Proverbs 9:18
in Proverbs 9But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But he knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
KJV
But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
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This verse in Proverbs 9
Commentary
7 notes on this verseBut he knoweth not that the dead are there - See on Pro 2:18 (note). He does not know that it was in this way the first apostates from God and truth walked. רפאים rephaim; gigantev, the Giants - Septuagint. The sons of men, the earth-born, to distinguish them from the sons of God, those who were born from above.
This site's exposition
The woman named Folly is loud
on Proverbs 9:13-18
Folly mirrors Wisdom's table, calling the same passersby with the same line, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”. The narrator adds what the guest cannot see, “that her guests are in the depths of Sheol,” closing the first nine chapters on the choice.
This site's exposition
her guests are in the depths of Sheol
Clarke notes that the word for the dead is rephaim, the word behind departed spirits at Proverbs 2:18. Wisdom's guests live, as verse 6 promised. Folly's house is a tomb with a table.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
And he did not know that giants are there, etc. The adulteress does not know, the heretic does not know, that unclean spirits inhabit their houses, and those who suffer eternal punishments in the depths of hell delight in the acts of the luxurious, and …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He that so far wants understanding as to be drawn aside by these enticements is led on, ignorantly, to his own inevitable ruin: He knows not, will not believe, does not consider, the tempter will not let him know, that the dead are there, that those who live in pleasure are dead while they live, dead in trespasses and sins.
But he knoweth not that the dead are there,.... In the house of this foolish and wicked woman, into which she invites passengers to turn; the simple, that is persuaded by her, does not consider that there are none there to be his companions, but such who are dead in a moral or spiritual sense; that, though they live in pleasure, they are dead while they live.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Compare the marginal reference. With this warning the long introduction closes, and the collection of separate proverbs begins. Wisdom and Folly have each spoken; the issues of each have been painted in life-like hues. The learner is left to choose.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Stolen water is sweet The pleasure afforded by intimacy with a single woman does not equal that afforded by intimacy with a married woman. Also, regarding the commandments (other editions: sectarianism), stolen water is sweet, for they were afraid to do it in public, but did it in secret.
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. 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְֽלֹא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יָ֭דַע | yada' | he knows | H3045 → | 945 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| רְפָאִ֣ים | refaim | [the] shades | H7496 → | 8 times |
| שָׁ֑ם | sham | [are] there | H8033 → | 834 times |
| בְּעִמְקֵ֖י | beimkei | [are] in [the] depths of | H6012 → | |
| שְׁא֣וֹל | sheol | Sheol | H7585 → | 66 times |
| קְרֻאֶֽיהָ׃ פ | kerueiha | invited [ones] her | H7121 → | 733 times |
וְֽלֹא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
יָ֭דַעhe knows
yada'H3045 →945 times
כִּֽי־that
ki-H3588 →4482 times
רְפָאִ֣ים[the] shades
refaimH7496 →8 times
שָׁ֑ם[are] there
shamH8033 →834 times
בְּעִמְקֵ֖י[are] in [the] depths of
beimkeiH6012 →
שְׁא֣וֹלSheol
sheolH7585 →66 times
קְרֻאֶֽיהָ׃ פinvited [ones] her
kerueihaH7121 →733 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
Psalms 82:5They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
it leads to
- Romans 1:28
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
- Psalms 11:3
If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
- Proverbs 2:13
from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,
- Micah 3:1
Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice?
- Proverbs 1:29
For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
- Romans 1:28
Through
Proverbs 5:5Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.
it leads to
- Proverbs 2:18–19
For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 7:27
Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.
- Proverbs 2:18–19
Through
Proverbs 7:27Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.
it leads to
- Proverbs 5:5
Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.
- Proverbs 5:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
On this chapter
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); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.