Proverbs 5:5 kjv
Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
Proverbs 5:5 nkjv
Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell.
Proverbs 5:5 niv
Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.
Proverbs 5:5 esv
Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol;
Proverbs 5:5 nlt
Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.
Proverbs 5 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 2:18-19 | For her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her return... | Warns against her house leading to death and an irreversible path. |
| Prov 7:26-27 | Many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is the way to Sheol... | Directly links her path to destruction and Sheol for many. |
| Ps 1:6 | For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. | Contrasts the ultimate destinies of the righteous and the wicked. |
| Ps 9:17 | The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. | Highlights Sheol as the destination for those who disregard God. |
| Ps 55:15 | Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is in their dwelling places and in their hearts. | Invokes divine judgment leading to Sheol for the wicked. |
| Prov 1:32 | For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; | Shows that rejecting wisdom leads to destruction. |
| Prov 4:19 | The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. | Describes the path of the wicked as a stumble towards ruin. |
| Prov 6:27-29 | Can a man carry fire in his lap and his clothes not be burned?... so is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife... | Illustrates immediate and destructive consequences of adultery. |
| Rom 6:21 | But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. | States that the fruit of sin ultimately leads to death. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Clearly states sin's ultimate payment as death. |
| Gal 6:8 | For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. | Explains that choices rooted in the flesh lead to corruption and death. |
| Jas 1:15 | Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. | Details the progression from sinful desire to death. |
| Heb 13:4 | Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. | Warns of God's judgment on sexual immorality. |
| Rev 21:8 | But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral... their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. | Describes the ultimate, eternal death for the unrighteous, including the sexually immoral. |
| Isa 5:14 | Therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure, and the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude will go down... | Illustrates Sheol's insatiable nature, consuming many. |
| John 8:34 | Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” | Sin leads to bondage, which ultimately limits freedom and life. |
| John 10:10 | The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. | Contrasts the destructive work of evil with Christ's offer of life. |
| Matt 7:13-14 | Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many, but the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. | Jesus describes two contrasting paths: one to destruction, one to life. |
| Deut 30:19 | ...I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life... | God presents the choice between life and death as clear alternatives. |
| Ps 16:10-11 | For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life... | Shows the path of life found in God, which avoids Sheol. |
| Hos 13:14 | I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? | Demonstrates God's redemptive power over death and Sheol. |
| 1 Cor 15:55-57 | "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. | Affirms Christ's victory over the death brought by sin. |
| Eph 5:5 | For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. | Directly states that immorality leads to exclusion from God's kingdom. |
Proverbs 5 verses
Proverbs 5 5 Meaning
Proverbs 5:5 declares the inevitable and dire consequences of engaging with the adulterous woman. Her very presence and movement embody a path leading directly to ultimate destruction and the realm of the dead. This "death" signifies not only the end of physical life but also profound spiritual decay, the loss of integrity, reputation, prosperity, and divine favor. Her alluring invitation conceals a journey whose end is complete ruin, symbolizing the fatal trajectory of ungodly choices and immorality.
Proverbs 5 5 Context
Proverbs chapter 5 is part of a larger instructional section (chapters 1-9) where a father or sage imparts wisdom to a young man. Specifically, this chapter is a fervent and urgent warning against the "forbidden woman," typically identified as an adulteress or a sexually promiscuous woman. The preceding verses (Proverbs 5:3-4) paint a deceptive picture of her allure, noting that her lips drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, yet her end is bitter like wormwood and sharp as a two-edged sword. Verse 5 follows immediately, starkly revealing the grim reality: her actions and the path she leads others on descend directly into death and Sheol. This strong imagery serves to counteract any romanticized or trivialized view of sexual immorality, emphasizing the grave spiritual, moral, and often physical consequences that awaited the original audience in a society where family integrity and social order were paramount.
Proverbs 5 5 Word analysis
- Her feet (רַגְלֶיהָ - ragleyeha): "Feet" symbolizes the entire course of life, conduct, and direction. It implies her active movement and the very way she lives and entices. The plural suggests the persistent and undeniable nature of her chosen path.
- go down (יֹרְדוֹת - yoredot): From the Hebrew root יָרַד (yarad), meaning "to descend" or "go down." This denotes a relentless downward trajectory, a sure decline into ruin rather than elevation or flourishing. It signifies deterioration and collapse.
- to death (מָוֶת - mavet): In Proverbs, "death" is a comprehensive term for ruin and desolation, far beyond mere biological cessation. It signifies spiritual emptiness, moral corruption, loss of blessing, reputation, and livelihood. It represents the utter antithesis of the "life" (חַיִּים - chayyim) and blessing that comes from God's wisdom.
- her steps (אֲשֻׁרֶיהָ - ashureyha): Synonymous with "feet" but often carrying a nuance of firmly planted or deliberately taken steps. It reinforces the idea of a steady, chosen progression, indicating that her destructive path is not accidental but a fixed, consistent course of action.
- lead straight (יִתְמְכוּ - yitmechu): From the root תָּמַךְ (tamak), meaning "to grasp," "support," or "uphold." Here, it powerfully conveys that her steps are firmly set, fixed, or directly aligned towards their destination. It underscores the unswerving and inevitable nature of her progress toward destruction, as if her actions actively and precisely propel her to her doom.
- to Sheol (שְׁאוֹלָה - she'olah): The Old Testament term for the grave, the underworld, or the realm of the dead. While a common destination for all, in ethical contexts like this, it is strongly associated with the ultimate ruin and judgment for the wicked. It implies hopelessness, oblivion, and complete separation from the divine life and blessing enjoyed by the righteous. It's the ultimate end point of spiritual and moral degradation.
Word-Group Analysis
- Her feet go down to death: This phrase graphically illustrates the trajectory of the adulteress's path. It is not a gentle slope but a direct, unavoidable descent into total destruction. The use of "feet" emphasizes that her very actions and way of life are directly responsible for this ruin. It's a forceful warning that engaging with her is embarking on a pre-determined course toward perdition.
- her steps lead straight to Sheol: This forms a parallel construction that deepens the warning. "Her steps" reinforces the idea of her deliberate and consistent movement. "Lead straight" underscores the certainty and inevitability; there is no deviation from this grim destination. "Sheol" heightens "death," signifying the ultimate and irreversible desolation that awaits those who choose this path, an end where God's favor is absent.
Proverbs 5 5 Bonus section
The principle enunciated in Proverbs 5:5 extends beyond sexual sin, serving as a universal truth: ungodly actions, if pursued, invariably lead to ruin. It exemplifies the biblical concept of "sowing and reaping" (Gal 6:7-8). This verse contrasts sharply with the path of wisdom, which consistently promises "life" and "well-being" (Prov 3:18, 4:10, 8:35). The vivid, personified danger of the "strange woman" in Proverbs should also be seen as a spiritual metaphor for any enticement that diverts one from devotion to God, symbolizing idolatry or following paths contrary to His word. Therefore, this proverb is a foundational teaching, not only on moral purity but on the critical discernment required to navigate life's choices and align oneself with the path of righteousness that ultimately leads to true life in Christ.
Proverbs 5 5 Commentary
Proverbs 5:5 stands as a chilling truth regarding the deceptive nature of sin, specifically sexual immorality. While initially appealing, the path of the "forbidden woman" inexorably leads to destruction. The dual imagery of "death" and "Sheol" portrays a comprehensive ruin – not merely physical demise, but the collapse of character, reputation, family, spiritual well-being, and ultimately, one's eternal hope. This verse warns that certain choices possess inherent consequences that firmly direct a life toward sorrow and devastation. It is a divine instruction that underscores the critical importance of living a life of wisdom, guarding one's heart, and remaining committed to fidelity, as turning away from these principles guarantees a descent into ultimate loss.