Proverbs 2:18 kjv
For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
Proverbs 2:18 nkjv
For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead;
Proverbs 2:18 niv
Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
Proverbs 2:18 esv
for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed;
Proverbs 2:18 nlt
Entering her house leads to death;
it is the road to the grave.
Proverbs 2 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 5:5 | Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. | Direct parallel warning about adulteress. |
| Prov 7:27 | Her house is the way to hell, leading down to the chambers of death. | Strongest parallel; almost identical phrasing. |
| Prov 9:18 | But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. | Consequence of choosing the foolish woman. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Universal principle of sin's consequence. |
| Jas 1:15 | ...lust, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. | Stages of sin leading to death. |
| Gal 6:8 | For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption... | Reaping the consequences of carnal choices. |
| Prov 1:32 | For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them... | General consequence for those who neglect wisdom. |
| Prov 8:36 | But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all who hate me love death. | Wisdom's contrasting warning; loving death via sin. |
| Ps 1:6 | For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. | Two distinct paths, leading to different ends. |
| Matt 7:13-14 | Enter by the narrow gate... wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction... | Broad vs. narrow paths of life and death. |
| Deut 30:19 | ...choose life, that both you and your descendants may live... | Call to choose life over death through obedience. |
| Jer 21:8 | Thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.' | Divine ultimatum for paths of choice. |
| Ps 16:11 | You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy... | The path of God leads to life and joy. |
| Prov 4:18-19 | But the path of the just is like the shining sun... The way of the wicked is like darkness... | Contrast of the righteous path of light and the wicked path of darkness. |
| Job 10:21-22 | ...the land of darkness and the shadow of death... | Descriptions of Sheol as a place of gloom. |
| Ps 49:14 | Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol... | Those without wisdom are destined for Sheol. |
| Isa 5:14 | Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself and opened its mouth beyond measure... | Sheol's expansion due to sin and wickedness. |
| Eph 2:1 | And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins... | Spiritual death prior to redemption in Christ. |
| Col 2:13 | And you, being dead in your trespasses... | Echoes spiritual deadness before God's work. |
| 1 Tim 5:6 | But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. | Moral decadence as a form of living death. |
| Prov 6:24-29 | ...to keep you from the evil woman... Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? | Further warnings about destructive nature of immorality. |
| Heb 13:4 | Marriage is honorable among all... but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. | Divine judgment for sexual immorality. |
Proverbs 2 verses
Proverbs 2 18 Meaning
Proverbs 2:18 provides a stark warning, asserting that the lifestyle, influence, and ultimate destination associated with the immoral, "strange woman" lead directly and inevitably to ruin. Her "house" and "paths" symbolize a pervasive environment and course of action that decline into a state of "death" and the "realm of the dead," signifying not just physical demise but spiritual ruin and profound separation from true life and God.
Proverbs 2 18 Context
Proverbs 2:18 is situated within a father's wisdom instruction to his son, urging the diligent pursuit of wisdom (Prov 2:1-11). If wisdom is sought and cherished, God promises to grant understanding, discernment, and protection from two primary dangers: the ways of wicked men (Prov 2:12-15) and the allure of the immoral, "strange woman" (Prov 2:16-19). Verse 18 specifically delineates the dire consequences of succumbing to the latter, depicting her influence and path as inevitably leading to death and the underworld. Historically and culturally, Israel existed amidst pagan cultures (like Canaan) where cultic prostitution and idolatry were prevalent. The "strange woman" in Proverbs serves as a strong polemic against spiritual apostasy and immorality, which were deeply intertwined in the ancient Near East, drawing one away from fidelity to YHWH and covenantal living.
Proverbs 2 18 Word analysis
- For her house:
- Hebrew: בֵּיתָהּ (beitah). "Her house," or "her dwelling." This refers not merely to a physical abode, but metaphorically to her entire way of life, her sphere of influence, her inner being, and her domestic situation. It encompasses the entirety of her character and how it impacts those associated with her. In biblical thought, "house" often represents lineage, legacy, or identity.
- inclineth:
- Hebrew: תֵּשִׁיחַ (teshiakh), derived from the root שׁוּח (shukh), meaning "to sink," "to stoop," "to bend down," "to degenerate," or "to go down." This verb describes a continuous and certain descent, indicating a downward trajectory or inherent gravitation towards something. It conveys a sense of decline and degeneration rather than a sudden fall, implying the pervasive and subtle nature of her influence.
- unto death:
- Hebrew: מוֹת (mot). This refers to "death" in its fullest biblical sense, encompassing not only the cessation of physical life but also spiritual separation from God, profound ruin, loss of honor, and ultimate destruction. In the wisdom literature, "death" often stands in stark contrast to "life," which signifies flourishing, blessing, and intimacy with God.
- and her paths:
- Hebrew: וּשְׁבִילֹתֶיהָ (ushvilotieha). "And her paths," or "her ways." This serves as a strong parallel to "her house." "Paths" refer to her specific course of action, her chosen conduct, her lifestyle, and the actual steps she takes or invites others to take. It highlights the practical outworking of her "house" or character, emphasizing that the methods and directions she takes also lead to the same perilous outcome.
- unto the dead:
- Hebrew: רְפָאִים (rephaim). Translated as "shades," "ghosts," or "spirits of the dead" who inhabit Sheol, the underworld. This term denotes the inert, powerless inhabitants of the realm of the deceased. It emphasizes a complete cutting off from the vibrant life and blessing associated with God and the living. Association with her leads one to join this company of the spiritually and existentially desolate.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "For her house inclineth unto death": This phrase establishes the foundational truth: the strange woman's very sphere of existence, her entire way of being, and the inherent character of her life are consistently moving towards and are destined for utter ruin and cessation of true life. It's a statement about her ultimate disposition.
- "and her paths unto the dead": This clause functions as a vivid parallel that reinforces and expands upon the first. Not only is her essence and influence leading to destruction, but the actual specific actions, choices, and courses of life she embodies and offers lead directly to the desolate company of the deceased. The dual imagery of "house" and "paths" leaves no ambiguity about the comprehensive and certain destruction awaiting those who follow her.
Proverbs 2 18 Bonus section
The concept of the "strange woman" in Proverbs 2 extends beyond literal harlotry to encompass any seduction that leads a person away from covenant faithfulness to God. This can include the enticement of idolatry, as Israel was frequently portrayed as an unfaithful wife (Jeremiah 3:6-9; Ezekiel 16). The "house" and "paths" metaphorically represent all the practices, beliefs, and alliances that deviate from YHWH's established ways, invariably leading to spiritual deadness, national judgment, and the ultimate loss of divine favor. The Proverb warns against the pervasive and corrupting nature of ungodly influences, which, regardless of their superficial appeal, inevitably terminate in separation from the source of all life and blessing.
Proverbs 2 18 Commentary
Proverbs 2:18 functions as a grave warning against enticement to folly, typically personified by the "strange woman" or adulteress, whose influence and ways lead inevitably to destruction. Her "house" signifies her core identity and sphere of operations, while her "paths" denote the specific actions and choices she inspires. Both are irrevocably oriented downwards, "inclineth," towards "death," a state of spiritual ruin, alienation from God, and ultimately, physical demise. This isn't merely about immediate physical danger but about falling into "the dead"—a descent into Sheol, the realm of lifelessness and separation from divine vitality. The verse highlights that deviation from wisdom's righteous path results in an existential crisis, leading away from life's blessings into desolation and ultimate ruin. This underscores the profound consequences of choosing carnal lusts and ungodly alliances over divine wisdom and fidelity.