Proverbs 7 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
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1My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
CHAPTER 7
Pr 7:1-27. The subject continued, by a delineation of the arts of strange women, as a caution to the unwary.
1-4. Similar calls (Pr 3:1-3; 4:10, &c.).
2Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
CHAPTER 7
Pr 7:1-27. The subject continued, by a delineation of the arts of strange women, as a caution to the unwary.
1-4. Similar calls (Pr 3:1-3; 4:10, &c.).
3Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
CHAPTER 7
Pr 7:1-27. The subject continued, by a delineation of the arts of strange women, as a caution to the unwary.
1-4. Similar calls (Pr 3:1-3; 4:10, &c.).
4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
CHAPTER 7
Pr 7:1-27. The subject continued, by a delineation of the arts of strange women, as a caution to the unwary.
1-4. Similar calls (Pr 3:1-3; 4:10, &c.).
5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
5. The design of the teaching (compare Pr 2:16; 6:24).
6For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
6. For--or, "Since," introducing an example to illustrate the warning, which, whether a narrative or a parable, is equally pertinent.
window--or, "opening"
looked--literally, "watched earnestly" (Jud 5:28).
casement--or, "lattice."
7And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
7. simple--as in Pr 1:4.
void of, &c.--(Compare Pr 6:32).
8Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
8. her corner--where she was usually found.
went ... house--implying, perhaps, confidence in himself by his manner, as denoted in the word
went--literally, "tread pompously."
9In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
9. The time, twilight, ending in darkness.
black ... night--literally, "pupil," or, "eye," that is, middle of night.
10And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
10. attire--that of harlots was sometimes peculiar.
subtile--or, "wary," "cunning."
11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
11-12. loud--or, "noisy," "bustling."
stubborn--not submissive.
without ... streets, ... corner--(Compare 1Ti 5:13; Tit 2:5).
12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
11-12. loud--or, "noisy," "bustling."
stubborn--not submissive.
without ... streets, ... corner--(Compare 1Ti 5:13; Tit 2:5).
13So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
13-15. The preparations for a feast do not necessarily imply peculiar religious professions. The offerer retained part of the victim for a feast (Le 3:9, &c.). This feast she professes was prepared for him whom she boldly addresses as one sought specially to partake of it.
14I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
13-15. The preparations for a feast do not necessarily imply peculiar religious professions. The offerer retained part of the victim for a feast (Le 3:9, &c.). This feast she professes was prepared for him whom she boldly addresses as one sought specially to partake of it.
15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
13-15. The preparations for a feast do not necessarily imply peculiar religious professions. The offerer retained part of the victim for a feast (Le 3:9, &c.). This feast she professes was prepared for him whom she boldly addresses as one sought specially to partake of it.
16I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
16-17. my bed--or, "couch," adorned in the costliest manner.
17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
16-17. my bed--or, "couch," adorned in the costliest manner.
18Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
18-20. There is no fear of discovery.
19For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
18-20. There is no fear of discovery.
20He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
18-20. There is no fear of discovery.
21With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
21. caused ... yield--or, "inclines."
flattering--(Compare Pr 5:3).
forced him--by persuasion overcoming his scruples.
22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
22. straightway--quickly, either as ignorant of danger, or incapable of resistance.
23Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
23. Till--He is now caught (Pr 6:26).
24Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
24. The inferential admonition is followed (Pr 7:26, 27), by a more general allegation of the evils of this vice.
25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
26-27. Even the mightiest fail to resist her deathly allurements.
27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
26-27. Even the mightiest fail to resist her deathly allurements.