Proverbs 2:16-17
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The "strange woman" isn't just a foreigner; the Hebrew word implies someone who is an outsider to a proper relationship, making her allure even more dangerous because she corrupts what is supposed to be sacred. Her "smooth words" are a deliberate technique, like oiliness or glossing over, designed to deceive and entice someone away from their commitments.
So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage continues the exhortation for young men to embrace wisdom, presenting it as protection against a dangerous temptation: the seductive "strange woman." The context emphasizes her deceptive nature, using smooth words and flattery to lure individuals away from righteous paths and into illicit relationships, which Proverbs warns can lead to ruin and shame.
Words can be weapons, especially when designed to deceive. This verse warns of a specific kind of speech that leads astray.
The original language points to words that are 'smoothed' or 'made slick.' Think of it like polished ice – it looks inviting but is incredibly dangerous to walk on.
The Art of Deception
This isn't just casual chat; it's a deliberate tactic. The woman uses her words to 'smooth' her way into a person's life and affections, making wrong seem right and harmful seem harmless. It’s a calculated strategy to lower defenses and invite sin.
Modern Parallels
We see this everywhere today: manipulative advertising, misleading political rhetoric, or even seemingly innocent gossip that slowly erodes truth. The core danger remains the same – words used to disguise sin and lead us away from wisdom and righteousness.
The Bible uses specific terms for this danger. Understanding who she represents is key to recognizing the threat.
The terms 'strange woman' and 'stranger' here don't necessarily point to nationality. While sometimes foreign women are mentioned in Proverbs in relation to temptation, the primary meaning here is about relationship and allegiance.
Beyond Nationality
This woman is 'strange' or 'foreign' in the sense that she is outside the bounds of rightful relationship. She is not your wife, and her influence is contrary to your covenant and your God.
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A Deeper Allegory
Many see this as a metaphor for anything that draws us away from our true 'Guide of youth' – whether that’s idolatry, false teachings, or anything that replaces our devotion to God with something else. It's about misplaced loyalty and covenant unfaithfulness, whether in marriage or in our relationship with God.
Understand the original words
natsal · Hebrew Verb
A term referring to the act of being rescued, rescued from danger, or saved from a specific trap, moral snare, or judgment. It implies an external intervention that brings one to a place of safety.
zarah · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Refers to a woman who is not one's wife; in Proverbs, she often represents the personification of folly, moral seduction, or infidelity that leads away from wisdom and God’s law.
nokriyyah · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A woman who violates the sacred vows of marriage; she represents covenant-breaking and sexual immorality, which are condemned as sins against God and one's spouse.
beriyth · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the sacred, binding relationship established by God between a husband and wife, which is intended to be lifelong and exclusive. Breaking this covenant is a betrayal of both the spouse and the Lord.
This passage describes Eve being tempted by the serpent's enticing words, mirroring how the 'forbidden woman' uses 'smooth words' to ensnare her victim.
Deuteronomy 23:17This law shows the severe prohibition against prostitution in ancient Israel, highlighting why such women were considered 'strange' and outside the covenant community.
Jeremiah 3:1-4The prophet uses the metaphor of a faithless wife ('adulterous Israel') who has 'forsaken the guide of her youth' to describe the nation's spiritual unfaithfulness to God, echoing the themes in Proverbs.
Matthew 5:27-28Jesus broadens the understanding of adultery beyond the physical act to include lustful thoughts, showing that the 'smooth words' of temptation can begin in the heart.
Romans 16:17-18Paul warns believers about those who cause divisions and sow discord by 'smooth talk and flattery,' drawing a parallel to the deceptive words used by the 'strange woman.'
bensonProverbs 2:16: "To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;"
Proverbs 2:16-17 . To deliver thee from the strange woman — From the adulteress, or whore; called strange, partly because such persons were commonly heathen, or are supposed to be such by reason of that severe law against these practices in Israelitish women, Deuteronomy 23:17 ; or are justly reputed heathen, as being degenerate Israelites, who are often called strangers in the Scrip…
clarkeProverbs 2:16: "To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;"
The stranger which flattereth with her words - החליקה hechelikah, she that smooths with her words. The original intimates the glib, oily speeches of a prostitute. The English lick is supposed to be derived from the original word.
The "strange woman" isn't just a foreigner; the Hebrew word implies someone who is an outsider to a proper relationship, making her allure even more dangerous because she corrupts what is supposed to be sacred. Her "smooth words" are a deliberate technique, like oiliness or glossing over, designed to deceive and entice someone away from their commitments.
This passage continues the exhortation for young men to embrace wisdom, presenting it as protection against a dangerous temptation: the seductive "strange woman." The context emphasizes her deceptive nature, using smooth words and flattery to lure individuals away from righteous paths and into illicit relationships, which Proverbs warns can lead to ruin and shame.
This passage continues the exhortation for young men to embrace wisdom, presenting it as protection against a dangerous temptation: the seductive "strange woman." The context emphasizes her deceptive nature, using smooth words and flattery to lure individuals away from righteous paths and into illicit relationships, which Proverbs warns can lead to ruin and shame.
"So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;" — The "strange woman" isn't just a foreigner; the Hebrew word implies someone who is an outsider to a proper relationship, making her allure even more dangerous because she corrupts what is supposed to…
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Last reviewed October 2026
