Proverbs 7:7-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 7:6-23

Solomon here, to enforce the caution he had given against the sin of whoredom, tells a story of a young man that was ruined to all intents and purposes by the enticements of an adulterous woman. Such a story as this would serve the lewd profane poets of our age to make a play of, and the harlot with them would be a heroine; nothing would be so entertaining to the audience, nor give them so much diversion, as her arts of beguiling the young gentleman and drawing in the country squire; her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 7:7

And beheld among the simple ones ,.... Such as are easily persuaded and drawn into sin; simple and foolish in things moral and spiritual, and not arrived to any ripeness of understanding in things natural and civil; have seen but little of the world, and know less of religion, and are easily imposed upon and carried away with the company they keep; such simple foolish creatures are the followers of antichrist; see 2 Timothy 3:6 ; I discerned among the youths ; or "children" F4 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 7:8

Passing through the street near her corner ,.... The house of the harlot that stood in a corner to take in persons that came both ways; to come near which is dangerous; this was putting himself in the way of temptation; or the corner of the street where she stood to pick up young men; it could be with no good design to walk the streets in the night, and to go where harlots haunt, and where they dwell or stand; or, however, it was exposing himself to danger, and, had he took the wise man's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 7:9

In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night. Which is the usual time adulterers take to commit their works of darkness in, by which they think to conceal them; they being such as they themselves do not care should be seen and known, Job 24:15 ; their works will not bear the sun and daylight, therefore they take the twilight and when the sun is set; and choose the night, and not light nights neither, but the blackest and darkest nights, as fittest for their purpose; most... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 7:10

And, behold, there met him a woman ,.... A married woman, and an adulteress, as the following account of her shows; as soon as ever she discerned the young man before described, who she knew, by his air, walk, and dress, was a fit person for her turn, she at once set out from her house, or the corner where she stood, and met him; she did not wait till he came up and made his suit to her, but she went out, and first attacked him; wherefore the word "behold" is prefixed as a note of admiration... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 7:11

She is loud and stubborn ,.... "Loud"; not that her voice may be heard, and so be found by those that seek her in the dark, as Aben Ezra interprets it; but rather clamorous, noisy, and talkative, when she has got her gallant with her; pouring out foolish and unchaste words to allure and entice him; unless it is to be understood of her bawling and scolding, when within doors, at her husband, in order to get him out, and be rid of him; to whom she is "stubborn" or "rebellious", as the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 7:12

Now is she without ,.... The word for whore is sometimes rendered in the Targum F9 Targ. Onk. in Gen. xxxiv. 31. one that goes abroad, or without her house; sitting or standing at the door of it, in an idle posture, and in order to invite her lovers in; and if she can get none this way, or quickly, grows impatient: she is now in the streets ; takes her walks abroad in the streets of the city, to see who she can light of, to pick up and bring home; and lieth in wait at every... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 7:13

So she caught him, and kissed him ,.... The young man that went near her corner where she was plying, or in the way to her house, where she was sitting, or standing, waiting and watching for such an opportunity, for such a person, as a prey to fasten on; and no sooner she saw him, and come up to him, but, without any ceremony or address, she laid hold upon him, as the word F12 החזיקה בו "apprehendit eum", Pagninus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis, Schultens. signifies, threw her arms... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 7:7

Among the simple ones - The inexperienced, inconsiderate young men. A young man void of understanding - לב חסר ראשאהץ בעל , "destitute of a heart." He had not wisdom to discern the evil intended; nor courage to resist the flatteries of the seducer. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 7:8

He went the way to her house - She appears to have had a corner house sufficiently remarkable; and a way from the main street to it. read more

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