Proverbs 6:26 kjv

For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.

Proverbs 6:26 nkjv

For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.

Proverbs 6:26 niv

For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man's wife preys on your very life.

Proverbs 6:26 esv

for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life.

Proverbs 6:26 nlt

For a prostitute will bring you to poverty,
but sleeping with another man's wife will cost you your life.

Proverbs 6 verses

Proverbs 6 26 Meaning

Proverbs 6:26 presents a stern warning against two distinct but related forms of sexual immorality and their devastating consequences. Firstly, it states that association with a prostitute or "whorish woman" leads to material ruin, reducing a man to extreme poverty, symbolizing the loss of all his substance and livelihood. Secondly, it declares that an adulteress, specifically another man's wife, aims for something far more significant and destructive: she hunts for "the precious life," implying the ruination of a man's reputation, character, spiritual standing, and indeed, his very soul. This highlights the escalating danger from outward financial loss to profound internal and relational devastation.

Proverbs 6 26 Context

Proverbs 6:26 is part of a longer warning (Proverbs 6:20-35) within the book of Proverbs against the destructive allure of sexual immorality, particularly adultery. This chapter begins by cautioning against folly in other areas (suretyship, laziness, wickedness) before honing in on the supreme danger of unchaste women. This specific verse emphasizes a critical distinction between two types of illicit relationships, each with a different level of consequence. In the ancient Near Eastern context, societal reputation, lineage, and a family's financial stability were paramount. Adultery, especially with a married woman, carried extreme social disgrace and often the death penalty under Mosaic Law, threatening not just economic loss but one's very existence and the disruption of a community's order. The warnings served as vital practical wisdom for young men to navigate life righteously and preserve their future.

Proverbs 6 26 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, kī): Introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding warning against adultery and sexual sin. It explains why one should heed the father's instruction (Prov 6:20-25).
• by means of (בְּעַד, bᵉ‘ad): Denotes instrumentality or causation; a man's plight is due to or through the agency of the woman mentioned.
• a whorish woman (אִשָּׁה זוֹנָה, ishah zonah): A "woman, prostitute." Zonah specifically means harlot or prostitute, indicating a professional for whom sex is a trade. Her aim is transactional, draining finances directly. This implies material degradation.
• a man (אִישׁ, 'ish): Simply "a man," referring to the one tempted and ensnared.
• is brought (יֻכַר, yukkar): Passive voice of a verb related to "dig" or "be lacking," indicating being hollowed out or depleted. Here it means reduced to a state of impoverishment.
• to a piece of bread (עַד כִּכַּר לָחֶם, ‘ad kīkkār lechem): "Up to a round loaf of bread" or "down to a crust of bread." This is a Hebrew idiom signifying extreme poverty, utter destitution, or begging. All assets are gone, reduced to the barest necessities.
• and the adulteress (וְאֵשֶׁת אִישׁ, vᵉ’ēshet ‘īsh): "And a wife of a man." This is a crucial distinction from the "zonah." This refers to a married woman engaging in sexual relations outside her marriage. The sin here is more egregious as it violates another man's marital covenant, his family, and often societal honor. The danger escalates dramatically.
• hunts (תָּצוּד, tatsūd): "She will hunt, ensnare, capture." This portrays her as a predatory figure, actively seeking to entrap and destroy. It implies a deliberate, cunning pursuit rather than a mere exchange.
• for the precious life (נֶפֶשׁ יְקָרָה, nephesh yeqārah): "A precious soul/life." Nephesh (soul, life, person, being) and yeqārah (precious, valuable, costly, noble). This is far more profound than material loss. It signifies the destruction of one's very existence—their spiritual well-being, reputation, honor, relationship with God, and often social standing, future prospects, and sometimes even literal life through vengeance or legal penalty.

Words-group analysis:

• a whorish woman...a piece of bread: This contrasts the fleeting physical pleasure with a permanent, crippling financial devastation, leaving the man beggared and humiliated. It's a clear cause-and-effect warning against casual prostitution.
• the adulteress hunts for the precious life: This phrase emphasizes the insidious and profound danger of adultery. The "hunt" implies a predatory, active pursuit, while "precious life" signifies that everything truly valuable—spiritual purity, integrity, reputation, future, and often safety from retribution—is at stake and will be ruthlessly sought for destruction.

Proverbs 6 26 Bonus section

The verse subtly yet powerfully reveals the different, though equally dangerous, motives of the "whorish woman" versus the "adulteress." The former, as a harlot, reduces one to destitution, aligning with an economic loss model. The latter, an "adulteress," signifies a deeper malice, hunting not wealth but "precious life," indicating a complete and often irreversible moral, social, and spiritual ruination. This differentiation underscores the extreme gravity of adultery, especially its capacity to utterly dismantle one's essence and standing before God and man, as opposed to simply financial squalor. The "hunt" implies a deliberate, cunning trap laid by the adulteress, suggesting that she operates with greater calculated deceit and poses an existential threat beyond just the obvious financial peril.

Proverbs 6 26 Commentary

Proverbs 6:26 provides a pointed, escalating warning against sexual sin, distinguishing between two illicit relationships based on their destructive outcomes. A prostitute, motivated by financial gain, leads a man to destitution, literally reducing him to "a piece of bread." This outcome speaks of squandered resources, social shame, and a forfeited future, echoing themes found elsewhere in Proverbs regarding idleness and irresponsible living. However, the greater and more severe threat comes from the adulteress—a married woman who pursues a forbidden liaison. Her aim is not mere financial exploitation but the complete undoing of the man's "precious life." This encompasses not only his material standing but also his reputation, family honor, inner character, and spiritual well-being, potentially even leading to legal punishment or social ostracization that amounts to a living death. The verse serves as an urgent plea for discernment and self-control, highlighting that such immoral choices are not trivial but lead to catastrophic, often irreversible, ruin, far surpassing temporary pleasure. It underscores the wisdom in fleeing such enticements.