Proverbs 7
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The subject continued, by a delineation of the arts of strange women, as a caution to the unwary. (Pro. 7:1-27) Similar calls (Pro 3:1-3; Pro 4:10, &c.).
Open source ↗My son, keep my words,.... Doctrines and instructions; which, as a father to a son, or a master to his scholars, he had delivered; these he would have him observe and attend to; and lay up my commandments with thee: as a treasure in his heart, to be brought out upon occasion; to be kept as valuable, and made use of as an antidote against and a preservative from sinning; see Psa 119:11. The Septuagint and Arabic versions add, what is not in the Hebrew text, "son, honour the Lord, and thou shalt be strong;'' the Arabic adds, "and he shall strengthen thee; and fear none besides him.''
Open source ↗The introduction first counsels in general to a true appreciation of these well-considered life-rules of wisdom. 1 My son, keep my words, And treasure up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live; And my instruction as the apple of thine eye. 3 Wind them about thy fingers, Write them on the tablet of thy heart. The lxx has after Pro 7:1 another distich; but it here disturbs the connection. Regarding צפן, vid., at Pro 2:1; אתּך refers, as there, to the sphere of one's own character, and that subjectively. Regarding the imper. וחיה, which must here be translated according to its sense as a conclusion, because it comes in between the objects governed by שׁמר, vid., at Pro 4:4. There וחיה is punctuated with Silluk; here, according to Kimchi (Michlol 125a), with Segol-Athnach, וחיה, as in the Cod. Erfurt. 2 and 3, and in the editions of Athias and Clodius, so that the word belongs to the class פתחין באתנח (with short instead of long vowel by the pausal accent): no reason for this is to be perceived, especially as (Pro 4:4) the Tsere (ê from aj) which is characteristic of the imper. remains unchanged. Regarding אישׁון העין, Arab. insân el-'ain, the little man of the eye, i.e., the apple of the eye, named from the miniature portrait of him who looks into it being reflected from it, vid., at Psa 17:8; the ending ôn is here diminutive, like Syr. achuno, little brother, beruno, little son, and the like. On Pro 7:3, vid., at Pro 6:21; Pro 3:3. The תפילין שׁל יד (Note: תפילין, prayer-fillets, phylacteries.) were wound seven times round the left arm and seven times round the middle finger. The writing on the table of the heart may be regarded as referring to Deu 6:9 (the Mezuzoth). (Note: = the door-posts, afterwards used by the Jews to denote the pas…
Open source ↗These verses are an introduction to his warning against fleshly lusts, much the same with that, Pro 6:20, etc., and ending (Pro 7:5) as that did (Pro 6:24), To keep thee from the strange woman; that is it he aims at; only there he had said, Keep thy father's commandment, here (which comes all to one), Keep my commandments, for he speaks to us as unto sons. He speaks in God's name; for it is God's commandments that we are to keep, his words, his law. The word of God must be to us, 1. As that which we are most careful of. We must keep it as our treasure; we must lay up God's commandments with us, lay them up safely, that we may not be robbed of them by the wicked one, Pro 7:1. We must keep it as our life: Keep my commandments and live (Pro 7:2), not only, "Keep them, and you shall live;" but, "Keep them as you would your life, as those that cannot live without them." It would be death to a good man to be deprived of the word of God, for by it he lives, and not by bread alone. 2. As that which we are most tender of: Keep my law as the apple of thy eye. A little thing offends the eye, and therefore nature has so well guarded it. We pray, with David, that God would keep us as the apple of his eye (Psa 17:8), that our lives and comforts may be precious in his sight; and they shall be so (Zac 2:8) if we be in like manner tender of his law and afraid of the least violation of it. Those who reproach strict and circumspect walking, as needless preciseness, consider not that the law is to be kept as the apple of the eye, for indeed it is the apple of our eye; the law is light; the law in the heart is the eye of the soul. 3. As that which we are proud of and would be ever mindful of (Pro 7:3): "Bind them upon thy fingers; let them be precious to thee; look upon them as an ornament,…
Open source ↗7:1-27 This is the last of four sections in chs 1–9 that warn against the dangers of promiscuous women (see also 2:16-22; 5:1-23; 6:20-35).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… אֵמֶר (ʼêmer, H561) — something said צָפַן (tsâphan, H6845) — to hide (by covering over); by implication, to hoard or reserve; figuratively to deny;… מִצְוָה (mitsvâh, H4687) — a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)
Open source ↗שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… מִצְוָה (mitsvâh, H4687) — a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law) חָיָה (châyâh, H2421) — to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive תּוֹרָה (tôwrâh, H8451) — a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch אִישׁוֹן (ʼîyshôwn, H380) — the little man of the eye; the pupil or ball; hence, the middle (of night) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
Open source ↗קָשַׁר (qâshar, H7194) — to tie, physically (gird, confine, compact) or mentally (in love, league) אֶצְבַּע (ʼetsbaʻ, H676) — something to sieze with, i.e. a finger; by analogy, a toe כָּתַב (kâthab, H3789) — to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe) לוּחַ (lûwach, H3871) — probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) אָחוֹת (ʼâchôwth, H269) — a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively) קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… בִּינָה (bîynâh, H998) — understanding מוֹדַע (môwdaʻ, H4129) — an acquaintance
Open source ↗שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… זוּר (zûwr, H2114) — to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be aforeigner, strange, profane;… אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman נׇכְרִי (nokrîy, H5237) — strange, in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign, non-relative, adulterous,… חָלַק (châlaq, H2505) — to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots) to… אֵמֶר (ʼêmer, H561) — something said
Open source ↗חַלּוֹן (challôwn, H2474) — a window (as perforated) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) שָׁקַף (shâqaph, H8259) — properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a… אֶשְׁנָב (ʼeshnâb, H822) — a latticed window
Open source ↗רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… פְּתִי (pᵉthîy, H6612) — silly (i.e. seducible) בִּין (bîyn, H995) — to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… נַעַר (naʻar, H5288) — (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a… חָסֵר (châçêr, H2638) — lacking; hence, without לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the…
Open source ↗עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… שׁוּק (shûwq, H7784) — a street (as run over) אֵצֶל (ʼêtsel, H681) — a side; (as a preposition) near פֵּן (pên, H6434) — an angle (of a street or wall) צָעַד (tsâʻad, H6805) — to pace, i.e. step regularly; (upward) to mount; (along) to march; (down and causatively)… דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗נֶשֶׁף (nesheph, H5399) — properly, a breeze, i.e. (by implication) dusk (when the evening breeze prevails) יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… עֶרֶב (ʻereb, H6153) — dusk אִישׁוֹן (ʼîyshôwn, H380) — the little man of the eye; the pupil or ball; hence, the middle (of night) אֲפֵלָה (ʼăphêlâh, H653) — duskiness, figuratively, misfortune; concrete, concealment לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
Open source ↗קִרְאָה (qirʼâh, H7125) — an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman שִׁית (shîyth, H7897) — a dress (as put on) זָנָה (zânâh, H2181) — to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely… נָצַר (nâtsar, H5341) — to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal,… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the…
Open source ↗הָמָה (hâmâh, H1993) — to make a loud sound (like English 'hum'); by implication, to be in great commotion or… סָרַר (çârar, H5637) — to turn away, i.e. (morally) be refractory רֶגֶל (regel, H7272) — a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda שָׁכַן (shâkan, H7931) — to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗פַּעַם (paʻam, H6471) — a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow) חוּץ (chûwts, H2351) — properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors רְחֹב (rᵉchôb, H7339) — a width, i.e. (concretely) avenue or area אָרַב (ʼârab, H693) — to lurk אֵצֶל (ʼêtsel, H681) — a side; (as a preposition) near פִּנָּה (pinnâh, H6438) — an angle; by implication, a pinnacle; figuratively, a chieftain
Open source ↗חָזַק (châzaq, H2388) — to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively… נָשַׁק (nâshaq, H5401) — to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with… עָזַז (ʻâzaz, H5810) — to be stout (literally or figuratively) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗שֶׁלֶם (shelem, H8002) — properly, requital, i.e. a (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks זֶבַח (zebach, H2077) — properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… שָׁלַם (shâlam, H7999) — to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed;… נֶדֶר (neder, H5088) — a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.
Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
but a curse if you disobey the commandments of the LORD your God and turn aside from the path I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.
But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.