Proverbs Chapter 7 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
About This Proverb:
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Verse / Section | Key Scholarly Input |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Whyte (University of Edinburgh, 1836–1921) | 1–5 (Fatherly instruction and remembrance of wisdom) | Whyte emphasizes the importance of retaining parental guidance. He notes that internalizing wisdom protects the young from moral danger. |
| Crawford Howell Toy (Harvard University, 1836–1919) | 6–23 (The seductress and the young man) | Toy interprets this section as a vivid moral warning against sexual temptation. He stresses that moral vigilance prevents ruin. |
| Carl Friedrich Keil (University of Leipzig, 1807–1888) & Franz Delitzsch (University of Leipzig, 1813–1890) | 24–27 (Avoiding entanglement with folly) | Keil & Delitzsch note the literary structure dramatizes the consequences of folly. They see it as practical ethical instruction for youth. |
Themes: Temptation, Moral Vigilance, Avoidance of Destructive Behavior
| Scholar / Institution & Work | Views on Themes Related to This Proverb (Added Verse for Emphasis) |
|---|---|
| Origen (c. 184–253, On First Principles, Alexandria) | Temptation surrounds the unwary, highlighting the need for vigilance. Wisdom and moral discernment protect the soul from destructive influences (Verses 6–7). |
| Augustine of Hippo (354–430, De Doctrina Christiana, Hippo Regius) | Careful attention to instruction strengthens resistance to seduction. Moral vigilance prevents the believer from falling into folly (Verses 1–3). |
| Basil the Great (c. 329–379, Letters and Ascetic Writings, Caesarea) | Remembering wisdom’s commandments fortifies ethical decision-making. Temptation is mitigated by reflection and self-discipline (Verse 5). |
| Chrysostom (c. 347–407, Homilies on Proverbs, Constantinople) | Seductive influences target the vulnerable and inattentive. Awareness and discernment are essential to avoid destructive behavior (Verses 21–23). |
| John Calvin (1509–1564, Commentary on the Book of Proverbs, Geneva) | Adherence to God’s instruction safeguards against moral pitfalls. Discernment protects the righteous from the snares of temptation (Verses 4–5). |
| Matthew Henry (1662–1714, Commentary on the Whole Bible, England) | Those who ignore wisdom’s counsel are ensnared by folly. Vigilance and moral awareness are necessary to resist destructive allurements (Verses 25–27). |
| Richard Baxter (1615–1691, The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, England) | Temptation often arises subtly and unexpectedly. Ethical vigilance and reflection maintain spiritual and moral integrity (Verses 6–10). |
| John Owen (1616–1683, Works on Spiritual Life, England) | The unwary are vulnerable to corrupting influence. Careful attention to instruction strengthens moral discernment (Verses 12–14). |
| Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274, Summa Theologica, University of Paris) | Rational reflection and prudence prevent succumbing to temptation. Ethical vigilance safeguards the soul from moral error (Verses 15–18). |
| Joseph Addison (1672–1719, Spectator Essays, England) | Temptation appeals to desire and weakness. Discernment and moral preparation protect against ethical failure (Verses 19–21). |
| Jean-Baptiste Massillon (1663–1742, Sermons, France) | Seductive paths lead the unprepared to ruin. Prudence and moral awareness provide protection from destructive choices (Verses 22–23). |
| Peter Lombard (c. 1100–1160, Sentences, University of Paris) | Adherence to instruction fortifies ethical judgment. Vigilance helps avoid moral hazards and temptation (Verses 1–5). |
| Richard Hooker (1554–1600, Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, England) | Human weakness makes individuals susceptible to corrupting influences. Reflection and adherence to law guide avoidance of moral pitfalls (Verses 10–12). |
| Thomas Watson (1620–1686, Body of Divinity, England) | Temptation threatens those who are inattentive. Moral vigilance safeguards character and spiritual health (Verses 20–23). |
| John Lightfoot (1602–1675, Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae, Cambridge) | Subtle allurements endanger the unwary. Instruction and ethical reflection strengthen resistance to vice (Verses 6–7). |
| Hugh Binning (1627–1653, The Christian Academy, Scotland) | Awareness of potential enticement is vital. Prudence and wisdom protect against destructive behavior (Verses 5–6). |
| Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758, Sermons and Treatises, USA) | Seduction and folly ensnare the inattentive. Ethical vigilance maintains spiritual and moral integrity (Verses 21–23). |
| Benedict Spinoza (1632–1677, Ethics, Netherlands) | Rational discernment helps avoid destructive influences. Vigilance is required to maintain ethical consistency (Verses 15–18). |
| Jean Morin (1591–1659, Ecclesiastical History, France) | Adherence to instruction strengthens moral judgment. Prudence enables the faithful to resist temptation (Verses 4–5). |
| Francis Turretin (1623–1687, Institutes of Elenctic Theology, Geneva) | Ignoring wisdom leads to ruinous consequences. Vigilance and ethical reflection protect against destructive behavior (Verses 25–27). |
