---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Proverbs 7:1. My son, keep my words — See Proverbs 2:1. Verse Proverbs 7:2. As the apple of thine eye. — As the pupil of the eye, which is of such e"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/proverbs/7"
---

Verse [Proverbs 7:1](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/1). ***My son, keep my words*** — See [Proverbs 2:1](../../../kjv/proverbs/2/1).

Verse [Proverbs 7:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/2). ***As the apple of thine eye.*** — As the pupil of the eye, which is of such essential necessity to sight, and so easily injured.

Verse [Proverbs 7:3](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/3). ***Bind them upon thy fingers*** — See on [Proverbs 3:3](../../../kjv/proverbs/3/3).

Verse [Proverbs 7:4](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/4). ***Thou*****art*****my sister*** — Thou art my dearest friend, and I will treat thee as such.

Verse [Proverbs 7:5](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/5). ***The strange woman*** — The *prostitute*, the *adulteress*.

Verse [Proverbs 7:6](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/6). ***I looked through my casement*** — The *casement* is a small aperture in a large window, or a window opening on hinges. Here it means the *lattice*, for they had no *glass windows* in the East. And the *latticed* windows produced a *double* advantage:
1. Making the apartments sufficiently private; and
2. Admitting fresh air to keep them cool.

Verse [Proverbs 7:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/7). ***Among the simple ones*** — The inexperienced, inconsiderate young men.
***A young man void of understanding*** — חסר לב *chasar leb*, "destitute of a heart." He had not wisdom to discern the evil intended; nor courage to resist the flatteries of the seducer.

Verse [Proverbs 7:8](../../../kjv/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.

Verse [Proverbs 7:9](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/9). ***In the twilight, in the evening*** — Some time after sun-setting; before it was *quite dark*.
***In the black and dark night*** — When there were neither *lamps* nor *moon-shine*.

Verse [Proverbs 7:10](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/10). ***A woman*****with*****the attire of a harlot*** — It appears that sitting in some open place, and covering the face, or having a veil of a peculiar kind on, was the evidence of a harlot, [Genesis 38:14](../../../kjv/genesis/38/14); [Genesis 38:15-19](../../../kjv/genesis/38/15-19). No doubt, in Solomon's time, they had other distinctions. In all other countries, and in all times, *the show* *of their countenance did testify against them; they declared their* *sin as Sodom; they hid it not*. However, this does not seem to have been a mere prostitute; for she was, according to her own declaration, a *married woman*, and kept house, [Proverbs 7:19](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/19), if her assertions relative to this were not falsehoods, and calculated the better to render him secure, and prevent the suspicion of endangering himself by cohabiting with a common woman; which I am rather inclined to think was the case, for she was *subtle of* *heart*.

Verse [Proverbs 7:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/11). ***She*****is*****loud and stubborn*** — המיה *homiyah*, she is never *at rest*, always *agitated*; busily employed to gain her end, and this is *to go* into the *path of error*: סררת sorereth, "turning aside;" preferring any way to the right way. And, therefore, it is added, *her feet abide not in her house*; she gads abroad; and this disposition probably first led her to this vice.

Verse [Proverbs 7:12](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/12). ***Now*****is she*****without*** — She is continually exposing herself, and showing by her gait and gestures *what* she is, and *what* she *wants*. These two verses are a *parenthesis*, intended to show the character of the woman.

Verse [Proverbs 7:13](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/13). ***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; endeavoured to appear friendly and sincere.

Verse [Proverbs 7:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/14). **I have*****peace-offerings with me*** — More literally, "the sacrifices of the peace-offerings are with me." *Peace-offerings*, *shelamim*, were offerings the spiritual design of which was to make peace between God and man, to make up the *breach* between them which sin had occasioned; [Leviticus 7:38](../../../kjv/leviticus/7/38), where every kind of sacrifice offered under the law is explained. When the *blood* of these was poured out at the altar, and the *fat* burnt there, the *breast* and *right shoulder* were the priest's portion; but the rest of the carcass belonged to the sacrificer, who might carry it home, and make a feast to his friends. See [Leviticus 3:1-11](../../../kjv/leviticus/3/1-11). Much light is cast on this place by the *fact* that the gods in many parts of the East are actually worshipped in *brothels*, and fragments of the *offerings* are divided among the wretches who fall into the snare of the prostitutes.-WARD'S *Customs*.
***Have I payed my vows*** — She seems to insinuate that she had *made a* *vow for the health and safety of this young man*; and having done so, and prepared the sacrificial banquet, came actually out to seek him, that he might partake of it with her, [Proverbs 7:15](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/15). But, as she intended to proceed farther than mere *friendship*, she was obliged to avail herself of the *night season*, and the *absence of* *her husband*.

Verse [Proverbs 7:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/16). ***I have decked my bed*** — ערשי *arsi*, "my couch or sofa;" distinguished from משכבי *mishcabi*, "my bed," [Proverbs 7:17](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/17), *the place to sleep on*, as the other was *the place to recline on* at *meals*. The *tapestry*, מרבדים marbaddim, mentioned here seems to refer to the covering of the *sofa*; exquisitely *woven* and *figured* cloth. חטבות אטון *chatuboth etun*, the *Targum* translates *painted carpets*, such as were manufactured in *Egypt*; some kind of *embroidered* or *embossed stuff* is apparently meant.

Verse [Proverbs 7:17](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/17). ***I have perfumed any bed with Myrrh*** — מר *mor*, "aloes," אהלים *ahalim*, and "cinnamon," קנמון *kinnamon*. We have taken our names from the original words; but probably the *ahalim* may not mean *aloes*, which is no *perfume*; but *sandal wood*, which is very much used in the East. She had used every means to excite the passions she wished to bring into action.

Verse [Proverbs 7:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/18). ***Come, let us take our fill of love*** — נרוה דדים *nirveh* *dodim*, "Let us revel in the breasts;" and then it is added, "Let us solace ourselves with loves," נתעלסה באהבים *nithallesah* *boohabim*; "let us gratify each other with loves, with the utmost delights." This does not half express the original; but I forbear. The speech shows the *brazen face* of this woman, well translated by the *Vulgate*, "Veni, inebriemur uberibus; et fruamur cupidinis amplexibus." And the *Septuagint* has expressed the spirit of it: Ελθε, και απολαυσωμεν φιλιας - δευρο, και εγκυλισθωμεν ερωτι. "Veni, et fruamur amicitia - Veni, et colluctemur cupidine." Though varied in the words, all the *versions* have expressed the same thing. In the old MS. Bible, the speech of this woman is as follows: - *I have arrayed with cordis my litil bed, and spred with* *peyntid tapetis of Egipt: I have springid my ligginge place with* *mirre and aloes and canelcum, and be we inwardly drunken with* *Tetis, and use we the coveytied clippingis to the tyme that the* *dai wax light*. The original itself is too gross to be literally translated; but quite in character as coming from the mouth of an abandoned woman.

Verse [Proverbs 7:19](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/19). ***For the good man*** — Literally, "For the man is not in his house."

Verse [Proverbs 7:20](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/20). ***He hath taken*** — Literally, "The money bag he hath taken in his hand." He is gone a journey of itinerant merchandising. This seems to be what is intended.
**And*****will come home at the day appointed.*** — ליום הכסא *leyom* *hakkase*, the *time fixed* for a return from such a journey. The *Vulgate* says, "at the full moon." The *Targum*, "the day of the assembly." In other words, He will return by the *approaching* *festival*.

Verse [Proverbs 7:21](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/21). ***With her much fair speech*** — With her blandishments and lascivious talk, she overcame all his scruples, and constrained him to yield.

Verse [Proverbs 7:22](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/22). ***As an ox goeth to the slaughter*** — The original of this and the following verse has been variously translated. Dr. *Grey* corrects and translates thus: "He goeth after her straightway, as an OX goeth to the SLAUGHTER; as a DOG to the CHAIN; and as a DEER till the DART strike through his liver; as a BIRD hasteneth to the SNARE, and knoweth not that it is for its life." Very slight alterations in the Hebrew text produce these differences; but it is not necessary to pursue them; all serve to mark the stupidity and folly of the man who is led away by enticing women or who lives a life of intemperance.

Verse [Proverbs 7:24](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/24). ***Hearken unto me now, therefore, O ye children*** — Ye that are young and inexperienced, seriously consider the example set before your eyes, and take warning at another's expense.

Verse [Proverbs 7:26](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/26). ***For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong**********men have been slain by her.*** — That is, such like women have been the ruin of many. חללים *chalalim*, which we render *wounded*, also signifies *soldiers* or men of war; and עצמים *atsumim*, which we render *strong men*, may be translated *heroes*. Many of those who have distinguished themselves in the field and in the cabinet have been overcome and destroyed by their mistresses. History is full of such examples.

Verse [Proverbs 7:27](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/27). ***Her house*****is*****the way to hell*** — שאול *sheol*, the *pit*, the *grave*, the *place of the dead*, the *eternal* and *infernal world*. And they who, through such, fall into the *grave*, descend lower, into *the chambers of death*; the place where pleasure is at an end, and *illusion* mocks no more.

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