But they do not know that the dead are thereThis phrase highlights the ignorance and blindness of those who follow the path of folly. In the context of Proverbs, wisdom and folly are often personified as women inviting people to their respective houses. The "dead" here refers to those who have succumbed to folly's temptations, leading to spiritual death. This aligns with the biblical theme that sin leads to death, as seen in
Romans 6:23. The imagery of the dead being present suggests a hidden danger, emphasizing the deceptive nature of sin. The Hebrew word for "dead" can also imply shades or spirits, indicating a realm of spiritual death and separation from God.
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol
Sheol in ancient Hebrew culture was understood as the abode of the dead, a shadowy place of silence and forgetfulness. It is not equivalent to the later Christian concept of hell but rather a place where all the dead reside, both righteous and wicked, as seen inJob 3:13-19. The "depths of Sheol" suggest a profound separation from the living and from God, symbolizing ultimate spiritual ruin. This phrase serves as a warning about the consequences of rejecting wisdom and embracing folly. The imagery of "guests" implies that those who follow folly are not merely passing through but have taken up residence, indicating a settled state of spiritual death. This can be contrasted with the invitation of wisdom, which leads to life and understanding, as seen inProverbs 9:6.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The SimpleIn the context of Proverbs, the simple are those who lack wisdom and discernment. They are easily led astray by folly.
2.
FollyPersonified as a woman in
Proverbs 9, Folly represents foolishness and the seductive nature of sin that leads people away from wisdom and righteousness.
3.
The DeadRefers to those who have succumbed to the ways of folly and are spiritually dead, separated from the life that wisdom offers.
4.
SheolIn Hebrew thought, Sheol is the realm of the dead, a place of darkness and separation from God. It symbolizes the ultimate consequence of following folly.
5.
Wisdom's BanquetIn contrast to Folly's invitation, Wisdom also invites people to a banquet, offering life and understanding to those who accept her call.
Teaching Points
The Deceptive Nature of SinSin often appears attractive and harmless, but its end is spiritual death. Believers must be vigilant and discerning, recognizing the true nature of folly.
The Importance of WisdomWisdom is not just intellectual knowledge but a way of life that aligns with God's will. Pursuing wisdom leads to life, while ignoring it leads to destruction.
The Consequences of ChoicesEvery choice has consequences. Choosing folly leads to separation from God, while choosing wisdom leads to life and peace.
The Call to DiscernmentChristians are called to discern between the voices of wisdom and folly. This requires a deep relationship with God and a commitment to His Word.
The Reality of Spiritual RealmsThe Bible speaks of spiritual realities like Sheol, reminding us that our choices have eternal implications. We must live with an awareness of these truths.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Proverbs 9:18?
2.How does Proverbs 9:18 warn us about the consequences of foolish choices?
3.What does "the dead are there" imply about the path of folly?
4.How can we discern between wisdom and folly in daily decisions?
5.How does Proverbs 9:18 connect with Jesus' teachings on life and death?
6.What practical steps can we take to avoid the "depths of Sheol"?
7.What does Proverbs 9:18 reveal about the consequences of ignoring wisdom?
8.How does Proverbs 9:18 relate to the theme of folly in the Bible?
9.What historical context influences the message of Proverbs 9:18?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 9?
11.Who is Abaddon or Apollyon in religious texts?
12.What does "Stolen Water is Sweet" mean?
13.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?
14.Proverbs 15:11: How do ancient concepts of Sheol and Abaddon align with modern historical or archaeological findings on the afterlife?What Does Proverbs 9:18 Mean
But they do not know- The verse begins with spiritual blindness. Those lured by Folly (v. 13–17) think they’ve found excitement, yet “they do not know” the true cost.
-Proverbs 4:19 echoes this: “The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble”.
- Ignorance here is willful. Rejecting wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) results in an inability to recognize danger even when warning signs are obvious.
- This ignorance demonstrates why discernment is essential; without God’s truth lighting the path (Psalm 119:105), people walk straight into ruin.
that the dead are there- “The dead” refers to those already ruined by Folly’s seductions—lives morally, relationally, and spiritually destroyed.
-Proverbs 2:18–19; 5:5; 7:26–27 all portray past victims littering her house. “Her house sinks down to death” (2:18).
- Physical death can be the outcome (Proverbs 5:11), yet spiritual death is immediate: separation from the life God gives (Ephesians 2:1).
- The present tense “are” stresses a chilling reality: the place looks lively, but corpses occupy every seat.
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol- “Guests” once thought they were attending a party; in fact, they’ve checked into a grave.
- “Depths” intensifies the descent—this is not a surface scrape with danger but the lowest chamber of Sheol.
-Proverbs 5:5 says of the adulteress, “Her steps descend to Sheol.”Isaiah 5:14 pictures Sheol enlarging its appetite for such victims.
- Sheol, the realm of the departed, foreshadows final judgment (Revelation 20:13–15). Folly’s table is merely the foyer to eternal separation if repentance never comes.
- Contrast: Wisdom offers “length of days” (Proverbs 3:16) and “life to those who find her” (4:22). Two invitations, two destinies.
summaryFolly’s allure masks fatal consequences. The naive, blinded by sin, fail to see that her house already hosts the spiritually dead and that every seat is a trapdoor plunging into Sheol’s depths. True life and safety lie only in heeding wisdom’s call and walking the path lit by God’s Word.
(18)
The dead are there.--Comp. on
Proverbs 2:18.
Verse 18. - The deluded youth is supposed to be persuaded by the seductions of Folly and to enter her house. The writer, then, in a few weighty words, shows the terrible result of this evil compliance.
But he knoweth not that the dead are there (see on Proverbs 2:18 and Proverbs 7:27). There are none "there," in her house, who can be said to be living, they are
rephaim, shadowy ghosts of living men, or else demons of the nether world. The Septuagint and Vulgate, with a reference to
Genesis 6:4, translate
γηγενεῖς and
gigantes.Her guests are in the depths of hell (
sheol); Septuagint, "He knows not that giants perish at her side, and he meets with a trap of hell." The terrible warning may profitably be repeated more than once, It is like Christ's awful saying, three times enunciated, "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (
Mark 9:44, 46, 48). The LXX. has another paragraph at the end of this verse, which has no counterpart in the Hebrew: "But start away, delay not in the place, nor put thy name ['eye,'
al.] by her; for thus shalt thou pass over (
διαβήσῃ) strange water; but abstain thou from strange water, and of a strange spring drink not, that thou mayest live long, and years of life may be added to thee."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
But they do notוְֽלֹא־(wə·lō-)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noknowיָ֭דַע(yā·ḏa‘)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045:To knowthatכִּֽי־(kî-)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionthe deadרְפָאִ֣ים(rə·p̄ā·’îm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7496:Shades, ghostsare there,שָׁ֑ם(šām)Adverb
Strong's 8033:There, then, thitherthat her guestsקְרֻאֶֽיהָ׃(qə·ru·’e·hā)Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7121:To call, proclaim, read[are] in the depthsבְּעִמְקֵ֖י(bə·‘im·qê)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6012:Deep, unfathomableof Sheol.שְׁא֣וֹל(šə·’ō·wl)Noun - common singular
Strong's 7585:Underworld (place to which people descend at death)
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OT Poetry: Proverbs 9:18 But he doesn't know that the dead (Prov. Pro Pr) 
