Focused Passage

Proverbs 7:6-23

The Path to Slaughter: Wisdom's Warning Against Seduction and the Collapse of Judgment

The chapter moves from internalized wisdom, to observed naivety, to the seducer's calculated strategy, to the young man's collapse, to a final warning that her house leads to death.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

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

7I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment,

8crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house,

9at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night.

10Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.

11She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home.

12Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.

13She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him:

14“I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows.

15So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you.

16I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt.

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

18Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses!

19For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.

20He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.”

21With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.

22He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,

23until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare—not knowing it will cost him his life.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 6

Original words

Forכִּ֭יH3588Conjunctionat the windowבְּחַלּ֣וֹןH2474Preposition-b | Noun - common singular constructof my houseבֵּיתִ֑יH1004Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularI lookedנִשְׁקָֽפְתִּי׃H8259Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singularthroughבְּעַ֖דH1157Prepositionthe latticeאֶשְׁנַבִּ֣יH822Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 7

Original words

I sawוָאֵ֤רֶאH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularamong the simpleבַפְּתָאיִ֗םH6612Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluralI noticedאָ֘בִ֤ינָהH995Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularamong the youthsבַבָּנִ֗יםH1121Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plurala young manנַ֣עַרH5288Noun - masculine singularlackingחֲסַר־H2638Adjective - masculine singular constructjudgmentלֵֽב׃H3820Noun - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

crossingעֹבֵ֣רH5674Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularthe streetבַּ֭שּׁוּקH7784Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularnearאֵ֣צֶלH681Prepositionher cornerפִּנָּ֑הּH6438Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singularstrollingיִצְעָֽד׃H6805Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singulardown the roadוְדֶ֖רֶךְH1870Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular constructto her houseבֵּיתָ֣הּH1004Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 9

Original words

at twilightבְּנֶֽשֶׁף־H5399Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularas the day was fadingבְּעֶ֥רֶבH6153Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular. . .י֑וֹםH3117Noun - masculine singularinto the darkוַאֲפֵלָֽה׃H653Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularof the nightבְּאִישׁ֥וֹןH380Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .לַ֝֗יְלָהH3915Noun - masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

Thenוְהִנֵּ֣הH2009Conjunctive waw | Interjectiona womanאִ֭שָּׁהH802Noun - feminine singularcame out to meet himלִקְרָאת֑וֹH7122Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular[with] the attireשִׁ֥יתH7897Noun - masculine singular constructof a harlotז֝וֹנָ֗הH2181Noun - feminine singularand cunningוּנְצֻ֥רַתH5341Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular constructof heartלֵֽב׃H3820Noun - masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Sheהִ֣יאH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularis loudהֹמִיָּ֣הH1993Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularand defiantוְסֹרָ֑רֶתH5637Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularher feetרַגְלֶֽיהָ׃H7272Noun - feminine dual construct | third person feminine singulardo notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleremainיִשְׁכְּנ֥וּH7931Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralat homeבְּ֝בֵיתָ֗הּH1004Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 12

Original words

Nowפַּ֤עַם׀H6471Noun - feminine singularin the streetבַּח֗וּץH2351Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularnowפַּ֥עַםH6471Noun - feminine singularin the squaresבָּרְחֹב֑וֹתH7339Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluralshe lurksתֶאֱרֹֽב׃H693Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularatוְאֵ֖צֶלH681Conjunctive waw | Prepositioneveryכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcornerפִּנָּ֣הH6438Noun - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

She seizesוְהֶחֱזִ֣יקָהH2388Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularhimבּ֭וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularand kissesוְנָ֣שְׁקָה־H5401Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularhimלּ֑וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularshe brazenlyהֵעֵ֥זָהH5810Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular. . .פָ֝נֶ֗יהָH6440Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularsaysוַתֹּ֣אמַרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularto himלֽוֹ׃Preposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

I have made my peaceשְׁלָמִ֣יםH8002Noun - masculine plural. . .עָלָ֑יH5921Preposition | first person common singularofferingsזִבְחֵ֣יH2077Noun - masculine plural constructtodayהַ֝יּ֗וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularI have paidשִׁלַּ֥מְתִּיH7999Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singularmy vowsנְדָרָֽי׃H5088Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Verse 15

Original words

Soעַל־H5921Preposition. . .כֵּ֭ןH3651AdverbI came outיָצָ֣אתִיH3318Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularto meet youלִקְרָאתֶ֑ךָH7122Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singularI sought youלְשַׁחֵ֥רH7836Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct. . .פָּ֝נֶ֗יךָH6440Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularand I have found youוָאֶמְצָאֶֽךָּ׃H4672Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

I have deckedרָבַ֣דְתִּיH7234Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularmy bedעַרְשִׂ֑יH6210Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularwith coveringsמַ֭רְבַדִּיםH4765Noun - masculine pluralwith coloredחֲ֝טֻב֗וֹתH2405Noun - feminine plurallinenאֵט֥וּןH330Noun - masculine singular constructfrom Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃H4714Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

I have perfumedנַ֥פְתִּיH5130Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularmy bedמִשְׁכָּבִ֑יH4904Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularwith myrrhמֹ֥רH4753Noun - masculine singularwith aloesאֲ֝הָלִ֗יםH174Noun - masculine pluraland with cinnamonוְקִנָּמֽוֹן׃H7076Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

Comeלְכָ֤הH1980Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularlet us take our fillנִרְוֶ֣הH7301Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common pluralof loveדֹ֭דִיםH1730Noun - masculine pluraltillעַד־H5704Prepositionmorningהַבֹּ֑קֶרH1242Article | Noun - masculine singularLet us delightנִ֝תְעַלְּסָ֗הH5965Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluralin loving caressesבָּאֳהָבִֽים׃H159Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 19

Original words

Forכִּ֤יH3588Conjunctionmy husbandהָאִ֣ישׁH376Article | Noun - masculine singularis notאֵ֣יןH369Adverbat homeבְּבֵית֑וֹH1004Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularhe has goneהָ֝לַ֗ךְH1980Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularon a longמֵרָחֽוֹק׃H7350Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singularjourneyבְּדֶ֣רֶךְH1870Preposition-b | Noun - common singular
Verse 20

Original words

He tookלָקַ֣חH3947Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularwith himבְּיָד֑וֹH3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singulara bagצְֽרוֹר־H6872Noun - masculine singular constructof moneyהַ֭כֶּסֶףH3701Article | Noun - masculine singularand will not returnיָבֹ֥אH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .בֵיתֽוֹ׃H1004Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singulartillלְי֥וֹםH3117Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructthe moon [is] fullהַ֝כֵּ֗סֶאH3677Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

With her greatבְּרֹ֣בH7230Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructpersuasionלִקְחָ֑הּH3948Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularshe entices himהִ֭טַּתּוּH5186Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singularwith her flatteringבְּחֵ֥לֶקH2506Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructlipsשְׂ֝פָתֶ֗יהָH8193Noun - feminine dual construct | third person feminine singularshe lures himתַּדִּיחֶֽנּוּ׃H5080Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Verse 22

Original words

He follows herה֤וֹלֵ֥ךְH1980Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular. . .אַחֲרֶ֗יהָH310Preposition | third person feminine singularon impulseפִּ֫תְאֹ֥םH6597Adverblike an oxכְּ֭שׁוֹרH7794Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singulargoingיָב֑וֹאH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe slaughterטָ֣בַחH2874Noun - masculine singularlike a deerאֱוִֽיל׃H191Noun - masculine singularboundingוּ֝כְעֶ֗כֶסH5914Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singularintoאֶל־H413Prepositiona trapמוּסַ֥רH4148Noun - masculine singular construct

BSB notes

  • Probable reading (see LXX, Vulgate, Syriac); Hebrew like fetters to discipline a fool
Verse 23

Original words

untilעַ֤דH5704Prepositionan arrowחֵ֡ץH2671Noun - masculine singularpiercesיְפַלַּ֪חH6398Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularhis liverכְּֽבֵד֗וֹH3516Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularlike a birdצִפּ֣וֹרH6833Noun - common singulardartingכְּמַהֵ֣רH4116Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructintoאֶל־H413Prepositiona snareפָּ֑חH6341Noun - masculine singularnotוְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleknowingיָ֝דַ֗עH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular. . .כִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionitהֽוּא׃פH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularwill cost him his lifeבְנַפְשׁ֥וֹH5315Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.