Proverbs 5:20-21
Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse powerfully asks why you would choose a fleeting, dangerous pleasure when a more satisfying, secure joy awaits within marriage. It highlights that "intoxicated" and "embrace" paint a picture of being utterly captivated and held by something that will ultimately lead to ruin, not fulfillment.
This passage continues the father's passionate plea to his son, warning him against the seductive allure of an adulterous woman. Having already explored the devastating consequences of straying from wisdom, the father now directly confronts the irrationality of being captivated by forbidden intimacy. He urges his son to consider the profound truth that all his actions are known to God, who will ultimately hold him accountable, framing infidelity not just as a breach of marital vows but as a rebellion against divine oversight.
The verse paints a vivid picture of infatuation. But is this 'intoxication' driven by genuine affection or something far more deceptive?
Solomon uses strong language here, asking why his son would be 'ravished'—almost violently swept away—by a forbidden woman. This isn't a gentle pull; it's a loss of control. The original language suggests a kind of 'foolish delirium,' a dizzying, almost insane pursuit. It highlights that the allure of illicit relationships often blinds us to their true nature, making us act against our own best interests and reason. It’s a frantic chase, not a calm, secure embrace.
We might think our hidden affairs are just between us and another person. But Solomon reminds us there's a Third Party who is always watching.
The core of Solomon’s warning in these verses isn’t just about personal harm or broken vows, but about our relationship with God. He explicitly states, 'the ways of man are before the Lord.' This isn't just a passive observation; God 'weighs' and 'sees' our actions. This divine perspective should be a powerful deterrent. Infidelity isn't merely a betrayal of a spouse; it’s an offense against the God who sees all and will hold us accountable. He knows our secret desires and actions, and our choices have eternal weight.
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Understand the original words
zarah · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A woman who is not one's wife, specifically one who is unfaithful to her own marriage covenant and seeks to lead others into sexual immorality.
na'aph · Hebrew Noun
A woman who has violated the marriage covenant through sexual infidelity; this term carries the weight of spiritual and social brokenness.
derek · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the entire lifestyle, conduct, or moral direction of a person. It encompasses the habits, choices, and consistent behavior that define one's character before God.
ayin YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The omnipresence and omniscience of God, emphasizing that He is fully aware of every aspect of human life. It suggests divine scrutiny, judgment, and providential care over an individual's life.
palas · Hebrew Verb
To weigh, contemplate, or scrutinize carefully. In a theological sense, it signifies God’s active observation and judgment of human actions.
This passage shows Joseph's powerful resistance to Potiphar's wife's advances, highlighting the personal integrity and fear of God that guards against the very temptation described in Proverbs 5.
Malachi 2:14-16This prophetic passage directly addresses marital unfaithfulness and the 'treacherous heart,' echoing Proverbs' concern for the sanctity of marriage and God's hatred for betrayal.
Matthew 5:27-28Jesus raises the standard even higher, showing that impure thoughts and desires towards someone other than one's spouse are themselves sinful, broadening the scope of fidelity beyond just physical actions.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20This passage powerfully connects sexual immorality with disrespecting the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, underscoring the profound spiritual consequences of the 'intoxication' warned against in Proverbs.
Hebrews 13:4This verse provides a foundational truth about marriage being honorable and the marriage bed undefiled, directly countering the allure of the 'forbidden woman' and reinforcing the purity God intends within marriage.
bensonProverbs 5:20: "And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?"
Proverbs 5:20-21 . And why wilt thou be ravished with a strange woman? — Consider a little, and deny, if thou canst, that it is an unaccountable folly to seek that satisfaction and comfort in a vile harlot, which thou mayest enjoy more pleasantly, securely, and constantly, as well as more innocently, in a pious wife of thine own people. For the ways of man are before the Lord — “Fr…
pulpitProverbs 5:20: "And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?"
Verses 20, 21. - The adulterer to be restrained by the fact of God's omniscience and the Divine punishment. Vers. 20 and 21 should apparently be taken together. The teaching assumes a higher tone, and rises from the lower law which regulates fidelity to the wife, based upon personal attractions, to the higher law, which brings the husband's conduct into relation with the duty he o…
The verse powerfully asks why you would choose a fleeting, dangerous pleasure when a more satisfying, secure joy awaits within marriage. It highlights that "intoxicated" and "embrace" paint a picture of being utterly captivated and held by something that will ultimately lead to ruin, not fulfillment.
This passage continues the father's passionate plea to his son, warning him against the seductive allure of an adulterous woman. Having already explored the devastating consequences of straying from wisdom, the father now directly confronts the irrationality of being captivated by forbidden intimacy. He urges his son to consider the profound truth that all his actions are known to God, who will ultimately hold him accountable, framing infidelity not just as a breach of marital vows but as a rebellion against divine oversight.
This passage continues the father's passionate plea to his son, warning him against the seductive allure of an adulterous woman. Having already explored the devastating consequences of straying from wisdom, the father now directly confronts the irrationality of being captivated by forbidden intimacy. He urges his son to consider the profound truth that all his actions are known to God, who will ultimately hold him accountable, framing infidelity not just as a breach of marital vows but as a rebellion against divine oversight.
"Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths." — The verse powerfully asks why you would choose a fleeting, dangerous pleasure when a more satisfying, secure joy awaits within marriage. It highlights that "intoxicated" and "embrace" paint a pictu…
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