Proverbs 7:26 kjv

For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

Proverbs 7:26 nkjv

For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men.

Proverbs 7:26 niv

Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.

Proverbs 7:26 esv

for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng.

Proverbs 7:26 nlt

For she has been the ruin of many;
many men have been her victims.

Proverbs 7 verses

Proverbs 7 26 Meaning

Proverbs 7:26 vividly portrays the destructive power of folly, personified as the adulteress. It asserts that she has caused widespread ruin, felling countless victims. Even individuals of strength and renown have not been immune to her deceptive allure, ultimately suffering spiritual, moral, and sometimes physical, destruction and death. The verse serves as a solemn warning against the seemingly appealing, yet ultimately deadly, path of immorality and ungodliness.

Proverbs 7 26 Context

Proverbs Chapter 7 serves as a poignant warning from a father (representing divine wisdom) to his son against the perils of the adulteress, personifying sexual sin and all forms of spiritual folly that entice one away from God's righteous path. The chapter vividly details the enticement: her attire, seductive speech, opportune timing, and subtle tactics. The youth is depicted as naïve, being led like an ox to the slaughter, unaware of the dire consequences. Verse 26, therefore, acts as a grim testament, validating the warning by revealing the extensive and universal track record of this "strange woman." It emphasizes that her victims are not merely the weak or unwary, but even "strong men" – those assumed to be capable, disciplined, or influential. This deep historical truth underscores the severe and widespread danger inherent in giving heed to folly.

Proverbs 7 26 Word analysis

• For: This conjunction connects the current statement to the preceding verses (Prov 7:21-25), providing the irrefutable evidence or reason for the father's warning. It grounds the exhortation in concrete historical consequences.
• she: Refers to "the strange woman" (אִשָּׁה זָרָה – ishshah zarah - Proverb 7:5), who is not only a literal adulteress but a personification of Folly, worldly enticement, and any pursuit that deviates from God's wisdom and moral order. This "she" embodies the deceptive and destructive nature of sin.
• hath cast down (הִפִּילָה – hippîlāh): From the Hebrew root naphal (נפל), meaning "to fall" or, in the causative Hiphil stem, "to cause to fall," "to throw down," "to fell," or "to overthrow." It conveys a powerful, deliberate act of destruction, similar to a warrior felling an opponent. It signifies being brought low, losing standing, honor, or life itself.
• many wounded (חֲלָלִים – ḥălālîm): The Hebrew word primarily refers to those "slain," "pierced through," or "fallen" – often used in military contexts for casualties of war. Here, it denotes victims who are utterly destroyed or left grievously injured. The term points to the comprehensive ruin, extending beyond just physical harm to include moral, spiritual, and social devastation.
• yea, many: An emphatic repetition, underscoring the vast number of victims. It highlights the widespread and indiscriminate nature of the destruction caused by folly/immorality.
• strong men (עֲצֻמִים – ʿaṣūmîm): From the Hebrew root ʿāṣam (עָצַם), meaning "to be mighty," "to be powerful," or "to be numerous." This refers to men of great physical strength, influence, intellect, or spiritual standing. The inclusion of "strong men" stresses that no one is naturally immune or too resilient to resist the siren call of folly without wisdom and divine protection. Even those seemingly most capable can be undone.
• have been slain by her (הָרֻגִים – hārūgîm): From the Hebrew root harag (הָרַג), meaning "to slay," "to kill," or "to murder." It’s in the passive participle form, emphasizing that these strong men were victims of her destructive power. This speaks to a fatal outcome – the loss of life, integrity, or eternal salvation. The implication is that following her path leads to a spiritual or ultimate death, not just temporary harm.

• "hath cast down many wounded": This phrase evokes imagery of a devastating battle, where countless individuals are overwhelmed and struck down, highlighting the relentless and pervasive destruction wrought by folly. The focus is on the scale of suffering and the active agency of "she."
• "yea, many strong men have been slain by her": This segment intensifies the warning, emphasizing that not even the seemingly robust or morally upright are exempt from ruin. The parallelism between "wounded" and "slain" further solidifies the lethal consequences. It communicates that her power is formidable and her track record undeniable.
• "by her": This succinct phrase emphatically attributes the entirety of this devastation and death directly to the "strange woman" (folly). It is a clear declaration of culpability, leaving no doubt about the source of the widespread ruin.

Proverbs 7 26 Bonus section

The "strange woman" (also called the adulteress, the immoral woman) in Proverbs is a powerful metaphor throughout the book, representing not just sexual immorality but all forms of ungodliness, spiritual idolatry, and rebellious opposition to God's wisdom. Her alluring but deceptive words (Prov 7:21) are the antithesis of the words of wisdom, which bring life and understanding. Thus, falling to her is synonymous with rejecting divine instruction and choosing a path that fundamentally alienates one from God, ultimately leading to death in all its forms: spiritual, social, physical, and eternal. This verse reinforces the deep spiritual battle between the path of wisdom and the path of folly, with the latter always ending in destruction.

Proverbs 7 26 Commentary

Proverbs 7:26 is a powerful, cautionary summation, revealing the terrible legacy of moral and spiritual straying. The "strange woman" functions as a stark personification of the enticing yet destructive nature of folly and disobedience to God's law. The verse moves beyond a mere hypothetical warning; it declares a grim historical reality: her past exploits have left a trail of immense devastation. By asserting that "many wounded" have been cast down and "many strong men" have been slain, the proverb makes several critical points: the universality of the danger (anyone can fall), the severity of the consequences (spiritual and sometimes physical death), and the sheer scale of her destructive power. It debunks the myth that strength, intellect, or experience can provide immunity from moral compromise. No individual is above being lured into folly's traps, illustrating that vigilance and reliance on divine wisdom are perpetually necessary for navigating life's temptations. It’s a testament that choosing the path of lust and worldliness inevitably leads to ruin and death, underscoring the deep theological truth that the wages of sin are death.For example, powerful biblical figures like Samson lost his strength and sight due to Delilah's temptations (Judges 16), and King David, a "man after God's own heart," suffered immense familial and national consequences due to his adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11-12), illustrating that no one, regardless of their might or piety, is impervious to folly's devastating grasp.