New International VersionHe was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house
New Living TranslationHe was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house.
English Standard Versionpassing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house
Berean Standard Biblecrossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house,
King James BiblePassing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
New King James VersionPassing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house
New American Standard BiblePassing through the street near her corner; And he walks along the way to her house,
NASB 1995Passing through the street near her corner; And he takes the way to her house,
NASB 1977Passing through the street near her corner; And he takes the way to her house,
Legacy Standard BiblePassing through the street near her corner; And he strides along the way to her house,
Amplified BiblePassing through the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house
Christian Standard BibleCrossing the street near her corner, he strolled down the road to her house
Holman Christian Standard BibleCrossing the street near her corner, he strolled down the road to her house
American Standard VersionPassing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her house,
Contemporary English VersionIt was late in the evening, sometime after dark.
English Revised VersionPassing through the street near her corner, and he went the way to her house;
GOD'S WORD® TranslationHe was crossing a street near her corner and walking toward her house
Good News TranslationHe was walking along the street near the corner where a certain woman lived. He was passing near her house
International Standard VersionProceeding down the street near her corner, he makes his way toward her house
NET BibleHe was passing by the street near her corner, making his way along the road to her house
New Heart English Biblepassing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house,
Webster's Bible TranslationPassing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblecrossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house,
World English Biblepassing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionPassing on in the street, near her corner, "" And the way [to] her house he steps,
Young's Literal Translation Passing on in the street, near her corner, And the way to her house he doth step,
Smith's Literal TranslationPassing in the street near her corner; and he will step the way of her house, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWho passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house.
Catholic Public Domain Versionwho crosses the street at the corner and close to the way of that house.
New American BibleCrossing the street near the corner, then walking toward her house,
New Revised Standard Versionpassing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BiblePassing through the street near the corner of her house,
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedWho pass by in the street, beside the corner of the road of her house. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Passing through the street near her corner, And he went the way to her house;
Brenton Septuagint Translationand speaking, in the dark of the evening,
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Warnings about the Adulteress… 7I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment, 8crossingthe streetnearher corner,strollingdown the roadto her house,9at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night.…
Cross References Proverbs 5:8Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house,
Proverbs 4:14-15Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. / Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
Proverbs 9:14-18She 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. / “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment. ...
Proverbs 2:16-19It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words / who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God. / For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits. ...
Proverbs 6:24-25to 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.
1 Corinthians 6:18Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
Matthew 5:28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;
James 1:14-15But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
2 Timothy 2:22Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Romans 13:13-14Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. / Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
Ephesians 5:3-5But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. / Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. / For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Galatians 5:19-21The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Peter 2:11Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
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?” ...
Treasury of Scripture Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, Proverbs 4:14,15 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evilmen… Proverbs 5:8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: Judges 16:1 Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her. Jump to Previous CornerDirectionHousePassingRoadStepStreetTurnWalkingWayJump to Next CornerDirectionHousePassingRoadStepStreetTurnWalkingWayProverbs 7 1.Solomon persuades to a sincere and kind familiarity with wisdom6.In an example of his own experience he shows10.the cunning of a harlot22.and the desperate simplicity of a young wanton24.He detests such wickednesscrossing the street near her cornerThis phrase suggests a deliberate action, indicating a choice to enter a potentially dangerous or tempting situation. In biblical context, the "corner" often symbolizes a place of decision or temptation. The imagery of a corner can also imply a hidden or secretive area, where one might encounter unexpected dangers. In ancient cities, corners were places where people gathered, and they could be associated with both social interaction and illicit activities. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of avoiding the path of the wicked ( Proverbs 4:14-15). The act of crossing the street suggests a transition from safety to potential danger, echoing the biblical call to remain on the path of righteousness and avoid the snares of sin. strolling down the road to her house
The word "strolling" implies a casual, perhaps careless, approach, highlighting a lack of vigilance or awareness of the impending danger. This leisurely pace contrasts with the urgency often advised in Scripture to flee from sin (1 Corinthians 6:18). The "road to her house" signifies a path leading to temptation and sin, specifically in the context of Proverbs, which frequently warns against the seduction of the adulterous woman (Proverbs 5:8). Historically, roads in ancient times were not just physical pathways but also represented moral and spiritual journeys. The house, in this context, symbolizes a place of moral compromise and spiritual danger. This imagery serves as a warning to avoid not just the act of sin, but the very path that leads to it, emphasizing the importance of making wise choices and staying true to God's commandments. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Young ManThe central figure in this passage, representing someone lacking wisdom and discernment, who is easily led astray by temptation. 2. The Woman's CornerSymbolic of temptation and danger, this location represents the proximity to sin and the ease with which one can be ensnared. 3. The Street/RoadRepresents the path of life and the choices one makes. The young man's decision to walk down this road signifies a deliberate choice to approach temptation. Teaching Points Avoiding TemptationJust as the young man should have avoided the woman's corner, we must be vigilant in steering clear of situations that may lead us into sin. The Importance of DiscernmentDeveloping spiritual discernment helps us recognize and avoid paths that lead to temptation and sin. The Consequences of Poor ChoicesThe young man's choice to walk near the woman's house serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of poor decisions. Seeking WisdomProverbs consistently emphasizes the value of wisdom. We should actively seek wisdom through prayer, scripture, and godly counsel to guide our paths. Guarding Our HeartsProverbs 4:23 advises us to guard our hearts, as it is the wellspring of life. Being mindful of our thoughts and desires can prevent us from straying into temptation. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Proverbs 7:8?
2.How does Proverbs 7:8 warn against the dangers of temptation and sin?
3.What practical steps can we take to avoid paths leading to temptation?
4.How does Proverbs 7:8 connect with Jesus' teachings on purity and vigilance?
5.Why is it important to recognize and avoid environments that lead to sin?
6.How can accountability help us apply the wisdom of Proverbs 7:8 today?
7.What is the significance of the path in Proverbs 7:8?
8.How does Proverbs 7:8 warn against temptation?
9.What historical context influences the message of Proverbs 7:8?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 7?
11.Why does Proverbs 7 focus on the woman’s guilt while largely overlooking the man’s responsibility (vv. 7–9)?
12.Does the street-roaming seductress in Proverbs 7:6-12 reflect actual ancient customs or serve only as a symbolic warning?
13.Does the depiction of sudden destruction for the tempted (Proverbs 7:22-27) contradict a just and merciful God?
14.What is the timeline of Paul's life events?What Does Proverbs 7:8 Mean Crossing the street“He was crossing the street…” (Proverbs 7:8) • The young man makes a conscious move—changing sides of the street. Temptation usually begins with small, seemingly harmless choices (Proverbs 4:14-15;Psalm 1:1). • Scripture calls us to discern such first steps and turn back immediately (1 Corinthians 10:12). • This detail underscores the accuracy of God’s Word: even a casual detour matters because it marks the threshold between safety and danger (Romans 13:14).
Near her corner“…near her corner…” (Proverbs 7:8) • Corners are places where paths converge and visibility is limited—perfect spots for moral ambush. Staying “near” rather than far away signals intentional flirtation with sin (Proverbs 5:8;Genesis 39:10). • The text stresses physical proximity: nearness to seduction equates to spiritual risk (James 1:14-15). • God’s design is clear—keep distance from any environment that feeds temptation (Ephesians 5:11).
Strolling down the road to her house“…strolling down the road to her house,” (Proverbs 7:8) • “Strolling” paints a picture of unhurried ease; he is not rushing past danger but lingering within it (2 Timothy 2:22). • The road is personal, deliberate, leading to a known destination. What began as a crossing now becomes a settled direction (1 Thessalonians 5:22). • Scripture shows the end of such journeys: “Her house sinks down to death” (Proverbs 2:18-19; 7:27). Fleeing, not strolling, is the biblically prescribed response (1 Corinthians 6:18).
summaryProverbs 7:8 traces the naïve youth’s slide toward sin: first a step, then a pause, finally a leisurely walk straight into temptation. God’s Word records each movement to warn us that righteousness is preserved by early, decisive separation from seductive paths. (8) And he went the way. . .--The word is used of the slow step of a religious procession ( 2Samuel 6:13), here of the sauntering of the idle youth up and down the street within view of the temptress's house. Verse 8. - Near her corner. He kept near the corner of the house of the woman for whom he waited. Another reading gives, "near a corner;" juxta angulum. Vulgate; παρὰ γωνίαν, Septuagint; i.e. he did not take to the broad, open street, but sneaked about at corners, whence he could watch the woman's house without being observed by others. He went the way to her house. He sauntered slowly along, as the verb signifes. Septuagint, "Passing by a corner in the passages of her house ( ἐν διόδοις οἴκωναὐτῆς)."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew crossingעֹבֵ֣ר(‘ō·ḇêr)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5674:To pass over, through, or by, pass onthe streetבַּ֭שּׁוּק(baš·šūq)Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7784:A streetnearאֵ֣צֶל(’ê·ṣel)Preposition
Strong's 681:A joining together, proximityher corner,פִּנָּ֑הּ(pin·nāh)Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6438:An angle, a pinnacle, a chieftainstrollingיִצְעָֽד׃(yiṣ·‘āḏ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6805:To pace, step regularly, to mount, to march, to hurldown the roadוְדֶ֖רֶךְ(wə·ḏe·reḵ)Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870:A road, a course of life, mode of actionto her house,בֵּיתָ֣הּ(bê·ṯāh)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1004:A house
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OT Poetry: Proverbs 7:8 Passing through the street near her corner (Prov. Pro Pr) |
