Proverbs 6:29-33
So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished. People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house. He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse uses "innocent" where we might expect "punished," but the original Hebrew word actually carries the sense of being "exempt from punishment." This subtle phrasing highlights that the purity or blamelessness that adultery destroys is precisely what guarantees its unavoidable penalty, whether from man or God.
This verse sits within a larger section of Proverbs (chapters 5-7) that vividly warns against the seductive danger of the "strange woman" and the consequences of infidelity. After detailing the allure and deceit of adultery, the text uses vivid analogies, like touching hot coals or carrying fire, to illustrate the certain ruin that awaits those who commit this sin. Therefore, this verse acts as a stark, unavoidable conclusion, declaring that adultery, like these other dangerous acts, will undoubtedly bring severe punishment, not innocence.
The verse uses strong language about touching someone else's spouse. What does 'touch' really mean here, and why is it so definitive?
Proverbs 6:29 uses the phrase "whosoever touches her" not just to describe physical contact, but to encompass any intimate involvement that crosses the boundary of marriage. The Hebrew word used here, similar to how it's used in other biblical contexts, signifies a deep, often carnal, connection. It's a warning that even the initial steps towards adultery, the 'touching,' carry immediate implications.
The Weight of 'Touching'
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The verse ends with a stark declaration: 'none who touches her will go unpunished.' What does this certainty of punishment look like?
The declaration that no one who touches a neighbor's wife 'will go unpunished' speaks to the absolute certainty of consequence. The original Hebrew term, 'lo yinnakeh,' strongly conveys exemption from punishment is impossible; it means 'shall not be cleared' or 'shall not be innocent.' This isn't a maybe; it's a guarantee.
Facing the Repercussions
Understand the original words
naqah · Hebrew Verb
The Hebrew concept of 'punishment' or 'guilt' (naqah) implies being held accountable or declared guilty before the law. It conveys the certainty of divine or judicial retribution for moral transgression.
gannab · Hebrew Noun
One who takes property belonging to another without permission. In biblical law, theft is a violation of the commandment to love one's neighbor and respect property, though it is viewed through different lenses depending on the necessity of the thief.
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The physical or metaphorical desire or craving of a person. It refers to the basic human drive for sustenance or satisfaction, which, if left uncontrolled, can lead to sinful behavior.
shalam · Hebrew Verb
In biblical law and wisdom, to pay or restore something, often implying the concept of restitution for a wrong committed. The number seven is frequently associated with completeness or the intensity of the penalty required to satisfy justice.
hon · Hebrew Noun
A general term referring to material possessions, wealth, or substance. In the context of wisdom literature, it represents the fruits of one's labor or the resources God has provided to an individual.
na'aph · Hebrew Verb
Sexual relations between a married person and someone other than their spouse, considered a serious sin against God, the covenant of marriage, and one’s neighbor. It is treated in Proverbs as a betrayal of trust and a violation of divine wisdom.
chasar-leb · Hebrew Noun phrase
A phrase denoting a deficiency of heart or understanding; it implies a failure to grasp divine wisdom or the fatal consequences of one's sinful actions. The "heart" in Hebrew thought is the center of the intellect, will, and moral decision-making.
qalon · Hebrew Noun
A state of shame, public humiliation, or loss of reputation. In a biblical context, it often refers to the natural and divine consequences of sin that mar the image of God in an individual.
This passage lays out the legal consequences for seducing an unbetrothed virgin, showing that societal and divine justice would surely address such violations.
Leviticus 20:10This verse explicitly states the severe penalty for adultery, reinforcing the certainty of punishment mentioned in Proverbs.
Matthew 5:27-28Jesus expands the understanding of adultery beyond the physical act to include lustful thoughts, emphasizing the deep impurity and spiritual consequences of even desiring another's spouse.
Hebrews 13:4This verse directly declares that God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous, underscoring the ultimate accountability for such sins.
pulpitProverbs 6:29: "So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent."
Verse 29. - So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. It is as great a folly to suppose that an adulterer will escape punishment as to imagine that no injury will follow where fire has been applied. Delitzsch illustrates this verse by a passage from Pythagoras's maxim ('Eclog.,' 100, 39), Τὸ εἰς πῦρ καὶ εἰς γυναῖκα ἐμπεσεῖν ἴσον ὑπάρχει Goe…
clarkeProverbs 6:29: "So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent."
So he that goeth In to his neighbor's wife - As sure as he who takes fire into his bosom, or who walks upon live coals, is burnt thereby; so sure he that seduces his neighbour's wife shall be guilty. That is, he shall be punished.
The verse uses "innocent" where we might expect "punished," but the original Hebrew word actually carries the sense of being "exempt from punishment." This subtle phrasing highlights that the purity or blamelessness that adultery destroys is precisely what guarantees its unavoidable penalty, whether from man or God.
This verse sits within a larger section of Proverbs (chapters 5-7) that vividly warns against the seductive danger of the "strange woman" and the consequences of infidelity. After detailing the allure and deceit of adultery, the text uses vivid analogies, like touching hot coals or carrying fire, to illustrate the certain ruin that awaits those who commit this sin. Therefore, this verse acts as a stark, unavoidable conclusion, declaring that adultery, like these other dangerous acts, will undoubtedly bring severe punishment, not innocence.
This verse sits within a larger section of Proverbs (chapters 5-7) that vividly warns against the seductive danger of the "strange woman" and the consequences of infidelity. After detailing the allure and deceit of adultery, the text uses vivid analogies, like touching hot coals or carrying fire, to illustrate the certain ruin that awaits those who commit this sin. Therefore, this verse acts as a stark, unavoidable conclusion, declaring that adultery, like these other dangerous acts, will undoubtedly bring severe punishment, not innocence.
"So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished. People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold;…" — The verse uses "innocent" where we might expect "punished," but the original Hebrew word actually carries the sense of being "exempt from punishment." This subtle phrasing highlights that the *purity…
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