Proverbs 22:14 - Exposition

The mouth of strange women is a deep pit. The hemistich reappears in a slightly altered form at Proverbs 23:27 . (For "strange woman" as equivalent to "a harlot" or "adulteress," see note on Proverbs 2:16 .) By her "mouth" is meant her wanton, seductive words, which entice a man to destruction of body and soul. It may be that theology rather than morals is signified here—rather false doctrines than evil practice. In this ease the mention of the strange or foreign woman is very appropriate, seeing that perversions of belief and worship were always introduced into Israel from external sources. He that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein. He who has incurred the width of God by previous unfaithfulness and sin is left to himself to fall a prey to the allurements of the wicked woman (comp. Ecclesiastes 7:26 ). Septuagint, "The mouth of a transgressor ( παρανόμου ) is a deep ditch; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall therein." Then are added three lines not in the Hebrew, which, however, seem to be reminiscences of other passages: "There are evil ways before a man, and be loveth not to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn away item a perverse and evil way."