Pro 5:1-7:13 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Prov 5:1-23: 5:1-23 These instructions on embracing one’s wife and avoiding immoral women were originally addressed to young men just beginning their professional careers (see also 2:16-22 ; 7:1-27 ). This topic is also popular in ancient Egyptian wisdom writing. Summary for Prov 5:1-2: 5:1-2 Paying attention to instruction results in discernment —the ability to tell a right action from a wrong one. These instructions are vitally important when dealing with an immoral woman.

Summary for Prov 5:1-23: 5:1-23 ^a These instructions on embracing one’s wife and avoiding immoral women were originally addressed to young men just beginning their professional careers (see also 2:16-22 ^b; 7:1-27 ^c). This topic is also popular in ancient Egyptian wisdom writing.
Summary for Prov 5:1-2: 5:1-2 ^d Paying attention to instruction results in discernment—the ability to tell a right action from a wrong one. These instructions are vitally important when dealing with an immoral woman.
Summary for Prov 5:3-4: 5:3-4 ^e The lips of the immoral woman seem sweet and enticing but are actually bitter and deadly. Sexual activity often begins with a kiss, and flattering words can entice.
Summary for Prov 5:5-6: 5:5-6 ^f A relationship with an immoral woman leads to death, as does a relationship with the woman named Folly (see 9:13-18 ^g).
Summary for Prov 5:9-10: 5:9-10 ^h An illicit relationship can be tempting, but it eventually brings shame. If the woman is a prostitute, the young man will have to pay her and thus lose income. If the woman is another man’s wife, he might have to pay her husband (see Lev 20:10 ⁱ).
5:11 ^j Some sexually transmitted diseases were well known in the ancient Near East. Leviticus 15:1-15 ^k describes what is probably gonorrhea; other texts from Mesopotamia describe “the disease of intercourse” and the “disease of Ishtar” (goddess of love) with the physical symptoms of venereal diseases.
Summary for Prov 5:15-18: 5:15-18 ^l To drink from one’s own well (see also Song 4:12 ^m, 15 ⁿ) is to enjoy sexual relations within marriage. Rather than expend sexual energy on immoral women, a man should cultivate a healthy sexual relationship with his wife. Sex is not to be shared with strangers. This honors marriage (Gen 2:22-25 ^o) and keeps the seventh commandment (Exod 20:14 ^p and Deut 5:18 ^q).
5:19 ^r deer: cp. Song 4:5 ^s.
Summary for Prov 5:21-23: 5:21-23 ^t Even if a man keeps an illicit relationship secret from his family and society, nothing is hidden from the Lord. Adultery is a sin against God (Gen 39:8-9 ^u).
5:22 ^v Habitual sins are like ropes that catch and hold people.
5:23 ^w He will die: Young men must exercise self-control because death can result from acting on sexual desire for what is forbidden.

‏ Proverbs 6

Summary for Prov 6:1-5: 6:1-5 ^x To secure the debt of another person is to guarantee it with one’s own possessions. Whether to earn a friend’s goodwill or to turn a profit from a stranger (cp. Exod 22:25 ^y; Lev 25:36-37 ^z; Deut 23:19-20 ^aa), the risk is too great to take; it could lead to financial ruin. This message is repeated in Prov 11:15 ^ab; 17:18 ^ac; 20:16 ^ad; 22:26 ^ae; 27:13 ^af.
Summary for Prov 6:3-5: 6:3-5 ^ag save yourself: The danger of ruin is so great that escaping the situation is almost a matter of life and death, as highlighted by the images of animals caught in a trap.
Summary for Prov 6:6-11: 6:6-11 ^ah Lazy people sleep rather than make necessary provisions (see also 24:33-34 ^ai). They are the opposite of self-motivated and industrious ants.

• Extra sleep ... more slumber sarcastically expresses a lazy person’s ambition.
Summary for Prov 6:10-11: 6:10-11 ^aj // 24:33-34 ^ak The result of laziness is poverty. It will come suddenly and ruthlessly, like a bandit or an armed robber.
Summary for Prov 6:12-15: 6:12-15 ^al eye ... foot ... fingers ... hearts: The different parts of a worthless person’s body describe overall character, not just an occasional foolish act.
6:13 ^am wink ... nudge ... wiggle: These behaviors were signals used while trying to deceive the innocent.
6:15 ^an Even if wicked people seem to prosper, they will suddenly be punished.
Summary for Prov 6:16-19: 6:16-19 ^ao The first line gives a number followed by a second line that increases that number by one. This device (called number parallelism) introduces a list of items and often, as here, draws attention to the climactic final item (see also 30:15-23 ^ap).
6:19 ^aq A false witness perverts the truth in court or in everyday conversation.
Summary for Prov 6:20-35: 6:20-35 ^ar This passage emphasizes the life-threatening risk of sleeping with another man’s wife (see also 1:8 ^as, 23 ^at; 2:16-22 ^au; 5:1-23 ^av; 7:1-27 ^aw).
Summary for Prov 6:24-25: 6:24-25 ^ax The immoral woman uses smooth talk and physical beauty to appeal to the vanity of young men.
6:26 ^ay Sleeping with a prostitute has consequences, and sleeping with another man’s wife can cost you your life. Her husband will seek revenge (6:34-35 ^az), and God is watching in judgment.
Summary for Prov 6:27-29: 6:27-29 ^ba walk on hot coals: Of course his feet will blister. The consequences are horrible.
Summary for Prov 6:30-31: 6:30-31 ^bb Seven times is probably a way of saying a great amount since the law never stipulated such high repayment (see Exod 22:1 ^bc, 4 ^bd, 9 ^be).
Summary for Prov 6:32-35: 6:32-35 ^bf A thief might be punished severely even if he had a reason for his actions, but his punishment is nothing compared to an adulterer’s, who has no excuse for his crime. A jealous husband will seek the full punishment provided by law, which is death (Deut 22:22 ^bg).

‏ Proverbs 7:1-13

Summary for Prov 7:1-27: 7:1-27 ^bh This is the last of four sections in chs 1–9 ^bi that warn against the dangers of promiscuous women (see also 2:16-22 ^bj; 5:1-23 ^bk; 6:20-35 ^bl).
7:2 ^bm as you guard your own eyes: That is, with great care.
7:3 ^bn The Old Testament uses the phrase tie ... on your fingers as a reminder for something that needs to be remembered, most notably God’s commands (Deut 6:8 ^bo; 11:18 ^bp).

• The NLT’s write them deep within your heart reflects the Hebrew idiom write them on the tablet of your heart (see also Prov 3:3 ^bq). Only obedience that comes from the heart will last.
7:4 ^br In Hebrew, sister is a term of endearment that expresses intimacy (see Song 4:9-10 ^bs).
7:5 ^bt Loving wisdom will leave no room for a promiscuous woman, whose arsenal includes flattery that appeals to a young man’s vanity.
Summary for Prov 7:6-23: 7:6-23 ^bu The young man’s father tells a story to illustrate his teaching about immoral women.
Summary for Prov 7:6-7: 7:6-7 ^bv Naive young men, not yet set in their ways, are still open to correction. With each foolish act, they move closer to becoming fools.
7:9 ^bw Foolish actions are often associated with darkness (see 4:18-19 ^bx; Eccl 2:13-14 ^by).
7:10 ^bz The woman, seductively dressed, looks good on the outside but inside is full of trouble.
7:12 ^ca Prostitutes commonly solicited business in public areas such as markets and at every corner of busy streets (e.g., Gen 38:13-16 ^cb).