She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him,
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's not just that she's forward; the text emphasizes she "strengthened her face." This means she deliberately put on a bold, hardened expression, actively hiding her shame and projecting false confidence to trap the young man. This wasn't a hesitant advance, but a calculated, brazen seduction.
She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a vivid narrative warning against the seductive allure of the "strange woman." Having lured a young man towards her home, she now actively embraces him, employing physical affection and a hardened, shameless expression to disarm his hesitation. The boldness of her actions and appearance is calculated to overwhelm his senses and draw him further into her destructive snare, a dramatic prelude to the deceitful words she's about to speak.
This isn't a gentle invitation; it's an aggressive move that catches the young man off guard. The seductress uses touch to immediately escalate the situation.
The verse describes a sudden, forceful action: "She seizes him and kisses him." This isn't a shy advance; it's a bold, physical grab. The kiss isn't an expression of affection but a tactic to overwhelm and disarm.
Think about how touch can be used:
Her words are dangerous, but her expression is even more so. The text reveals a calculated mask designed to deceive.
The phrase "with an impudent face" (or, as some translations put it, "she strengthened her face") is key. It means she put on a completely bold, unashamed, even hardened expression. Her face wasn't revealing genuine affection but a performance of it.
This "strengthened face" was a tool for:
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She's not just making a move; she's presenting a 'special' invitation. This adds a layer of perceived legitimacy to her advance.
Commentaries point out that her invitation, which follows immediately, implies a special feast prepared just for him. This isn't random; it's a lure.
This tactic works by:
This passage describes Potiphar's wife seizing Joseph, mirroring the physical boldness of the strange woman in Proverbs 7 as she 'catches' the young man.
Jeremiah 3:3The phrase 'strengthened her face' is echoed here, describing Israel's brazenness in sin with 'the forehead of a whore.' It highlights the shameless audacity of the adulterous woman.
Proverbs 9:13-17This passage presents a parallel seduction by 'Lady Folly,' who also uses alluring words and a seemingly inviting, yet deceitful, presentation to lure the unwary into her 'house.'
Romans 16:18Paul warns believers about those who, by 'smooth talk and flattery,' deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting, a tactic directly employed by the strange woman here.
clarkeProverbs 7:13: "So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,"
So she caught him - Laid fast hold on him, and kissed him, to show that she was affectionately attached to him. And with an impudent face - העזה פניה heezzah paneyha, "she strengthened her countenance," assumed the most confident look she could; endeavored to appear friendly and sincere.
pooleProverbs 7:13: "So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,"
No text from Poole on this verse.
It's not just that she's forward; the text emphasizes she "strengthened her face." This means she deliberately put on a bold, hardened expression, actively hiding her shame and projecting false confidence to trap the young man. This wasn't a hesitant advance, but a calculated, brazen seduction.
This passage is part of a vivid narrative warning against the seductive allure of the "strange woman." Having lured a young man towards her home, she now actively embraces him, employing physical affection and a hardened, shameless expression to disarm his hesitation. The boldness of her actions and appearance is calculated to overwhelm his senses and draw him further into her destructive snare, a dramatic prelude to the deceitful words she's about to speak.
This passage is part of a vivid narrative warning against the seductive allure of the "strange woman." Having lured a young man towards her home, she now actively embraces him, employing physical affection and a hardened, shameless expression to disarm his hesitation. The boldness of her actions and appearance is calculated to overwhelm his senses and draw him further into her destructive snare, a dramatic prelude to the deceitful words she's about to speak.
"She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him," — It's not just that she's forward; the text emphasizes she "strengthened her face." This means she deliberately put on a bold, hardened expression, actively hiding her shame and projecting false confi…
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Last reviewed October 2026