Proverbs 6:24 kjv

To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

Proverbs 6:24 nkjv

To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress.

Proverbs 6:24 niv

keeping you from your neighbor's wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.

Proverbs 6:24 esv

to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Proverbs 6:24 nlt

It will keep you from the immoral woman,
from the smooth tongue of a promiscuous woman.

Proverbs 6 verses

Proverbs 6 24 Meaning

Proverbs 6:24 conveys that wisdom and the instruction received from a father will protect an individual from the allure and deceptive speech of an immoral woman. This verse emphasizes the defensive power of divine wisdom against moral corruption and the seduction leading to destruction.

Proverbs 6 24 Context

Proverbs chapter 6 forms part of the father-to-son discourses in Proverbs, serving as a series of strong admonitions against various pitfalls. The chapter begins with warnings against suretyship (vv. 1-5) and laziness (vv. 6-11), then describes the characteristics of a troublemaker (vv. 12-19). Verses 20-35 focus explicitly on the profound danger of adultery, linking it closely with neglecting parental instruction and divine wisdom. Proverbs 6:24 directly states how wisdom serves as a guard, setting the stage for the detailed description of the adulteress's lure and the dire consequences for those ensnared, as outlined in the verses that follow. The cultural context views adherence to covenantal fidelity, including sexual purity, as foundational to a righteous life and the well-being of the family and community.

Proverbs 6 24 Word analysis

• To keep: From the Hebrew verb nātsal (נָצַל), meaning "to deliver," "to rescue," "to save," or "to protect." This implies an active, protective measure that safeguards the individual from harm or danger. It highlights wisdom's role as a defense mechanism.
• Thee: Refers to the "son" (addressed earlier in Prov 6:20), indicating a personal and direct benefit of heeding the instruction. It focuses on the individual's safety and well-being.
• From: Indicates separation and protection from the specified threat.
• The evil woman: Hebrew 'ishshah ra'ah (אִשָּׁה רָעָה). 'ishshah means "woman" or "wife." Ra'ah (רָעָה) signifies "evil," "wicked," "morally corrupt," "calamitous," or "destructive." This denotes her character is inherently contrary to what is righteous and wholesome, highlighting moral depravity rather than mere error.
• From the flattery: From the Hebrew noun ḥeleq or ḥelaqlaqqah (חֶלְקָה / חֲלַקְלַקָּה), signifying "smoothness," "flattery," "smooth words," or "slipperiness." This word suggests deceptive, artful, and enticing speech, designed to mislead and charm rather than convey truth. It's often associated with treacherous intent.
• Of the tongue: Hebrew lāshōn (לָשׁוֹן), "tongue," referring to the instrument of speech. This specifies the primary tool used for deception.
• Of the strange woman: Hebrew 'ishshah zārāh (אִשָּׁה זָרָה). Zārāh (זָרָה) means "strange," "foreign," "alien," or "harlotrous." In the context of Proverbs, this term often refers not merely to a non-Israelite woman but more significantly to a woman who acts as a harlot or adulteress, one who does not belong to one's household or covenant, whose ways are contrary to established righteous norms, and who threatens the family and social order. Her "strangeness" is moral and social, posing a danger to communal and personal purity.

Words-group analysis:

• "To keep thee from": Emphasizes the preventative and safeguarding power of wisdom. It implies a divine or inherent protection provided by following wise counsel, shielding the individual from a specific, potent danger.
• "The evil woman": Points directly to her morally degenerate nature. She is not merely tempting but inherently wicked in her actions and intentions, making her a formidable and destructive force.
• "From the flattery of the tongue of the strange woman": Describes the method and source of the deception. Her primary weapon is not force but seductive, smooth words delivered through cunning speech, indicating that the danger lies in the persuasion and artifice of her language. Her "strangeness" underlines her otherness, her disregard for conventional morality, and her transient, predatory nature.

Proverbs 6 24 Bonus section

The "strange woman" in Proverbs can be understood on multiple levels: literally as an adulteress, metaphorically as the path of folly contrasted with the path of wisdom, and even as a type of false teaching or idolatry. Wisdom, personified as a virtuous woman in Prov 8 and 9, stands in direct antithesis to this "strange woman" or Folly (Prov 7, 9). Wisdom offers life and understanding, while the strange woman leads to death and spiritual darkness. The danger lies not only in physical transgression but also in being swayed by ideas or doctrines that appear attractive but are morally corrupt or spiritually misleading. This verse implies that listening to and internalizing divine instruction equips one with the discernment necessary to navigate a world full of spiritual and moral traps.

Proverbs 6 24 Commentary

Proverbs 6:24 serves as a crucial warning within the book of Proverbs, particularly within its extended discourse on avoiding adultery. It underscores that wisdom, received through diligent attention to parental instruction (as urged in v. 20), acts as a potent shield. This protection is not just from the presence of an immoral woman, but specifically from her most dangerous tool: her deceptive and seductive speech. The "evil woman" or "strange woman" personifies temptation, promiscuity, and the allure of forbidden pleasure. Her "flattery of the tongue" signifies her mastery of cunning words designed to entice and mislead, portraying vice as desirable. The verse is a profound reminder that true wisdom enables discernment, allowing one to recognize and resist such smooth words before falling prey to their destructive influence. It points to a need for internal fortitude, cultivated by righteous teaching, to overcome external seduction. Practically, this calls for a guarded heart and mind, aware of temptation's subtle approach, particularly through seemingly appealing yet morally corrupt avenues.