Verse 1
My son. See note on Proverbs 1:8.
understanding =. discernment.
Verse 2
regard discretion, &c. Hebrew infinitive = to guard deep counsels and knowledge. Let them mount guard over thy lips. Compare James 3:8, "the tongue can no man tame".
Verse 3
a strange woman. Two words are used for "strange" and "stranger": one, Hebrew. zur, an apostate Israelite woman gone over to the idolatrous impurities of heathen religion; the other nakar, a purely foreign woman of a similar character. The danger is religious rather than moral. Hence here it is zur. See note on Proverbs 2:16.
drop as an honeycomb = distil honey. The invitations of religious idolatry suit the tastes of the natural man.
Verse 5
hell = the grave. Hebrew. sheol. App-35.
Verse 6
Lest thou shouldest ponder. Render: So that she findeth not the level path of life; her ways are unstable and she knoweth it not.
Verse 7
children = sons.
words = sayings. Hebrew. "imrah. App-73.
Verse 8
door = entrance.
Verse 9
years. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for what happens in them.
Verse 10
wealth. Hebrew strength: put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for what is produced by it.
labours. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for what is produced by it.
a stranger = a foreigner. Hebrew. nakar. Not the same word as in verses: Proverbs 5:3, Proverbs 5:17. See note above and on Proverbs 2:16.
Verse 13
obeyed = hearkened to.
Verse 14
I was almost in all evil. The Beth Essentiae denotes "in", in the sense of "as" = I soon became as an evil man, &c. See App-75.
almost = in a little while. Hebrew. kim"at. Occurs eighteen times (Genesis 26:10. 2 Samuel 19:36. 1 Chronicles 16:19. 2 Chronicles 12:7. Ezra 9:8. Job 32:22. Psalms 2:12; Psalms 73:2; Psalms 81:14; Psalms 94:17; Psalms 105:12; Psalms 119:87. Psalms 5:14; Psalms 10:20. Song of Solomon 3:4. Isaiah 1:9; Isaiah 26:20. Ezekiel 16:47). It is rendered "almost" only in Psalms 73:2, Psalms 119:87, and here, where it may as well be rendered "soon" or "quickly" as in Job 32:22. Psalms 81:14; Psalms 94:17 (margin) It denotes in a little time, as in Psalms 2:12; Psalms 105:12 (= soon numbered). 2 Chronicles 12:7 (= a little while). Song of Solomon 3:4 (= a little while; i.e. scarcely). Isaiah 26:20.
evil. Hebrew. ra"a". App-44.
Verse 16
Let thy fountains. Septuagint reads "Let not thy fountain", &c. This must be the sense from the context. The Revised Version obtains it by a question, "Should thy fountain . . . ?".
fountains. Plural of emphasis: i.e. thine own wife. Compare Song of Solomon 4:12.
And = As or nor [thy].
rivers of waters = divisions of waters. Hebrew. palgey mayim: i.e. thy garden irrigation channels in the streets. See note on Proverbs 21:1.
streets = open places.
Verse 18
thy fountain: i.e. thine own wife. Compare Proverbs 5:16.
rejoice with = get thy joy with. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "in" instead of "with".
Verse 20
strange = apostate. Hebrew. zur. See note on Proverbs 5:3.
stranger = alien or foreigner. Hebrew. nakar. See note on verses: Proverbs 5:3, Proverbs 5:10.
Verse 21
man = a man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14. Illustrations: Cain (Genesis 4:5, Genesis 4:6); Babel"s builders (Genesis 11:4-7); Sodom (Genesis 18:21, &c.); Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:6, 2 Samuel 6:7; 1 Chronicles 15:13. Numbers 4:15); David (2 Samuel 12:9); Baasha (1 Kings 15:29. Compare Proverbs 16:7); Ahab(1 Kings 21:19); Belshazzar (Daniel 5:22-28); Nathanael (John 1:48); The Seven Assemblies (Revelation 2:2, Revelation 2:9, Revelation 2:13, Revelation 2:19; Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:8, Revelation 3:15). Compare 1 Samuel 16:7.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Verse 22
iniquities. Hebrew. "avah. App-44.
take = trap or entrap him.
wicked = a lawless man. Hebrew. rasha, ". App-44.
he shall be holden. Illustrations: Saul (1 Samuel 18:8, 1 Samuel 18:9. Compare Proverbs 24:16, Proverbs 24:17; Proverbs 26:21; Proverbs 28:5-20); Jerusalem (Jeremiah 2:16-19. Ezekiel 22:31); Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23); Judas (John 12:6. Matthew 26:47-49). Compare Proverbs 23:29, Proverbs 23:35.
sins. Hebrew. chata;. App-44.
Verse 23
die without instruction. Illustration: Saul (1 Chronicles 10:13, 1 Chronicles 10:14).