stubborn - Both words describe the half-animal…
Loud and stubborn - Both words describe the half-animal signs of a vicious nature. Compare Hos 4:16.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain On v24 In the hand of a licentious poet or painter,…
In the hand of a licentious poet or painter, this picture might serve to contaminate the unsanctified imagination. But as it stands on the page of inspiration, it is God’s solemn warning to children, whether in years, understanding, or experience. Now, therefore, that you have seen the end of sin (Pro 7:22-23 ), hearken unto me. That you may not go astray in her paths, let not thine heart decline. (Pro 4:23 ; Pro 5:8 .) An impure thought, a polluted fancy, an idle book, filthy conversation, foolish company, theatres or places of vain resort — these are her ways. Dread the first step, and dream not that you can stop yourself at pleasure in her course. Familiarity with sin weakens abhorrence. Soon will you begin to love the object of detestation. And what! should you find too late, that you have chosen as your home her house, which is the way to hell, and to the chambers of death?†1 Many, not of the meaner sort, but strong men has she cast down wounded and slain. And a miracle it is of Almighty power and grace, that plucks the child of God from the brink of destruction.
Let not then the most established Christian dismiss this subject as of no personal concern. Be it so — that "you are risen with Christ;" that you have "set your affections on things above;" that "your life is hid with Christ in God;" that you are looking for the glorious hope of his "appearing." It is to you, in whom "fleshly lusts are yet warring against the soul" (1Pe 2:11 ), that the exhortation is given — Mortify, therefore, your members that are upon the earth — even the worst members of the old man — fornication, uncleanness, evil concupiscence.†2 And who, with the picture of the wounded and slain before him will revolt? — "Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing?" (2Ki 8:13 ) — that he should need this warning? Look at the footsteps of the strong men who have gone in.†3 Whom do we see come out whole? "Behold! kings stood not before her; how then shall we stand?" (2Ki 10:4 .)
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Nor let present steadfastness, or seclusion from temptation, blind our eyes to the liability of yielding to the vilest indulgence. The eye of God discerns a far deeper corruption than appears in the outer man — such a total depravation, that even the affections, designed to be the sources of our holiest delight, become the principle and occasion of the most awful departures from the ways of purity and peace.
The gospel presents the only remedy. The love of Christ is the counteracting principle to the love of lust. ’If impure love solicits, remember the holy love of thy Savior to thee, proved by his most shameful death. Think of him, as looking into thy heart boiling over with corruption, showing thee his wounds, and exciting thee to a reciprocal love of himself.’†4 The crucifixion of the flesh by a living union with Him will "keep us from our iniquity." (Gal 5:24, with Psa 18:23 .) "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Rom 6:2-3 .) "The flesh will still lust against the Spirit." (Gal 5:17 .) But the man, who walks with God in Gospel liberty, and Christian discipline and watchfulness, is safe. (Rom 6:14, with 1Co 9:27 .)
But if sin be not mortified by these principles, sooner or later it will break out; if not, as here, to open disgrace; yet so as to defile the conscience, to "quench the Spirit," and by a sure, though perhaps imperceptible, course, to bring soul and body to hell — to the chambers of eternal death. (Rom 6:21 . Jas 1:14-15 .)
Footnotes:
†1 Pro 2:18; Pro 9:18 . The plural number (the ways, Heb.) seems to imply ’many other ways of guilt branching out, many other paths of ruin coinciding.’ — Hervey’s Theron and Aspasio. Letter v. Shultens insists, that the present most wretched state, full of all horror and execration, is included; so that the man who hath entered the seducer’s house, may be said to have entered alive into hell, and gone down to the chamber of death. — Pro 5:5 .
†2 Col 3:1-5. Compare the exhortation to the flourishing Thessalonian Church, 1Th 4:3-5; and to a Christian Bishop, 2Ti 2:22 .
†3 Samson — David — Solomon. Neh 13:26 .
Vestigia terrent.
†4 Geier on Pro 7:18 . Compare 1Co 6:18, 1Co 6:20 ; 2Co 5:14-15 .
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 26, 27 Not....quiet. Is not in Hebrew. (Calmet) --- "She is…
Not....quiet. Is not in Hebrew. (Calmet) --- "She is loud and stubborn, her feet abide not in her house." (Protestants) (Haydock) --- Chaste women are guarded in their speech, and keep at home. (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26 loud--or, "noisy," "bustling."
loud--or, "noisy," "bustling."
stubborn--not submissive.
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without . . . streets, . . . corner--(Compare Ti1 5:13; Tit 2:5).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27 11, 12. Loud… stubborn — Or, reckless, turbulent, and…
11, 12. Loud… stubborn — Or, reckless, turbulent, and refractory; in Hos_4:16, rendered backsliding. The idea is that of a wild heifer that will not submit to the yoke; this woman will not be restrained, but is ever gadding about — always a bad sign, in woman or man; whereas chastity is associated (Tit_2:5) with keeping at home.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27 11. loud] or clamorous, R.V., as the word is…
11. loud] or clamorous, R.V., as the word is rendered in the parallel passage Pro_9:13, A.V.
stubborn] Rather, refractory, like a restive animal, as the same Heb. word is used of a heifer that casts off all restraint, Hos_4:16, where R.V. renders stubborn, though here wilful. Comp. our expression, unbridled lust.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv11, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23 (11) Her feet abide not in her house.—She is…
(11) Her feet abide not in her house.—She is not a “keeper at home,” as St. Paul (Tit_2:5) would have Christian matrons to be.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv11–27 Vers. 11 and 12 describe the character and habits…
Vers. 11 and 12 describe the character and habits of this woman, not as she appeared on this occasion, but as she is known to the writer.
She is loud; boisterous, clamorous, as Pro_9:13. The description applies to a brute beast at certain periods. Stubborn; ungovernable, like an animal that will not bear the yoke. (Hos_4:16) Vulgate, garrula et vaga, "talkative and unsettled;" Septuagint, anepterwmenh kai aswtov , "flighty and debauched." Her feet abide not in her house. She is the opposite of the careful, modest housewife, who stays at home and manages her family affairs. (Tit_2:5) The Vulgate inserts another trait: quietis impatiens, "always restless."
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry.
Pro_7:16
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry.
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A luxurious bed
I have exhausted the toil of myself and bought the toil of others to increase the luxury of my rest. Come and see the courtly elegance with which my bed is decked. Long and weary days have I laboured at the counting-house, at the workshop, or at the desk. And now my bed is decked. Come and look. Place yourself at my chamber window and tell me what you see now and what you will see next year.
1. I see thee lying on this bed which thou hast decked, fretful, restless, and miserable. Thou hast found out too late that enjoyment is more painful than expectation.
2. I see thee dying on the same bed. May God grant thee mercy! but if He does it is in spite of the luxury with which thou art surrounded.
3. I see thee lying in another bed. It is narrow, and though well quilted and smoothed, yet it has no room for the weary body to turn, or for the feverish head to lift itself. I have decked my bed with peace. And though its coverings are but scanty, and though sorrow and desolation have taken their seats by its side, yet peace remains. And there is one like unto the Son of Man whose gracious face ever shines on me from before this, my poor resting-place, so that though deserted and wretched, His love gives me a comfort this world can neither give nor take away.
Come and see. I have come, oh, saint of God! and I see three sights.
1. Destitution and pain are indeed about thee as thou liest on that rude couch; but peace and love reign there, and who shall prevail against the Lords elect?
2. I see thee in thy dying hour. Deserted and miserable thou mayest be, but angelic forms are hovering over thee, and I hear a voice speaking as man can never speak, saying, Come, thou beloved of My Father!
3. I see thee in thy narrow bed, but I see something else behind. For I see that great city, the holy Jerusalem, having the glory of God. And I hear a voice there saying, Who is this who is arrayed in white robes? and whence came he? And I say unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And the voice says, He is one of them that came out of great tribulation, etc. (Christian Treasury.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v27 Heb. "Sheol," (See Scofield "Hab 2:5")
hell
Heb. "Sheol," (See Scofield "Hab 2:5")
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv13, 16, 19, 22, 24, 26 the woman who was introduced in Proverbs 7:10
she
the woman who was introduced in Proverbs 7:10
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grabbed him
"took hold of him firmly"
with a strong face
Here "strong" represents "stubborn." A "strong face" means a stubborn expression on a person's face. This implies that the woman is acting in a stubborn way, that she is deliberately doing what she knows is wrong. AT: "with a shameless expression on her face" (See: Idiom and Metonymy)
I paid my vows
Here "vows" represents what the person promised to sacrifice to God. AT: "I made the sacrifices I promised to God" (See: Metonymy)
seek your face
Here "face" represents the person and especially the person's presence. AT: "look for you" or "find out where you are" (See: Synecdoche)
translationWords
kiss
peace offering
vow
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 24 7:12 Prostitutes commonly solicited business in public areas such…
7:12 Prostitutes commonly solicited business in public areas such as markets and at every corner of busy streets (e.g., Gen 38:13-16).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.