New International VersionWisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
New Living TranslationWisdom will save you from the immoral woman, from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman.
English Standard VersionSo you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words,
Berean Standard BibleIt will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words
King James BibleTo deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
New King James VersionTo deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words,
New American Standard BibleTo rescue you from the strange woman, From the foreign woman who flatters with her words,
NASB 1995To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words;
NASB 1977To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words;
Legacy Standard BibleTo deliver you from the strange woman, From the foreign woman who flatters with her words;
Amplified BibleTo keep you from the immoral woman; From the seductress with her flattering words,
Christian Standard BibleIt will rescue you from a forbidden woman, from a wayward woman with her flattering talk,
Holman Christian Standard BibleIt will rescue you from a forbidden woman, from a stranger with her flattering talk,
American Standard VersionTo deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words;
Contemporary English VersionWisdom will protect you from the smooth talk of a sinful woman,
English Revised VersionTo deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
GOD'S WORD® Translation[Wisdom will] also save you from an adulterous woman, from a loose woman with her smooth talk,
Good News TranslationYou will be able to resist any immoral woman who tries to seduce you with her smooth talk,
International Standard Versiondelivering you from the adulteress, from the immoral woman with her seductive words,
NET Bibleto deliver you from the adulteress, from the sexually loose woman who speaks flattering words;
New Heart English BibleTo deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words;
Webster's Bible TranslationTo deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger who flattereth with her words; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIt will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words
World English Bibleto deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionTo deliver you from the strange woman, "" From the stranger who has made her sayings smooth,
Young's Literal Translation To deliver thee from the strange woman, From the stranger who hath made smooth her sayings,
Smith's Literal TranslationTo deliver thee from the strange woman, from the stranger making smooth her sayings; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThat thou mayst be delivered from the strange women, and from the stranger, who softeneth her words:
Catholic Public Domain VersionSo may you be rescued from the foreign woman, and from the outsider, who softens her speech,
New American BibleSaving you from a stranger, from a foreign woman with her smooth words,
New Revised Standard VersionYou will be saved from the loose woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWisdom shall deliver you from a strange woman who flatters with her words,
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedWisdom will deliver you from an estranged woman who subverts by her words OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the alien woman that maketh smooth her words;
Brenton Septuagint Translationto remove thee far from the straight way, and to estrange thee from a righteous purpose. My son, let not evil counsel overtake thee,
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Benefits of Wisdom… 15whose paths are crooked and whose ways are devious. 16It will rescue youfrom the forbiddenwoman,from the strangerwith seductivewords17who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.…
Cross References Proverbs 5:3-6Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, / in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword. / Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol. ...
Proverbs 6:24-29to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. / Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. / For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. ...
Proverbs 7:5-27that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words. / For at the window of my house I looked through the lattice. / I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment, ...
Proverbs 9:13-18The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing. / She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city, / calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight. ...
Ecclesiastes 7:26And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.
Jeremiah 3:6-10Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. / I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. / She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. ...
Malachi 2:14-16Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.
Genesis 39:7-12and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” / But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care. / No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?” ...
Judges 16:4-21Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. / The lords of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice him and find out the source of his great strength and how we can overpower him to tie him up and subdue him. Then each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.” / So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me the source of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” ...
2 Samuel 11:2-5One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. / So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” / Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home. ...
Matthew 5:27-28You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ / But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 19:9Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Mark 7:21-23For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. / All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”
Luke 16:18Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
John 8:3-11The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them / and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. / In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” ...
Treasury of Scripture To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flatters with her words; deliver Proverbs 5:3-20 For the lips of a strange woman dropas an honeycomb, and her mouthis smoother than oil: … Proverbs 6:24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Proverbs 7:5-23 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the strangerwhich flattereth with her words… flattereth Proverbs 7:21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. Proverbs 29:5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. Jump to Previous AdulteressAdventuressAlienDeliverFlatterethFlattersForeignerLooseMakethPowerSaveSavedSayingsSeductiveSmoothStrangeStrangerTongueWaywardWifeWordsJump to Next AdulteressAdventuressAlienDeliverFlatterethFlattersForeignerLooseMakethPowerSaveSavedSayingsSeductiveSmoothStrangeStrangerTongueWaywardWifeWordsProverbs 2 1.wisdom promises godliness to her children10.and safety from evil company20.and direction in good waysIt will rescue you from the forbidden womanThis phrase highlights the protective nature of wisdom, which is a central theme in Proverbs. The "forbidden woman" refers to an adulteress or a woman who leads others into sexual immorality. In the historical context of ancient Israel, such relationships were strictly prohibited by Mosaic Law ( Exodus 20:14). The term "forbidden" implies a boundary set by God, and crossing it leads to spiritual and often physical consequences. The imagery of rescue suggests that wisdom acts as a safeguard against the temptations that lead to sin. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative where wisdom is portrayed as a divine gift that guides believers away from paths of destruction ( Proverbs 4:6-7). from the stranger with seductive words
The "stranger" here can be understood as someone outside the covenant community of Israel, often representing foreign influences that lead people away from God. In the cultural context, seductive words are a metaphor for deceit and manipulation, which are tools used by those who seek to lead others astray. This phrase warns against the allure of smooth and enticing speech that can mask dangerous intentions. The Bible frequently warns against being swayed by eloquent but misleading words (Romans 16:18). The seductive nature of such words is contrasted with the truth and clarity of God's wisdom, which provides discernment and protection. This theme is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to test everything and hold on to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Persons / Places / Events 1. The Forbidden WomanThis figure represents temptation and moral danger, often symbolizing adultery or unfaithfulness. In the context of Proverbs, she is a metaphor for any form of seduction away from wisdom and righteousness. 2. The StrangerThis term can refer to someone outside the covenant community, often used to describe those who lead others away from God's path. In Hebrew, the word "nokriy" implies foreignness or unfamiliarity, suggesting spiritual or moral danger. 3. Seductive WordsThis phrase highlights the power of speech and persuasion in leading one astray. It underscores the importance of discernment and wisdom in evaluating the messages we receive. Teaching Points Guard Your Heart with WisdomProverbs 2:16 emphasizes the importance of wisdom in protecting oneself from moral and spiritual danger. Cultivating a heart grounded in God's truth is essential for discernment. Recognize the Power of WordsThe seductive words of the forbidden woman remind us of the influence of speech. We must be vigilant about the messages we allow into our lives and the words we speak to others. Stay Within the Covenant CommunityThe reference to the "stranger" suggests the importance of remaining within the community of faith. Surrounding ourselves with fellow believers can provide support and accountability. Flee from TemptationJust as Joseph fled from Potiphar's wife, we are called to actively avoid situations that could lead us into sin. This requires both wisdom and courage. Seek God's GuidanceRegular prayer and study of Scripture are vital for gaining the wisdom needed to navigate life's challenges. God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 2
Proverbs 2:16 warns against the adulterous woman—does this single out women unfairly and conflict with other biblical calls for mutual respect?
Proverbs 9:17 suggests stolen water is sweet. Does this imply that forbidden acts have inherent appeal, and how does this reconcile with other passages condemning theft?
Proverbs 5:3-4: How can we verify the claim that enticing words inevitably lead to bitterness if there's no tangible evidence for such moral cause-and-effect?
(2 Samuel 16:10-12) Does David's acceptance of Shimei's cursing contradict other texts where blasphemy or cursing of God's anointed is forbidden?(16) To deliver thee from the strange woman.--Another work of wisdom, to save from profligacy. Of the two epithets here used, "strange" ( z?rah) and "stranger" ( nokhriyyah) ,the first implies that she belonged to another family, the second to another nation. It would seem as if the evil example of Solomon ( 1Kings 11:1), in marrying foreign women, had become common in Israel, and that they, by their vicious lives, had become a deadly source of corruption. Brought up in the lax views of morality which prevailed among heathen nations at this time, they would not consider themselves bound by the high standard of purity which was enjoined upon Hebrew women by the Law. (16-19) Besides the literal sense of this passage, as given above, commentators have very generally found in it a spiritual meaning, a warning against idolatry and apostasy. The union of Israel to God is so frequently spoken of in the prophets under the figure of a marriage, and their rejection of Him for idols as adultery, that the passage may well bear this further sense, especially as Jeremiah (Jeremiah 3:4) has borrowed this very phrase, "guide of her youth," for a passage in which he is reproving the Jews for their faithlessness. The figure is also very common in the New Testament, as descriptive of the union of Christ and the Church. Verse 16. - To deliver thee from the strange woman. This is the second form of temptation against which wisdom (discretion) is a preservative, and the great and especial dangers arising from it to youth, owing to its seductive allurements, afford the reason why the teacher is so strong in his warnings on this subject. Two terms are employed to designate the source of this evil - "the strange woman" ( אִָשה זָרָה, ishshah zara), and "the stranger" ( נָכְרִיָה, nok'riyah) - and both undoubtedly, in the passage before us, mean a meretricious person, one who indulges in illicit intercourse. The former term is invariably employed in this sense in the Proverbs ( Proverbs 5:2, 20; Proverbs 7:5; Proverbs 22:14; Proverbs 23:33) of the adulteress ( זָרִים, zarim), and Jeremiah 2:25. The participle זָר ( zar) , from the verb זוּר ( zur), of which זָרָה ( zarah) is the feminine form, is, however, used in a wider sense, as signifying (1) one of another nation, or one of another family; (2) or some one different from one's self; (3) or strange. . . .
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew It will rescue youלְ֭הַצִּ֣ילְךָ(lə·haṣ·ṣî·lə·ḵā)Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5337:To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliverfrom the forbiddenזָרָ֑ה(zā·rāh)Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2114:To turn aside, to be a, foreigner, strange, profane, to commit adulterywoman,מֵאִשָּׁ֣ה(mê·’iš·šāh)Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802:Woman, wife, femalefrom the strangerמִ֝נָּכְרִיָּ֗ה(min·nā·ḵə·rî·yāh)Preposition-m | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 5237:Foreign, alienwith seductiveהֶחֱלִֽיקָה׃(he·ḥĕ·lî·qāh)Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2505:To be smooth, to apportion, separatewords,אֲמָרֶ֥יהָ(’ă·mā·re·hā)Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 561:Something said
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OT Poetry: Proverbs 2:16 To deliver you from the strange woman (Prov. Pro Pr) |
