Proverbs 6:29 kjv

So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

Proverbs 6:29 nkjv

So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

Proverbs 6:29 niv

So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

Proverbs 6:29 esv

So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.

Proverbs 6:29 nlt

So it is with the man who sleeps with another man's wife.
He who embraces her will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 6 verses

Proverbs 6 29 Meaning

Proverbs 6:29 delivers a solemn warning about the absolute and inescapable consequences of adultery. It declares that just as specific actions have predictable outcomes (referencing earlier analogies about surety, laziness, or even theft), so too is certain ruin and inescapable judgment for anyone who engages in sexual intimacy with another person's spouse. The verse emphasizes that there is no possibility of escaping guilt, cleansing, or being found innocent once this act has been committed. Unlike some offenses where restitution might be made, adultery incurs indelible shame and certain divine retribution, bringing destructive repercussions to the individual.

Proverbs 6 29 Context

Proverbs 6:29 is situated within a longer discourse (Proverbs 5-7) delivered by a father to his son, warning him emphatically against the destructive allure of the "forbidden woman" or "foreign woman" (ishshah zarah). Chapter 6 specifically addresses several pitfalls: laziness (6:6-11), wickedness (6:12-19), and culminates in the extended warning against adultery (6:20-35).

The verse immediately follows imagery of fire (6:27-28), metaphorically stating that playing with sexual immorality is like carrying fire against oneself; it will surely burn and harm. It also implicitly draws a contrast with the earlier mention of a thief (6:30-31) who, despite punishment, might offer restitution and find some clemency or resolution. Adultery, however, leaves no such path to being cleared. Historically, in ancient Israel, adultery was not just a social transgression but a covenantal offense punishable by death (Lev 20:10, Deut 22:22), emphasizing its severe nature both judicially and divinely. This reinforces the teaching against any laxity regarding marriage sanctity found in surrounding pagan cultures that might have promoted different sexual norms.

Proverbs 6 29 Word analysis

• So is he: This phrase, from the Hebrew word kēn (כֵּן), means "thus" or "in the same way." It functions as a concluding analogy, connecting the outcome of adultery directly to previously described scenarios like being burned by fire (Prov 6:27-28) or, by contrasting inference, the irremediable ruin versus a thief's repayable offense (Prov 6:30-31). It asserts a certainty of consequence.
• that goeth in: The Hebrew ba (בָּא) is a euphemism for sexual intercourse, signifying the complete act of entering into forbidden intimacy. It speaks of physical union.
• to his neighbour's wife: The Hebrew ’ishshah rē‘ēhû (אֵשֶׁת רֵעֵהוּ) specifically defines the object of the sin: a married woman, belonging to a "neighbor" or "friend." This highlights the sin's dual nature: a transgression against God's law and a severe betrayal and violation of another human being's household, trust, and property (in a socio-legal sense of marital bond).
• whosoever toucheth her: The Hebrew kol han-nōgēa‘ bah (כָּל הַנֹּגֵעַ בָּהּ), where nāga‘ (נָגַע) means "to touch." While "touch" can sometimes refer to physical contact, here in a sexual context, it is also a euphemism, extending beyond mere physical proximity to encompass any form of illicit sexual intimacy or involvement, from the first seductive interaction to the full act. It broadens the scope of culpability beyond the singular act of "going in," implying that even preceding actions or forms of intimacy carry guilt. It underscores that any degree of illicit sexual involvement leaves one tainted.
• shall not be innocent: The powerful Hebrew phrase lō’ yiqqāneh (לֹא יִנָּקֶה) comes from the root nāqāh (נָקָה), meaning "to be clean," "to be acquitted," "to be pure," or "to be free of guilt/punishment." The negative form ("shall not be innocent") strongly implies inescapable punishment, inescapable guilt, and an inability to be cleared, forgiven, or to find a means of restitution or cleansing. There is no possibility of escaping the devastating spiritual, social, and divine consequences of this specific sin.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So is he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife;": This establishes the direct comparison. Just as fire burns, or a specific kind of debt must be paid, engaging in adultery has a fixed and destructive outcome. The phrase defines the forbidden act as sexual violation of a committed marriage, an ultimate act of treachery and disrespect to the marital covenant.
• "whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.": This phrase widens the scope of responsibility beyond the direct perpetrator of the complete sexual act to anyone who touches or illicitly engages with the neighbor's wife, affirming that any degree of such involvement will lead to certain guilt and unabsolvable consequences. It's a statement of universal and inescapable divine judgment for this transgression, without possibility of clemency or absolution by human means. The finality of "shall not be innocent" contrasts sharply with the potential for repayment or mercy shown to a hungry thief mentioned in subsequent verses, underscoring adultery's profound, irreparable, and soul-damaging nature.

Proverbs 6 29 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "innocent" (naqah) carries the weight of judicial acquittal. Thus, "shall not be innocent" emphatically means there will be no acquittal, no escape from judgment or deserved penalty from God. This concept echoes broader biblical themes where God, while forgiving, "will by no means clear the guilty" (Num 14:18) of specific grave offenses, especially when done in unrepentant rebellion. The "touch" could also indicate contaminating oneself, highlighting that impurity and defilement are inherent results of the sin, leaving a mark that cannot be removed by human effort. The warning underscores the destructive power of sexual sin not only on others but especially on the perpetrator, bringing enduring shame (cherpah) and irreparable harm to their own character and reputation (Prov 6:33).

Proverbs 6 29 Commentary

Proverbs 6:29 serves as a stark, unyielding pronouncement against the sin of adultery, articulating its dire and certain consequences. The verse employs strong parallelism, contrasting it with even theft, where a thief might, though penalized severely, make some form of restitution or payment to cleanse their guilt. For adultery, however, no such repayment or purification is possible. The individual who engages in such an act, whether fully "going in" or simply "touching" (engaging in any illicit intimacy), will never be "innocent." This means they will not escape punishment, divine judgment, or the profound personal and social stain that results. Adultery tears at the fabric of trust, society, and the very soul, leaving behind a wound that cannot be easily healed or forgotten. It represents an utter lack of moral sense and self-destruction, demonstrating foolishness that leads directly to irreversible ruin and brings God's inevitable condemnation.

Examples:

• A person considering a fleeting affair, seeing the "touch" as less than a full "go in," is warned that even initial illicit intimacy carries an unchangeable stain of guilt.
• A secret affair, unseen by humans, is still seen by God, and the verse proclaims that despite human perception, the individual will not be cleared of guilt by God.
• A powerful person who believes they can avoid legal consequences is reminded that divine judgment remains, making them "not innocent" in the ultimate court.