Proverbs 7:13
in Proverbs 7She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him:
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So she caught him, and kissed him, And with an impudent face she said unto him:
KJV
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
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This verse in Proverbs 7
Commentary
8 notes on this verseWith a provocative movement of a prostitute, with a disrupted gait through delights, with wandering eyes, and with playful darting of her eyelids, she captures the precious souls of young men (for the eye of a prostitute is a snare of a sinner), and with doubtful perception, she accosts anyone passing by in the corner of her house, with charming words, causing the hearts of young men to flutter, restless at home, wandering in the streets, prodigal with kisses, cheap in modesty, rich in attire, painted cheeks.
This site's exposition
with the attire of a harlot
on Proverbs 7:10-15
Her “attire of a harlot and cunning of heart” are named together. Her speech opens with religious cover: “I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows”. A peace offering left meat the worshipper could eat and share, so piety itself becomes the pretext for the meeting.
This site's exposition
she brazenly says to him
Clarke explains brazenly from the Hebrew, she strengthened her face, the boldest look she could put on. She seizes and kisses the young man before she speaks a word. Her words run from verse 14 to verse 20.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
And having seized the young man, it kisses him. With the flattery of deceitful words, it tempts the unstable.
And with a shameless face, it flatters, saying, etc. According to the letter, the understanding is evident, because the harlot confesses that she has prepared a magnificent feast. But the heretics in all that they do boast and rejoice that they sacrifice the victims of …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
So she caught him, and kissed him,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
So she caught him - Laid fast hold on him, and kissed him, to show that she was affectionately attached to him. And with an impudent face - העזה פניה heezzah paneyha, “she strengthened her countenance,” assumed the most confident look she could; endeavored to appear friendly and sincere.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
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. 16, 17. my bed--or, "couch," adorned in the costliest manner.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
I had to bring peace offerings I prepared a great feast, for today I sacrificed my vows and my peace offering.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְהֶחֱזִ֣יקָה | vehechezikah | and she takes hold | H2388 → | 291 times |
| בּ֭וֹ | bo | on him | ||
| וְנָ֣שְׁקָה־ | venashekah- | and she kisses | H5401 → | |
| לּ֑וֹ | lo | <to> him | ||
| הֵעֵ֥זָה | heezah | she has made firm | H5810 → | 11 times |
| פָ֝נֶ֗יהָ | faneiha | face her | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| וַתֹּ֣אמַר | vatomar | and she said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לֽוֹ׃ | lo | to him |
וְהֶחֱזִ֣יקָהand she takes hold
vehechezikahH2388 →291 times
בּ֭וֹon him
bo
וְנָ֣שְׁקָה־and she kisses
venashekah-H5401 →
לּ֑וֹ<to> him
lo
הֵעֵ֥זָהshe has made firm
heezahH5810 →11 times
פָ֝נֶ֗יהָface her
faneihaH6440 →2123 times
וַתֹּ֣אמַרand she said
vatomarH559 →5305 times
לֽוֹ׃to him
lo
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ezekiel 2:6But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of…
it leads to
- Jeremiah 1:8
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
- Isaiah 51:12
“I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of mortal man, of a son of man who withers like grass?
- 1 Peter 3:14
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
- Luke 10:19
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.
- 2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
- Jeremiah 1:8
Through
Genesis 39:12She grabbed Joseph by his cloak and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his cloak in her hand, he escaped and ran outside.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- Proverbs 7:13–27
She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him:
- 2 Timothy 2:22
Through
Proverbs 21:29A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 5:3
O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 5:3
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, On Cain and Abel; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).