Proverbs 5:8
Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 5:8
Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The counsel here isn't just to avoid the act itself, but to actively "remove your way far" and "not come nigh the door"—it's a radical instruction to shun even the vicinity, recognizing that proximity is the first step toward entanglement. This emphasizes that true wisdom lies in preemptively steering clear of danger, not just trying to resist when you're already in its path.
This verse continues the father's urgent advice to his son, warning him away from the seductive ways of an adulterous woman. After describing her alluring speech and deceptive promises, the father now implores the son not to even approach the place where she can tempt him. The focus is on extreme caution and immediate flight from any situation that could lead to sin, emphasizing that avoiding the path to temptation is the surest way to stay safe.
Have you ever noticed how some situations just pull you in? This verse gives us a startlingly practical strategy for navigating temptation.
Solomon isn't just suggesting caution; he's demanding radical separation. The instruction to "keep your way far from her" and "do not go near the door of her house" is about establishing a wide perimeter.
Flight, Not Fight
This isn't about bravely confronting temptation and hoping you'll win. It's about recognizing that some battles are best avoided by simply not showing up. Think of it like this: if you want to stay dry, you don't stand under a leaky roof hoping for the best. You move away from it.
Avoiding the 'Nearness'
Even the 'door of her house' is too close. Why? Because proximity breeds familiarity, and familiarity can erode resistance. The allurements (as Benson notes) have a natural tendency to excite impure thoughts and passions. It's about preemptively cutting off access to anything that could compromise your heart and mind.
What are you working for? This verse warns that the wrong choices can hand over the fruits of your life's labor to others.
The danger isn't just a momentary lapse; it's the long-term cost. The "way" you remove far from this tempting woman represents more than just your physical presence. It's your resources, your energy, your reputation, and your years.
The Cost of Enticement
Benson highlights that 'thy honour... thy years... unto the cruel' can be squandered. This 'cruel' woman, while appearing alluring, ultimately consumes what is precious – your dignity, your prime, and your time. Your "wealth" and the "labours" that produced it are at risk of falling into the hands of those who offer no true value or lasting benefit.
This passage echoes the strong command to 'flee' from sexual immorality, reinforcing the wisdom of keeping distance from temptation, just as Proverbs advises removing oneself far from the enticements of the adulterous woman.
Genesis 39:12The account of Joseph fleeing from Potiphar's wife illustrates the practical application of this proverb; he left his cloak in her hand and fled far away, demonstrating that avoiding the very presence of temptation is key to maintaining purity.
Romans 13:14Paul's exhortation to 'put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires' directly aligns with Proverbs' advice to avoid the 'door of her house,' meaning to make no plans or opportunities for sin.
1 Thessalonians 5:22This verse urges believers to 'abstain from every form of evil,' which perfectly captures the essence of Proverbs 5:8's counsel to stay far from dangerous situations and not even approach the threshold where sin resides.
bensonProverbs 5:8: "Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:"
Proverbs 5:8-14 . Come not nigh the door of her house — Lest thine eyes affect thy heart, and her allurements prevail over thee. Lest thou give thine honour — Thy dignity and reputation, the strength and vigour of thy body and mind; unto others — Unto whores, and their base attendants; and thy years — The flower of thine age, and thy precious time, unto the cruel — To the harlot, who, though she pretends love,…
pulpitProverbs 5:8: "Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:"
Verse 8. - Remove thy way far from her. In other words, this is the same as St. Paul counsels, "Flee fornication" (1 Corinthians 6:14). From her (mealeyah; desuper ea). The term conveys the impression that the youth has come within the compass of her temptations, or that in the highest degree he is liable to them. The Hebrew meal, compounded of min and al, and meaning" from upon," being used of persons or thin…
The counsel here isn't just to avoid the act itself, but to actively "remove your way far" and "not come nigh the door"—it's a radical instruction to shun even the vicinity, recognizing that proximity is the first step toward entanglement. This emphasizes that true wisdom lies in preemptively steering clear of danger, not just trying to resist when you're already in its path.
This verse continues the father's urgent advice to his son, warning him away from the seductive ways of an adulterous woman. After describing her alluring speech and deceptive promises, the father now implores the son not to even approach the place where she can tempt him. The focus is on extreme caution and immediate flight from any situation that could lead to sin, emphasizing that avoiding the path to temptation is the surest way to stay safe.
This verse continues the father's urgent advice to his son, warning him away from the seductive ways of an adulterous woman. After describing her alluring speech and deceptive promises, the father now implores the son not to even approach the place where she can tempt him. The focus is on extreme caution and immediate flight from any situation that could lead to sin, emphasizing that avoiding the path to temptation is the surest way to stay safe.
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The consequence is a future filled with regret. You'll "mourn at the last" when your strength and resources are depleted, realizing too late the foolishness of chasing fleeting pleasures. The pain of lost opportunities and wasted potential becomes a heavy burden.
"Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house," — The counsel here isn't just to avoid the act itself, but to actively "remove your way far" and "not come nigh the door"—it's a radical instruction to shun even the vicinity, recognizing that proximit…