Proverbs 9:14 kjv

For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

Proverbs 9:14 nkjv

For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city,

Proverbs 9:14 niv

She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,

Proverbs 9:14 esv

She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,

Proverbs 9:14 nlt

She sits in her doorway
on the heights overlooking the city.

Proverbs 9 verses

Proverbs 9 14 Meaning

Proverbs 9:14 depicts Lady Folly as overtly positioning herself in highly visible and public locations, such as her house doorway and prominent city heights. Her deliberate posture of "sitting on a seat" signifies a persistent and established presence, making herself easily observable and perpetually available to lure the simple-minded. This describes her active but subtle strategy of enticement, contrasting with Lady Wisdom's more direct invitation, and underscores the open and unavoidable nature of temptation she represents, leading individuals towards destruction.

Proverbs 9 14 Context

Proverbs chapter 9 serves as a culminating summary of the book's introductory instructions (chapters 1-9), presenting a stark dichotomy between two contrasting invitations: that of Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly. Verses 1-6 describe Lady Wisdom's call, highlighting her established "house" with "seven pillars" (Pr 9:1), her prepared feast, and her active sending out of "maidens" to invite the simple and foolish to receive understanding and life (Pr 9:3-6). In direct contrast, verses 13-18 present Lady Folly.

Verse 14 specifically describes Folly's operational method. Unlike Wisdom who proactively sends her messengers and cries out her invitation from the city's high places, Folly's allure is more insidious. She simply sits – publicly and conspicuously – at the threshold of her "house" and in prominent city spots. This immediate context highlights a choice placed before the "simple" or "naive" individuals, illustrating two distinct paths of life with their respective advocates and methods of attraction. Historically, ancient Near Eastern cities had public squares, gates, and elevated areas that served as bustling centers of community life, making Folly's choice of location strategic for maximum exposure and opportunity to intercept passersby.

Proverbs 9 14 Word analysis

• "For she sitteth": The Hebrew kî yāshĕbâ (כִּי יָשְׁבָה) signifies a deliberate, continuous, and established action. "Sitting" suggests a sense of permanence, patience, and comfort in her chosen position. She is not merely passing through or making a fleeting appearance; she has taken up residence in this role of enticement, embodying a constant state of readiness to ensnare. It is a posture of waiting and observing, available for interaction.

• "at the door of her house": The Hebrew petach beitah (פֶּתַח בֵּיתָהּ). The "doorway" (petach) is a threshold, a public-facing access point to what lies within. While a house suggests privacy, its door is the point of entry and departure, making it a highly visible space for anyone passing by. This signifies that Folly's allure emanates from her established domain, making her deceptive invitation seem familiar or accessible. It emphasizes her availability, beckoning individuals to cross into her destructive sphere.

• "on a seat": The Hebrew ʿal kisseh (עַל כִּסֵּא). Kisseh can mean a chair, throne, or simply a place of sitting. Its usage here denotes a deliberate settling, emphasizing her ease and unhurried nature in awaiting victims. It is not a place of labor but of leisure, indicating she is in no hurry. This "seat" highlights her comfortable and fixed presence, inviting casual interaction, yet it conceals a trap. It subtly implies a position from which to observe and reign over her immediate vicinity.

• "in the high places of the city": The Hebrew bĕmārômê qāret (בְּמָרוֹמֵי קָרֶת). Maromim refers to heights or elevated places, and qaret means city. These "high places" are strategic vantage points, likely referring to public and prominent locations such as city gates, marketplaces, or any elevated points offering wide visibility to urban traffic. Unlike Lady Wisdom who calls out from these high places with a message (Pr 8:2-3), Lady Folly sits there. This signifies maximum public exposure, making her a noticeable fixture and her invitation virtually unavoidable to anyone moving through the city. While "high places" in other biblical contexts sometimes refer to pagan altars, here the primary emphasis is on conspicuousness and accessibility within an urban setting.

• Words-Group: "For she sitteth at the door of her house": This phrase paints a picture of cunning, accessible temptation. The "door of her house" serves as the primary gateway into Folly's sphere of influence. Her "sitting" here portrays her as settled and ready, patiently observing and waiting for those susceptible to her wiles. This positioning blurs the lines between public interaction and private space, creating a deceptive sense of invitation that appears safe yet leads to ruin within her "house."

• Words-Group: "on a seat in the high places of the city": This phrase underscores Folly's strategic and widespread visibility. By sitting "on a seat" in "high places," she establishes herself as an omnipresent and conspicuous part of the urban landscape. This emphasizes her lack of shame and her persistent availability to any who pass. It highlights the open nature of the allure of sin; it is not hidden, but presented plainly for all to see, relying on ease and perceived pleasure rather than active persuasion.

Proverbs 9 14 Bonus section

• The contrast between Lady Wisdom's proactive call and Lady Folly's passive, waiting posture emphasizes two distinct methods of influence in the world. Wisdom's call requires an active listening and discerning choice, while Folly's temptation is ever-present, appealing to the unthinking passerby.
• This depiction highlights the deceptive simplicity of sin. It doesn't always come with a grand announcement or complex arguments; sometimes, it merely sits in plain sight, offering a path of least resistance or immediate gratification.
• The "seat" suggests a certain confidence or even a deceptive queenly stature for Lady Folly, implying that she governs a domain of foolishness from which she invites others to participate in her destructive lifestyle.

Proverbs 9 14 Commentary

Proverbs 9:14 is a critical verse in the contrast between Wisdom and Folly. Lady Folly's portrayal as sitting at her door and in the high places of the city signifies that moral and spiritual temptation is often overt and strategically positioned for maximum exposure. Unlike Wisdom, who actively sends messengers and articulates her life-giving teachings, Folly requires little active effort beyond her visible presence. Her "sitting on a seat" indicates a passive yet pervasive allure, resting confidently in her ability to attract the simple-minded who pass by. She doesn't need to cry out like Wisdom; her very existence and placement serve as an enticing invitation to ease, indulgence, and ultimately, destruction. This image serves as a potent warning against deceptive influences that present themselves as readily available and seemingly harmless, yet lead to fatal consequences.