Pro 6:20-35 | KingComments | STEP | After the teaching on various topics in , the father continues from with teaching on the sin of harlotry with which he began in Proverbs 5. This teaching continues through Proverbs 7. He describes two new aspects of that sin. In Proverbs 2 he talks about the relationship between the harlot and her husband, and in Proverbs 5 he highlights the relationship between the adulterer and his own wife. In the now following verses, he exposes the relationship between the husband of the adulterous woman and his son if he commits adultery with the adulterous woman. His son will have to deal with that husband in case of adultery. The father is very practical. Adultery is not just a matter about which the church needs to discipline. That is an important aspect, but there are more aspects to this sin. As we saw earlier, the father speaks of the financial consequences of adultery. Another practical aspect is that the son will have to deal with that woman’s husband. He is going to speak about that now. Before he does so, he first introduces to the son the importance and beauty of the commandment of the father and the teaching of the mother ( ). This again underscores the importance of the education provided by the father and mother at home. Father and mother together raise the children. If the children listen to their teaching, it will preserve them from an immoral life. For this reason, the father urges his son to bind the commandment and teaching “continually” on his “heart” ( ). If the heart is the repository of the teaching of the parents, it will be able to exert its protective function on the actions and ways of the young man. He should also tie them around his neck (cf. ). That will keep him from turning his head toward a beautiful, wicked woman to give her attention. It will govern the total life of the young man ( ). It guides him when he “walks about”, it watches over him when he “lies down”, and it speaks to him when he “awakes”. It summarizes everything he does ( ). ‘Walking about’ is the daily activity. ‘Sleeping’ he does after his daily activities. After he slept, he ‘awakes’ to ‘walk about’ again. But before he goes, it is important to seek counsel for the day ahead and let the commandment speak to his heart. We can apply this to having ‘quiet time’ for reading God’s Word. The “commandment” of the father ( ) and the “teaching” of the mother ( ) function as “a lamp” and “a light” ( ; ). It makes things clear and public, showing what is right and what is wrong, so that we know what to do. The “reproofs for discipline” that belong to upbringing are a way that leads to “life”. Those who follow the admonitions achieve life. Light and life belong together. They are deepened in the New Testament ( ). The Word of God is a lamp and a light ( ). A lamp illuminates the next step; the light shines far ahead, all along the way. The lamp and the light correct what is wrong and educate in what is right. If we follow the Lord Jesus, we will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life ( ). The Word gives guidance and protection. The main point here is that the Word will keep the son and protect him from the wicked, adulterous woman if he listens to the commandment and teaching ( ). The young man will not then be deceived and seduced by the smooth and flattering tongue of this wicked woman ( ). She is “the adulteress”, literally “the foreign woman” someone who does not belong to him, but to another.

‏ Proverbs 6:20-35

What Keeps From the Evil Woman

After the teaching on various topics in Pro 6:1-19, the father continues from Pro 6:20 with teaching on the sin of harlotry with which he began in Proverbs 5. This teaching continues through Proverbs 7. He describes two new aspects of that sin. In Proverbs 2 he talks about the relationship between the harlot and her husband, and in Proverbs 5 he highlights the relationship between the adulterer and his own wife. In the now following verses, he exposes the relationship between the husband of the adulterous woman and his son if he commits adultery with the adulterous woman. His son will have to deal with that husband in case of adultery.

The father is very practical. Adultery is not just a matter about which the church needs to discipline. That is an important aspect, but there are more aspects to this sin. As we saw earlier, the father speaks of the financial consequences of adultery. Another practical aspect is that the son will have to deal with that woman’s husband. He is going to speak about that now.

Before he does so, he first introduces to the son the importance and beauty of the commandment of the father and the teaching of the mother (Pro 6:20). This again underscores the importance of the education provided by the father and mother at home. Father and mother together raise the children. If the children listen to their teaching, it will preserve them from an immoral life.

For this reason, the father urges his son to bind the commandment and teaching “continually” on his “heart” (Pro 6:21). If the heart is the repository of the teaching of the parents, it will be able to exert its protective function on the actions and ways of the young man. He should also tie them around his neck (cf. Pro 3:3 ; Pro 7:3). That will keep him from turning his head toward a beautiful, wicked woman to give her attention.

It will govern the total life of the young man (Pro 6:22). It guides him when he “walks about”, it watches over him when he “lies down”, and it speaks to him when he “awakes”. It summarizes everything he does (Deu 6:7 ; Deu 11:19). ‘Walking about’ is the daily activity. ‘Sleeping’ he does after his daily activities. After he slept, he ‘awakes’ to ‘walk about’ again. But before he goes, it is important to seek counsel for the day ahead and let the commandment speak to his heart. We can apply this to having ‘quiet time’ for reading God’s Word.

The “commandment” of the father (Pro 6:20a) and the “teaching” of the mother (Pro 6:20b) function as “a lamp” and “a light” (Pro 6:23; Psa 19:9b ; Psa 119:130). It makes things clear and public, showing what is right and what is wrong, so that we know what to do. The “reproofs for discipline” that belong to upbringing are a way that leads to “life”. Those who follow the admonitions achieve life.

Light and life belong together. They are deepened in the New Testament (Jn 1:4-5). The Word of God is a lamp and a light (Psa 119:105). A lamp illuminates the next step; the light shines far ahead, all along the way. The lamp and the light correct what is wrong and educate in what is right. If we follow the Lord Jesus, we will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (Jn 8:12).

The Word gives guidance and protection. The main point here is that the Word will keep the son and protect him from the wicked, adulterous woman if he listens to the commandment and teaching (Pro 6:24). The young man will not then be deceived and seduced by the smooth and flattering tongue of this wicked woman (Pro 2:16). She is “the adulteress”, literally “the foreign woman” someone who does not belong to him, but to another.

Do Not Take Fire in Your Bosom

The first warning for the wicked, unknown woman concerns the heart of the young man (Pro 6:25), for from it [flow] the springs of life” (Pro 4:23). In the heart, temptation is born (Jam 1:14-15). He must not allow lust to take root in his heart because of that woman’s beauty. Immoral actions begin with a covetous look (2Sam 11:2 ; 2Sam 13:1-14).

As soon as such desire wants to rear its head, it must be judged immediately. Whoever harbors lust sins and commits the act of adultery (Mt 5:28). Therefore, he should not look at her eyes, for they act like ropes by which he can be bound. For committing the sin of adultery a high price must be paid (Pro 6:26). It brings to the deepest poverty, “a loaf of bread”, and even to death: his “precious life” is hunted.

There are two kinds of wicked women here. There is “a woman who is a harlot”, that is someone who offers her depraved ‘services’ for the sake of money. Those who get involved with her are impoverished by it. There is also an “adulteress”. She is bored with her husband and seeks someone else for sexual satisfaction. Getting involved with her is even more dangerous than getting involved with a harlot, because whoever gets involved with her is no longer sure of his life. He is completely in her power. In addition, the jealous husband will hunt down his “precious life” to kill him. The woman will hand him over to her jealous husband with a brazen face (cf. Gen 39:16-20).

The foreign woman is to be shunned like fire (Pro 6:27-28). The clothes of whoever does engage with her will catch fire (Pro 6:27). Applied, this means that the behavior of the fornicator and adulterer, his prestige and dignity, of which the clothes speak, becomes contemptible (Gen 38:13-18). There is not only a ‘burning smell’ about him, which sometimes seems so for a moment, but his whole conduct and dignity are gone. He becomes despised.

A person will not be so foolish as to walk on hot coals and then think that his feet will not be scorched (Pro 6:28). ‘Walking’ indicates a repeated occurrence; it does not refer to something that happens incidentally. It refers to ongoing sexual contact, to someone who is a fornicator. It is impossible to do such a thing without damaging oneself. The father applies this to what happens when his son gets involved with the wife of another man. He must then bear the consequences. There is no escaping this. They are the “natural laws” of fornication. At the end, destruction awaits.

In Pro 6:29, the father gives the conclusion. Going to the wife of his neighbor has the meaning of having sexual intercourse with her. Touching her has the same meaning. One who is so intimate with another’s wife, one who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, will not go unpunished. The punishment for the adulterer is inevitable.

There Is No Ransom for Adultery

In Pro 6:30-31, the sin of adultery is compared to the sin of stealing. If a thief steals to satisfy his hunger, this is understood, although what he does is wrong (Pro 6:30). If they catch him, he must pay severely for his crime (Pro 6:31; Exo 22:1; Lk 19:8). It may cost him his entire property. But when he has paid his debt, he is a free man again.

For someone who commits adultery, it is totally different (Pro 6:32). There is understanding for someone who steals because he is hungry, but there is never understanding for someone who “steals” the wife of another. The young man, when “hungry”, could have gone to his wife. He is not without bread, but “without sense”, or as it literally says, he lacks heart, he is without heart. What he does looks like pleasure, but it is suicide. He “destroys himself”.

Adultery provides him with momentary ‘pleasure’, but what he finds is “wounds and disgrace” and a “reproach” that cannot be blotted out (Pro 6:33). It is impossible to go unpunished. Only vengeance remains. There is nothing that can remove that defamation. It is a hateful sin before God, and there are horrible consequences for those involved as well. So practical is the father, so practical is the Scripture.

The word translated “touches” in Pro 6:29 is translated “wounds” in this verse. We see here that the relationship between sin and punishment is shown by a Hebrew pun. Whoever affectionately touches an adulterous woman will be harshly touched by the wounds that will come upon him.

He will face a man inflamed in jealousy who is furious with him (Pro 6:34). The pity that may be there for a thief who steals from hunger is completely lacking for an adulterer with the man with whose wife he has committed adultery. On the day of revenge, that is, the day he discovers the adultery, revenge is the only thing in which he can find satisfaction. The man who has committed adultery with his wife must be judged.

Unlike the thief, the adulterer can make no recompense for his sin (Pro 6:35). The jealous husband does not accept any compensation. No matter how large the amount would be, this matter cannot be bought off with money. The adulterer can do nothing to make up for what he has done. He cannot reverse his sin. He has to live with that sin for the rest of his life, at least if he stays alive and is not killed by the jealous husband.