Proverbs 6:25-27
Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life. Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse warns not just against outward attraction but the internal embrace of desire, highlighting how "eyelashes" could be a metaphor for carefully crafted allure, like makeup, designed to ensnare with "wanton glances." This points to how even subtle, intentional beauty can become a snare, drawing you into deeper, forbidden thoughts that the heart should reject.
This passage is part of a larger section in Proverbs (chapters 2-7) offering detailed warnings and instructions against succumbing to the temptations of a "strange woman" or adulteress. It follows warnings about straying from a father's commandment and mother's teaching, and directly addresses the allure of illicit relationships, urging the reader not to be seduced by her deceptive speech and captivating appearance.
What does it mean to 'lust not after her beauty in your heart'? It's more than just avoiding outward actions; it's about guarding the very place where desire begins.
The verse warns against letting unchaste thoughts or desires take root.
The Heart as the Source
The 'heart' in Scripture isn't just about emotions; it's the center of our being, encompassing thoughts, desires, and will. When Proverbs tells us not to lust in our heart, it's a call to guard this inner sanctuary.
From Thought to Action
Jesus echoes this in Matthew 5:28, saying that looking at someone with lustful intent is already adultery in the heart. This means the battle against impurity is often won or lost internally, before any outward action occurs. It highlights the power and responsibility we have over our thoughts.
The verse mentions 'eyelashes' as a means of capture. What's so dangerous about a woman's beauty, especially her eyes?
The 'eyelashes' and the beauty they enhance represent the alluring and seductive aspects of physical appearance used to draw someone into sin.
Eastern Customs and Allure
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, painting the eyelids and eyelashes with cosmetics like kohl was common. This wasn't just for enhancement but to create a specific, often languishing or amorous, look that was intended to captivate. The text uses this cultural imagery to show how outward beauty can be intentionally employed to ensnare.
The Deception of Appearance
This isn't to say beauty is inherently evil, but that it can be a powerful tool of deception when used for impure purposes. The 'eyelashes' become a metaphor for all the subtle, visual cues and adornments that can deliberately draw someone's attention and affection away from what is right and into a trap of desire.
Understand the original words
chamad · Hebrew Verb
A strong inner longing or craving. While desire itself is natural, the Bible warns against misplaced desires that compete with one's devotion to God and His wisdom.
zonah · Hebrew Noun
A person who engages in sexual activity for payment. Biblically, it is associated with immorality, lack of wisdom, and the degradation of the marriage covenant.
nephesh yeqarah · Hebrew Noun phrase
In Hebrew thought, 'life' (nephesh) often denotes the whole person, soul, or living being. 'Precious life' suggests the high value of a person’s integrity, spirit, and existence, which is endangered by adultery.
eshet ish · Hebrew Noun phrase
Jesus connects looking at someone with lust to an internal act of adultery, emphasizing that the sin begins in the heart just as Proverbs warns.
2 Kings 9:30This passage describes Jezebel painting her eyes before a confrontation, mirroring the visual allure and deceptive beauty that Proverbs cautions against.
Romans 13:14Paul urges believers to 'put on the Lord Jesus Christ' and not 'make provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires,' echoing the need to control desires that Proverbs addresses.
1 Corinthians 6:18This verse directly warns against sexual immorality, highlighting that sexual sin is unique in that it is committed against one's own body, reinforcing the gravity of the temptation Proverbs describes.
This text describes how a woman's 'haughty looks and eyelids' can betray her character, similar to how Proverbs warns that a woman's glances can be a trap.
clarkeProverbs 6:25: "Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids."
Neither let her take thee with her eye-lids - It is a very general custom in the East to paint the eye-lids. I have many Asiatic drawings in which this is expressed. They have a method of polishing the eyes with a preparation of antimony, so that they appear with an indescribable lustre; or, as one who mentions the fact from observation, "Their eyes appear to be swimming in bliss."
pooleProverbs 6:25: "Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids."
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; do not give way to, nor delight thyself with, unchaste thoughts or affections. Compare Matthew 5:28 . With her eyelids; either with her beauty, which consists much in the eyes; or rather, with her amours and wanton glances.
The verse warns not just against outward attraction but the internal embrace of desire, highlighting how "eyelashes" could be a metaphor for carefully crafted allure, like makeup, designed to ensnare with "wanton glances." This points to how even subtle, intentional beauty can become a snare, drawing you into deeper, forbidden thoughts that the heart should reject.
This passage is part of a larger section in Proverbs (chapters 2-7) offering detailed warnings and instructions against succumbing to the temptations of a "strange woman" or adulteress. It follows warnings about straying from a father's commandment and mother's teaching, and directly addresses the allure of illicit relationships, urging the reader not to be seduced by her deceptive speech and captivating appearance.
This passage is part of a larger section in Proverbs (chapters 2-7) offering detailed warnings and instructions against succumbing to the temptations of a "strange woman" or adulteress. It follows warnings about straying from a father's commandment and mother's teaching, and directly addresses the allure of illicit relationships, urging the reader not to be seduced by her deceptive speech and captivating appearance.
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A woman who is under a covenantal marriage bond. Engaging with her is strictly forbidden by the seventh commandment and is treated as a grave sin against both the neighbor and God.
esh · Hebrew Noun
A natural element representing destruction, judgment, or intense passion. In wisdom literature, it serves as a metaphor for the inevitable, self-destructive consequences of sin.
"Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life. Can a man carry fire next to…" — The verse warns not just against outward attraction but the internal embrace of desire, highlighting how "eyelashes" could be a metaphor for carefully crafted allure, like makeup, designed to ensnare…
