Proverbs 7:22
in Proverbs 7He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the correction of the fool;
KJV
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
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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 her great persuasion she entices him
on Proverbs 7:21-23
“He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter,” an animal walking toward its death with no power to read the sign. The line “until an arrow pierces his liver” names a wound, and the liver was held to be the seat of the passions.
This site's exposition
like an ox going to the slaughter
The Berean pictures an ox going to the slaughter and a deer bounding into a trap. Barnes calls the Hebrew of the last line hard, and he reports that the Greek reads a dog enticed by food going to the chain. Each follows on impulse.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
Philoxenus of Mabbug13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 5 -- Second Discourse on Simplicity · Written before 523.
proposed
And again in his speech Solomon also reprehendeth him that is led after his lust like a foolish person, and who lacketh the knowledge which should fight against his passions. "He goeth after her like a simple man, and as an ox that goeth to …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Immediately he follows her, etc. That is, as if a foolish person, not knowing, he himself is led to destruction.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He goeth after her straightway,.... Or "suddenly" (g); and inconsiderately, giving himself no time to think of what would be the sad consequences of it; as an ox goeth to the slaughter; as senseless and stupid as that; and as ignorant of the issue as that is, led by the butcher, as if it was going to a pasture, when it is going to the slaughter house.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
As a fool ... - literally, “As a fetter to the correction of a fool,” the order of which is inverted in the King James Version The Septuagint, followed by the Syriac Version, has another reading, and interprets the clause: “As a dog, enticed by food, goes to the chain that is to bind him, so does the youth go to the temptress.” None of the attempts of commentators to get a meaning out of the present text are in any degree satisfactory.
As an ox goeth to the slaughter - The original of this and the following verse has been variously translated.
The words behind it
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ה֤וֹלֵ֥ךְ | holekh | [he is] walking | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| אַחֲרֶ֗יהָ | ʾachareiha | behind her | H310 → | 715 times |
| פִּ֫תְאֹ֥ם | pitom | suddenly | H6597 → | 25 times |
| כְּ֭שׁוֹר | keshor | like an ox | H7794 → | 79 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | [which] to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| טָ֣בַח | tavach | [the] slaughter | H2874 → | |
| יָב֑וֹא | yavo' | it goes | H935 → | 2568 times |
| וּ֝כְעֶ֗כֶס | ukheekhes | and like an anklet | H5914 → | |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| מוּסַ֥ר | musar | [the] chastening of | H4148 → | 50 times |
| אֱוִֽיל׃ | ʾevil | a fool | H191 → | 26 times |
ה֤וֹלֵ֥ךְ[he is] walking
holekhH1980 →1546 times
אַחֲרֶ֗יהָbehind her
ʾachareihaH310 →715 times
פִּ֫תְאֹ֥םsuddenly
pitomH6597 →25 times
כְּ֭שׁוֹרlike an ox
keshorH7794 →79 times
אֶל־[which] to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
טָ֣בַח[the] slaughter
tavachH2874 →
יָב֑וֹאit goes
yavo'H935 →2568 times
וּ֝כְעֶ֗כֶסand like an anklet
ukheekhesH5914 →
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
מוּסַ֥ר[the] chastening of
musarH4148 →50 times
אֱוִֽיל׃a fool
ʾevilH191 →26 times
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
Acts 16:24On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
it leads to
- Job 33:11
He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 29:26
‘The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada, to be the chief officer in the house of the LORD, responsible for any madman who acts like a prophet—you must put him in…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Job 13:27
You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
- Job 33:11
Through
Jeremiah 20:2he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 37:13
But when he reached the Gate of Benjamin, the captain of the guard, whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, seized him and said, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans!”
- 2 Chronicles 16:10
Asa was angry with the seer and became so enraged over this matter that he put the man in prison. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.
- Jeremiah 1:19
They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
- Zechariah 14:10
All the land from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem will be turned into a plain, but Jerusalem will be raised up and will remain in her place, from the Benjamin Gate to the…
- Jeremiah 37:13
Through
Acts 14:13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.
it leads to
- Daniel 2:46
At this, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, paid homage to Daniel, and ordered that an offering of incense be presented to him.
- Daniel 2:46
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, On Cain and Abel; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 5 -- Second Discourse on Simplicity.