Proverbs 5:8 kjv
Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
Proverbs 5:8 nkjv
Remove your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house,
Proverbs 5:8 niv
Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house,
Proverbs 5:8 esv
Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,
Proverbs 5:8 nlt
Stay away from her!
Don't go near the door of her house!
Proverbs 5 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 6:18 | Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body... | Command to flee sexual immorality. |
| 2 Tim 2:22 | Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace.. | General command to flee destructive desires. |
| 1 Thes 5:22 | Abstain from all appearance of evil. | Avoidance of anything resembling wrongdoing. |
| Rom 13:14 | But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh.. | Do not create opportunities for sin. |
| Psa 1:1 | Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor... | Principle of avoiding the paths of the wicked. |
| Prov 4:14-15 | Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.. | Explicit instruction to avoid wicked paths. |
| Jas 4:7 | Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee... | Implies that submission to God includes avoiding temptation. |
| Matt 6:13 | And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil... | A prayer for divine protection from temptation. |
| Matt 5:28 | But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her... | Warning against even the initial stages of lust. |
| Jas 1:14-15 | But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and... | Explains the progression of lust leading to sin. |
| Prov 5:3-4 | For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is... | Describes the deceptive allure leading to bitter consequences. |
| Prov 7:25 | Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. | Command against heart and steps following the immoral woman. |
| Prov 7:26-27 | For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been... | Details the destructive power and peril of her path. |
| Prov 6:27-28 | Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can... | Rhetorical question about inevitable consequences of close proximity to sin. |
| Heb 13:4 | Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers... | God's judgment on sexual immorality. |
| 1 Cor 6:9-10 | Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?.. | Exclusion of sexually immoral from God's kingdom. |
| Eph 5:3 | But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be... | Commands against sexual impurity among believers. |
| Prov 4:26-27 | Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn... | Calls for careful consideration of one's path to avoid evil. |
| Psa 119:101 | I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. | Personal commitment to avoid evil ways by adhering to God's word. |
| 2 Cor 6:17 | Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.. | Call to separate from unrighteous influences. |
| Rom 12:9 | Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to... | Command to genuinely detest evil and cling to good. |
| Isa 59:8 | The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings.. | Illustrates the wicked's inability to choose righteous paths. |
| Phil 4:8 | Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are... | Guidance on what to fix one's thoughts upon, implying avoidance of contrary things. |
Proverbs 5 verses
Proverbs 5 8 Meaning
Proverbs 5:8 issues a stark command: actively and decisively remove your life's path and entire course of conduct far away from the influence of the adulterous woman, and, crucially, do not even allow yourself to come close to the entrance of her house. This verse underscores the necessity of radical, preventative separation from all forms of sexual temptation, advocating for complete avoidance rather than attempting to resist once near or within sin's dangerous sphere. It teaches that true wisdom lies in strategically distancing oneself from potential sources of moral corruption to safeguard purity and avoid spiritual ruin.
Proverbs 5 8 Context
Proverbs chapter 5 is a forceful discourse from a father (the embodiment of wisdom) to his son, warning vividly against the destructive enticements of the "strange woman" or adulteress. The chapter immediately follows earlier calls to embrace wisdom and flee wickedness (Proverbs 4). Verses 3-6 describe her deceptive allure—her sweet words and tempting looks, contrasting sharply with the bitter end she represents: leading down to death and ruin. Verse 8 acts as a crucial, proactive command, moving from description to prescription. It tells the son what to do in response to this danger, advocating not just for mental resistance but for physical and experiential distance. Historically, this counsel was vital for maintaining the integrity of family, lineage, and a righteous life within ancient Israelite society, where faithfulness in marriage was foundational to covenant fidelity and social order, deeply reflecting the commandments against adultery (Exo 20:14; Deut 5:18).
Proverbs 5 8 Word analysis
- "Remove" (רְחַק - rachaq): This imperative verb signifies a deliberate and active withdrawal or distant separation. It implies taking initiative to put a significant space, physically and morally, between oneself and the danger.
- "thy way" (דַּרְכֶּךָ - darkeka): Refers to one's path, course of life, conduct, or manner of living. It encompasses not merely physical movement but one's entire moral and behavioral trajectory, indicating a comprehensive reorientation away from temptation.
- "far from her" (מֵעָלֶיהָ - me'alayah): Emphasizes a great distance, not just a slight deviation. It denotes a radical and decisive break from her person, influence, and the allure she presents.
- "and come not nigh" (וְאַל־תִּקְרַב - v'al-tikrav): A powerful negative command. Al is a strong prohibition ("do not"), paired with tikrav (from karav), meaning "to draw near" or "approach." This phrase prohibits even the slightest inclination towards or proximity to the source of temptation.
- "the door" (פֶּתַח - pethach): The opening, entrance, or threshold. Symbolically, this is the very first point of entry, representing the boundary between safety and immediate peril.
- "her house" (בֵּיתָהּ - beitah): Her dwelling place, her domain. It represents the sphere of her sinful activities, a place of danger, entrapment, and moral destruction.
Words-group by Words-group analysis
- "Remove thy way far from her": This comprehensive directive calls for a redirection of one's entire life's course and choices away from the corrupting influence of the immoral woman. It's a proactive measure demanding a deliberate change in direction and association to avoid engaging with sin.
- "and come not nigh the door of her house": This phrase intensifies the preceding command by pinpointing the precise boundary. It strictly warns against approaching even the entryway to temptation, implying that standing at the very threshold is already to be in extreme danger and on the verge of compromise. True wisdom avoids not just the sin itself, but the perilous pathway leading directly to it.
Proverbs 5 8 Bonus section
The command in Proverbs 5:8 to flee from evil paths directly implies the importance of embracing and remaining on righteous paths, a concept explored throughout the Book of Proverbs. While this verse provides a negative command (what not to do), it implicitly advocates for cultivating environments and relationships that support purity and wisdom, as highlighted in Prov 5:15-19, which instructs the son to "Drink waters out of thine own cistern" and rejoice with his own wife. The principle of fleeing from evil rather than standing to fight it is a recurring theme in the New Testament as well (e.g., fleeing lusts), suggesting that proactive removal from temptation's sphere is often the most effective form of spiritual warfare, recognizing the deceitfulness of the heart.
Proverbs 5 8 Commentary
Proverbs 5:8 provides a critical, actionable principle of spiritual defense: the wisdom of radical avoidance. Following the vivid portrayal of the "strange woman's" deadly charm, this verse moves from description to decisive instruction. It's a profound understanding that winning the battle against sexual sin often depends less on head-on confrontation once tempted, and more on strategically placing oneself outside the zone of temptation entirely. "Remove thy way far from her" necessitates a conscious, decisive reorientation of one's life's course and conduct, actively turning away from any pathway that might lead to such moral danger. The subsequent command, "come not nigh the door of her house," narrows the focus, emphasizing the crucial importance of the initial point of compromise. The "door" represents the very first step into sin, the minimal proximity before full entanglement. To linger at this threshold is to court disaster. This proverb, therefore, is not a call to fear or isolation, but to profound self-awareness, discerning personal boundaries, and spiritual discipline. It champions preemptive action over reactive resistance, acknowledging the immense power of seduction and the human propensity to succumb when presented with opportunity. Its timeless message extends beyond literal sexual immorality, teaching believers to recognize and distance themselves from any influence, environment, or digital content that threatens to ensnare their souls and compromise their devotion to God.