Proverbs 5:9 kjv

Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

Proverbs 5:9 nkjv

Lest you give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one;

Proverbs 5:9 niv

lest you lose your honor to others and your dignity to one who is cruel,

Proverbs 5:9 esv

lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless,

Proverbs 5:9 nlt

If you do, you will lose your honor
and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.

Proverbs 5 verses

Proverbs 5 9 Meaning

Proverbs 5:9 serves as a grave warning, detailing specific destructive consequences for one who succumbs to the allure of sexual immorality. It conveys that by straying into such sin, a person will forfeit their public standing, respect, and dignity, effectively surrendering their good name and influence to those who are outside their rightful circle or even to those who would exploit them. Simultaneously, the verse warns of a loss of vital life force, time, health, or a prolonged, fulfilling future, indicating that these precious years will be consumed and ravaged by harsh, oppressive, or ruinous circumstances directly stemming from the immoral choices. It paints a picture of self-inflicted spiritual, social, and physical decline.

Proverbs 5 9 Context

Proverbs chapter 5 is a direct admonition from a father, or a wise teacher, to his son, warning emphatically against the pitfalls of sexual immorality, specifically against the "strange woman" or the adulteress. This chapter is part of the larger didactic section of Proverbs (chapters 1-9) which aims to instruct a young man in the path of wisdom and righteousness, contrasting it with the destructive allure of folly and sin.

Immediately preceding Proverbs 5:9, verses 7 and 8 urge the son to "hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house." Verse 9 then enumerates the immediate and dire consequences of disregarding this instruction. The warning continues into subsequent verses (5:10-14), describing how the sinner’s wealth, labor, and ultimately their very body will be consumed, culminating in lamentation at their ruin. The broader historical and cultural context underscores the importance of family honor, marital fidelity, and the preservation of lineage and legacy in ancient Israelite society, where deviations had severe social and often legal repercussions. The wisdom tradition aims to guide individuals away from behaviors that not only offend God but also undermine societal and personal well-being. This passage subtly serves as a polemic against pagan cultic practices, prevalent in surrounding nations, which often intertwined with sexual licentiousness and divination.

Proverbs 5 9 Word analysis

• lest: The Hebrew word is pen (פֶּן). This conjunction introduces a warning, indicating a negative consequence or potential danger that one should avoid. It implies preventative action. The full phrase structure denotes "for fear that" or "so that... not."
• thou give: The Hebrew verb is titten (תִּתֵּן), meaning "you give" or "you surrender." This is a crucial aspect as it signifies that the individual actively (though perhaps unwisely) gives away their valuable assets—honor and years—rather than having them forcibly taken without their involvement. It highlights personal culpability and choice in the decline.
• thine honour: The Hebrew is hodecha (הוֹדְךָ), referring to "your splendor," "your majesty," "your glory," "your dignity," or "your reputation." In ancient Near Eastern culture, honor was vital, encompassing social standing, public respect, and inherent worth derived from one's conduct and status within the community. It speaks of the internal and external recognition of one's virtue and high standing.
• unto others: The Hebrew is le'acherim (לַאֲחֵרִים), meaning "to others" or "to strangers." In this context, it implies those who have no rightful claim to one's honor, perhaps rivals, enemies, or people of low standing. It can denote a literal transfer of status or resources to exploitative parties or simply the dispersal of one's reputation to general public disrepute and scandal. It highlights loss to undeserving parties.
• and thy years: The Hebrew is u'shnoteka (וּשְׁנוֹתֶיךָ), meaning "and your years." This refers to one's lifespan, vitality, health, vigor, and the potential future blessings or achievements associated with a long life. It encompasses not just physical time but the quality of that life.
• unto the cruel: The Hebrew is le'achzarim (לְאַכְזָרִים), meaning "to the cruel ones," "to the ruthless," "to the harsh," or "to the merciless." These could be literal enemies, oppressive creditors who would take advantage of one's diminished state due to immorality (Pro 6:26), or even the inevitable bitter and destructive consequences of sin that consume one's life. This signifies subjection to oppressive and destructive forces.

Words-group analysis:

• "lest thou give thine honour unto others": This phrase warns against the complete loss of one's esteemed reputation, social dignity, and rightful place within the community. Sexual sin, being a public scandal, particularly in an honor-based society, results in public disgrace and alienation. One's respect and social influence are forfeited to, or mocked by, others.
• "and thy years unto the cruel": This second consequence points to the destructive impact on one's very life. "Years" signify life, health, vitality, and longevity. These are surrendered to "cruel" entities or forces, which may be the direct exploitation from those involved in or benefiting from the illicit relationship (e.g., those who profit from a person's ruin), or the severe and relentless consequences of the sin itself, leading to physical decay, disease, premature death, or a life consumed by misery and servitude. It highlights that the life once cherished and hopeful becomes enslaved by the bitter fruits of one's own immoral choices.

Proverbs 5 9 Bonus section

The Hebrew parallelism employed in Proverbs 5:9, linking "honour unto others" and "years unto the cruel," effectively uses literary technique to emphasize the comprehensive nature of ruin. It's not just a single loss, but a twofold calamity affecting both reputation and vitality. The specific language of "giving" or "surrendering" underscores the individual's agency and responsibility for their downfall, implying a conscious choice to ignore wisdom's counsel. This is not simply about physical adultery; the warning extends to any form of "strangeness" that alienates one from God's wisdom, consuming life's blessings for temporary, unholy gratification. The focus is deeply personal, aiming to protect the "son" from a lifestyle that dishonors God and ultimately brings self-destruction, moving from a position of honor and longevity to one of disgrace and brevity.

Proverbs 5 9 Commentary

Proverbs 5:9 encapsulates the devastating, multi-faceted consequences of succumbing to illicit desires. The verse articulates a self-inflicted spiritual, social, and physical catastrophe resulting from sexual sin. First, the loss of "honour" speaks to the utter disintegration of one's reputation and dignity. This isn't just about what others think, but a deep forfeiture of self-respect and standing that impacts one's ability to be a virtuous example or maintain influence. The term "others" can imply those who are undeserving or hostile, signifying that one's valuable reputation is cheapened and given away to the mockers or exploiters. Second, "thy years unto the cruel" reveals that such choices inevitably lead to a depletion of life itself – health, time, vitality, and future potential. "Cruel" highlights the relentless and merciless nature of the consequences: debt, disease, familial strife, public shame, and potential early death. This "cruelty" can manifest through legal repercussions, financial ruin leading to servitude, physical ailments (e.g., STIs), or spiritual emptiness that drains life's meaning. The verse serves as a sober warning: true wisdom necessitates marital fidelity, as its abandonment guarantees a miserable, shortened, and disreputable existence, entirely distinct from the abundant life God intends.