Proverbs 7:6 kjv

For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

Proverbs 7:6 nkjv

For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice,

Proverbs 7:6 niv

At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.

Proverbs 7:6 esv

For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice,

Proverbs 7:6 nlt

While I was at the window of my house,
looking through the curtain,

Proverbs 7 verses

Proverbs 7 6 Meaning

Proverbs 7:6 sets the scene for a cautionary tale, portraying the wise man (or the discerning observer) in the privacy and security of his home. From this vantage point, he carefully surveys the street outside, peering through a window fitted with a lattice. This act signifies an active and intentional observation of the world and its perils, especially the allurements of the wicked, underscoring the necessity of vigilance and discernment in recognizing spiritual dangers before they ensnare the unwary.

Proverbs 7 6 Context

Proverbs chapter 7 serves as a detailed warning against the cunning and destructive nature of the adulteress or "forbidden woman" (Proverbs 7:5). Following an urgent appeal from a father to his son to treasure and guard his wisdom (Proverbs 7:1-5), verse 6 initiates a vivid narrative. This narrative, spanning the rest of the chapter, is an illustrative parable where the father recounts an observed incident of a naive youth falling victim to a seductive harlot. Historically, ancient Israelite homes commonly featured windows overlooking courtyards or narrow streets. Lattices (Hebrew: eshnab) were practical architectural elements, offering privacy, ventilation, and a degree of security while allowing occupants to look outside. The act of the wise man peering through his lattice in verse 6 establishes the perspective of prudent observation, setting the stage for the dramatic display of temptation and folly that is about to unfold in the verses that follow.

Proverbs 7 6 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): This conjunction serves to introduce a reason or illustration, connecting the father's previous admonitions about heeding wisdom to the specific example he is about to share. It signifies "because," "indeed," or "when," indicating that the subsequent observation is the foundation for the warning.

• at the window (בְּחַלּוֹנִי - b'challonī):

  • b': preposition "in" or "at."
  • challon (חַלּוֹן): "window." A common feature in ancient architecture, representing a point of contact between the private interior and the public exterior. Here, it denotes a specific vantage point for observation.
  • -i: possessive suffix "my." This emphasizes the personal, secure setting from which the observation takes place, belonging to the wise man.

• of my house (בֵּיתִי - beithī):

  • beth (בַּיִת): "house," signifying a domestic dwelling, a place of safety, privacy, and order, distinct from the dangerous world outside.
  • -i: possessive suffix "my," reinforcing the personal sphere of the observer, which stands in contrast to the disordered "house of the harlot" later in the chapter (Prov 7:27).

• I looked out (נִשְׁקַפְתִּי - nishqafti): From the root shaqaph (שָׁקַף), meaning "to look out, gaze intently, peer down." The Niphal conjugation implies a deliberate and active posture of observation, suggesting a keen and discerning gaze rather than a casual glance. It emphasizes a conscious effort to survey the scene.

• through my lattice (בְּאֶשְׁנַבִּי - b'eshnabī):

  • b': preposition "through" or "at."
  • eshnab (אֶשְׁנַב): "lattice," "latticework," or "casement window." This detail is crucial. Lattices allowed air and light while obscuring a direct, unobstructed view, providing privacy or security. Looking through it implies a focused, possibly even concealed, scrutiny. It suggests a methodical and patient watch.
  • -i: possessive suffix "my," once more indicating the personal instrument of observation within the wise man's sphere.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "at the window of my house": This phrase precisely establishes the observer's spatial and contextual position: within his own secure and private dwelling, specifically at a point where he can view the external world. It is the setting of domestic wisdom observing street folly.
  • "I looked out through my lattice": This emphasizes the method and intent of the observation. The "looking out" is active and discerning (nishqafti), not passive. The "through my lattice" specifies a measured, possibly obscured, or filtered perspective, highlighting the wise man's strategic, vigilant, and unexposed surveillance of dangerous paths. This combined act signifies watchful prudence.

Proverbs 7 6 Bonus section

The motif of observing from a window or through a lattice appears in other biblical narratives, such as Sisera's mother looking for her son in Judges 5:28, which strikingly parallels the Hebrew phrasing of Proverbs 7:6 for "looked out through the lattice." This connection highlights a shared cultural practice but, in Proverbs, transforms it into a didactic tool. The wisdom teacher does not passively watch but actively discerns and uses his observation as a lesson to teach about the dangers of impulsive and ignorant living. The wise man is thus portrayed not as an abstract figure but as one engaged with the realities of societal temptation, equipped with the necessary tools (discernment, vigilance) to identify and warn against folly.

Proverbs 7 6 Commentary

Proverbs 7:6 serves as a powerful transitional verse, moving from the didactic instructions of a father to his son to a vivid illustrative narrative. The act of "looking out through my lattice" symbolizes the wise man's vigilance and discerning observation of the world's perils. From the security of his home, representing the domain of wisdom and righteousness, he critically analyzes the activities in the "street"—the public arena where moral dangers like the adulteress lurk. The "lattice" emphasizes that this observation is intentional, patient, and possibly shielded, reflecting the measured discernment required to identify temptation's subtle approach. This opening scene invites the listener (or reader) to adopt a similar posture of keen observation, to learn from the tragic example of the naive youth who lacks such vigilance and falls prey to folly. The verse highlights that wisdom isn't just theoretical; it actively surveys and understands the temptations outside to offer practical warnings.