Ecclesiastes 7:26-28
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The passage doesn't just warn about a "bad woman" as a general concept, but specifically highlights her internal disposition – her heart being "snares and nets" – as the source of her destructiveness. This means the danger isn't just external allure, but a deeply ingrained, manipulative intent that traps even the discerning.
And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her. Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things— which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Preacher has been reflecting on the deceptive nature of wisdom and the vanity of life, concluding that even good advice can't fully shield one from life's troubles. He then turns to consider the specific ruinous snare of seductive women, whom he finds even more bitter than death itself. The text contrasts those who seek God's favor and can therefore escape such entanglements with the ungodly sinner who is inevitably caught.
We all know death is final, a great equalizer. But Solomon says something is even worse. What could be more dreadful than the end of all things?
The Ultimate Bitter Experience
Solomon, in his quest for wisdom and understanding, declares he's found something that surpasses even the bitterness of death. It's not physical pain, or financial ruin, but a specific kind of destructive relationship.
A Deeper Ruin
This isn't just about a bad date or a difficult marriage. The description points to a person whose very heart is a trap ('snares and nets') and whose actions bind you ('fetters'). This isn't just unpleasant; it's ruinous, leading one away from what is good and right, and ultimately, away from God.
The verse presents a stark choice: escape or be captured. How does one avoid falling prey to these destructive snares?
The Two Paths
This verse clearly outlines two outcomes when encountering such a destructive influence. It's not a neutral situation; you're either escaping or being taken.
God's Favor as the Shield
The key to escape isn't personal strength, cleverness, or even good upbringing alone. The verse states, 'He who pleases God escapes her.' This points to a life lived in alignment with God's will, actively seeking to honor Him. This is the divine protection.
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The Sinner's Capture
Conversely, 'the sinner is taken by her.' This highlights that those who are already living apart from God, or deliberately disobeying Him, are the most vulnerable. Their path leads them directly into the trap.
Understand the original words
marah · Hebrew Adjective
Something causing sharp pain or distress; often used in Scripture to describe the profound sorrow caused by sin, death, or judgment.
leb · Hebrew Noun
The inner person—the center of thought, will, emotion, and desire. In biblical theology, it is the core of moral decision-making.
matsod · Hebrew Noun
A trap or enticement, often implying moral or spiritual entanglements that lead one away from obedience to God.
tob liphney ha'elohim · Hebrew Verb/Adjective
Literally "to be well-pleasing." In a biblical sense, it refers to the one who walks in righteousness, fearing God and keeping His commandments.
chata' · Hebrew Noun
One who misses the mark of God's standard; someone who wanders from the path of righteousness and into disobedience.
Qoheleth · Hebrew Noun/Title
A title (Qoheleth) referring to one who gathers or addresses an assembly; implies a teacher of wisdom who examines the human condition under the sun.
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The inner self or the living, breathing essence of a person; the seat of life and deep longing.
This passage in Proverbs describes the 'strange woman' with similar imagery of snares and nets, highlighting the seductive danger she poses and the ruin she brings to those who fall prey to her allure, directly echoing Ecclesiastes' warning.
1 Kings 11:1-4This passage describes King Solomon himself, the supposed author of Ecclesiastes, falling into sin through his love for foreign women, which led him away from God. It serves as a powerful, personal illustration of the very danger Ecclesiastes warns against.
Romans 6:16Paul speaks of presenting ourselves as slaves to obey someone, either to sin leading to death or to obedience leading to righteousness. This parallels Ecclesiastes' idea of being 'taken' by the snares of sin (represented by the woman) versus escaping through obedience to God.
Jeremiah 17:5-6Jeremiah contrasts those who trust in humans and turn away from the Lord with those who trust in the Lord. The former are cursed and become like a shrub in the desert, while the latter flourish, mirroring Ecclesiastes' depiction of the sinner being 'taken' versus the one who 'pleases God' and escapes.
jfbEcclesiastes 7:26: "And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her."
- "I find" that, of all my sinful follies, none has been so ruinous a snare in seducing me from God as idolatrous women (1Ki 11:3, 4; Pr 5:3, 4; 22:14). As "God's favor is better than life," she who seduces from God is "more bitter than death."whoso pleaseth God—as Joseph (Ge 39:2, 3, 9). It is…
ellicottEcclesiastes 7:26: "And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her."
-26 Ecclesiasticus 9:3 ; Ecclesiasticus 26:23 . Snares.—See Ecclesiastes 9:12; used for siege works, Ecclesiastes 9:14. Nets.—Habakkuk 1:15; Ezekiel 26:5. Bands.—Judges 15:14.
The passage doesn't just warn about a "bad woman" as a general concept, but specifically highlights her internal disposition – her heart being "snares and nets" – as the source of her destructiveness. This means the danger isn't just external allure, but a deeply ingrained, manipulative intent that traps even the discerning.
The Preacher has been reflecting on the deceptive nature of wisdom and the vanity of life, concluding that even good advice can't fully shield one from life's troubles. He then turns to consider the specific ruinous snare of seductive women, whom he finds even more bitter than death itself. The text contrasts those who seek God's favor and can therefore escape such entanglements with the ungodly sinner who is inevitably caught.
The Preacher has been reflecting on the deceptive nature of wisdom and the vanity of life, concluding that even good advice can't fully shield one from life's troubles. He then turns to consider the specific ruinous snare of seductive women, whom he finds even more bitter than death itself. The text contrasts those who seek God's favor and can therefore escape such entanglements with the ungodly sinner who is inevitably caught.
"And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her. Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while addi…" — The passage doesn't just warn about a "bad woman" as a general concept, but specifically highlights her internal disposition – her heart being "snares and nets" – as the source of her destructiveness…
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Last reviewed October 2026
