Pro 6:32-35 | NETfull | STEP | A man who commits adultery with a woman lacks wisdom, whoever does it destroys his own life.

Proverbs 6:32-35

32 A man who commits adultery with a woman lacks wisdom, ^{▼▼ Heb “heart.” The term “heart” is used as a metonymy of association for discernment, wisdom, good sense. Cf. NAB “is a fool”; NIV “lacks judgment”; NCV, NRSV “has no sense.”}
whoever does it destroys his own life. ^{▼▼ Heb “soul.” The noun נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “soul”) functions as a metonymy of association for “life” (BDB 659 s.v. 3.c).}
33 He will be beaten and despised, ^{▼▼ Heb “He will receive a wound and contempt.”}
and his reproach will not be wiped away; ^{▼▼ Even though the text has said that the man caught in adultery ruins his life, it does not mean that he was put to death, although that could have happened. He seems to live on in ignominy, destroyed socially and spiritually. He might receive blows and wounds from the husband and shame and disgrace from the spiritual community. D. Kidner observes that in a morally healthy society the adulterer would be a social outcast (Proverbs [TOTC], 75).}
34 for jealousy kindles ^{▼▼ The word “kindles” was supplied in the translation; both “rage” and “jealousy” have meanings connected to heat.} a husband’s ^{▼▼ Heb “a man’s.”} rage,
and he will not show mercy ^{▼▼ The verb חָמַל (khamal) means “to show mercy; to show compassion; to show pity,” usually with the outcome of sparing or delivering someone. The idea here is that the husband will not spare the guilty man any of the punishment (cf. NRSV “he shows no restraint”).} when he takes revenge.
35 He will not consider ^{▼▼ Heb “lift up the face of,” meaning “regard.”} any compensation; ^{▼▼ The word rendered “compensation” is כֹּפֶר (cofer); it is essentially a ransom price, a sum to be paid to deliver another from debt, bondage, or crime. The husband cannot accept payment as a ransom for a life, since what has happened cannot be undone so easily.}
he will not be willing, even if you multiply the compensation. ^{▼▼ BDB 1005 s.v. שֹׁחַד suggests that this term means “hush money” or “bribe” (cf. NIV, NRSV, NLT). C. H. Toy takes it as legal compensation (Proverbs [ICC], 142).}

Admonition to Avoid the Wiles of the Adulteress

^{▼▼ The chapter begins with the important teaching of the father (1–5), then it focuses on the seduction: first of the victim (6–9), then the temptress (10–12), then the seduction (13–20), and the capitulation (21–23); the chapter concludes with the deadly results of consorting (24–27).}