Proverbs 22:14
Proverbs 22:14 in Multiple Translations
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.
The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.
The seductive words of an immoral woman are a dangerous trap—if the Lord's angry with you, then you'll fall right in.
The mouth of strage women is as a deepe pit: he with whom the Lord is angry, shall fall therein.
A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred by the LORD shall fall therein.
The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
What ◄wives who commit adultery/immoral women► say to men [MTY] is like a deep pit [MET] into which those men fall; those with whom Yahweh is angry will fall into that pit.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 22:14
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 22:14 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
שׁוּחָ֣ה
עֲ֭מֻקָּה
פִּ֣י
זָר֑וֹת
זְע֥וּם
יְ֝הוָ֗ה
יפול
יִפָּל
שָֽׁם
שׁוּחָ֣ה
shûwchâh
H7745
pit
N-fs
עֲ֭מֻקָּה
ʻâmôq
H6013
deep
Adj
פִּ֣י
peh
H6310
lip
N-ms
זָר֑וֹת
zûwr
H2114
be a stranger
Adj
זְע֥וּם
zâʻam
H2194
be indignant
V-Qal-Inf-c
יְ֝הוָ֗ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
יפול
nâphal
H5307
to fall
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
יִפָּל
nâphal
H5307
to fall
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
שָֽׁם
shâm
H8033
there
Adv
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 22:14
שׁוּחָ֣ה
shûwchâh
H7745
"pit"
N-fs
A pit is a deep hole in the ground, often used to describe a place of danger or confinement. In the Bible, pits were sometimes used to trap animals or as a prison. The word can also be used figuratively.
Definition: pit
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: ditch, pit. See also: Proverbs 22:14; Jeremiah 2:6; Proverbs 23:27.
עֲ֭מֻקָּה
ʻâmôq
H6013
"deep"
Adj
Means deep, describing something that is physically or emotionally profound, like the depths of the ocean or a mysterious situation, as seen in Psalm 36:6. It can also describe something that is unsearchable or hard to understand. This concept is used to convey a sense of awe or wonder.
Definition: 1) deep, mysterious, depths 1a) deep 1b) unsearchable
Usage: Occurs in 16 OT verses. KJV: ([idiom] exceeding) deep (thing). See also: Leviticus 13:3; Job 12:22; Psalms 64:7.
פִּ֣י
peh
H6310
"lip"
N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.
Definition: : lip/mouth peh 1) mouth 1a) mouth (of man) 1b) mouth (as organ of speech) 1c) mouth (of animals) 1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc) 1e) extremity, end pim 2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
Usage: Occurs in 460 OT verses. KJV: accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word. See also: Genesis 4:11; Deuteronomy 21:17; Ezra 9:11.
זָר֑וֹת
zûwr
H2114
"be a stranger"
Adj
This word has several meanings, including being a stranger or foreigner, like when Abraham lived in Egypt as a foreigner. It can also mean to commit adultery, highlighting the idea of turning aside from what is right and proper, as warned against in Proverbs 5.
Definition: 1) to be strange, be a stranger 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to become estranged 1a2) strange, another, stranger, foreigner, an enemy (participle) 1a3) strange woman, prostitute, harlot (meton) 1b) (Niphal) to be estranged 1c) (Hophal) to be a stranger, be one alienated
Usage: Occurs in 76 OT verses. KJV: (come from) another (man, place), fanner, go away, (e-) strange(-r, thing, woman). See also: Exodus 29:33; Proverbs 11:15; Psalms 44:21.
זְע֥וּם
zâʻam
H2194
"be indignant"
V-Qal-Inf-c
This Hebrew word describes being very angry or upset, often to the point of foaming at the mouth. In Numbers 23:8, it is used to describe God's indignation towards those who disobey Him. It can also mean to denounce or curse someone.
Definition: 1) to denounce, express indignation, be indignant 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to have indignation, be indignant, be angrily indignant, be defiant 1a2) to be abhorrent 1a3) to express indignation in speech, denounce, curse 1b) (Niphal) to show indignation, show anger
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: abhor, abominable, (be) angry, defy, (have) indignation. See also: Numbers 23:7; Proverbs 25:23; Psalms 7:12.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
יפול
nâphal
H5307
"to fall"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.
Definition: : fall/drop/fail 1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to fall 1a2) to fall (of violent death) 1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before 1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of 1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result 1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to 1a7) to lie, lie prostrate 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate 1b2) to overthrow 1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot 1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.) 1b5) to cause to fall 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon 1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself 1d) (Pilel) to fall
Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for H6419 (פָּלַל)), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down. See also: Genesis 2:21; 1 Samuel 17:52; Esther 9:3.
יִפָּל
nâphal
H5307
"to fall"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.
Definition: : fall/drop/fail 1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to fall 1a2) to fall (of violent death) 1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before 1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of 1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result 1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to 1a7) to lie, lie prostrate 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate 1b2) to overthrow 1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot 1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.) 1b5) to cause to fall 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon 1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself 1d) (Pilel) to fall
Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for H6419 (פָּלַל)), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down. See also: Genesis 2:21; 1 Samuel 17:52; Esther 9:3.
שָֽׁם
shâm
H8033
"there"
Adv
The Hebrew word sham means there or then, often used to describe a location or point in time. It can also mean thither or thence, indicating movement or direction. This word is used frequently in the Bible to provide context and clarify the setting of a story.
Definition: 1) there, thither 1a) there 1b) thither (after verbs of motion) 1c) from there, thence 1d) then (as an adverb of time) Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)
Usage: Occurs in 732 OT verses. KJV: in it, [phrase] thence, there (-in, [phrase] of, [phrase] out), [phrase] thither, [phrase] whither. See also: Genesis 2:8; Exodus 21:33; Deuteronomy 19:4.
Study Notes — Proverbs 22:14
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 22:14 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 22:14
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 22:14
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 22:14
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 22:14
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 22:14
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 22:14
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 22:14
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 22:14
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 22:14
- Sermons on Proverbs 22:14
Context — A Good Name
12The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
13The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. 16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastes 7:26 | And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared. |
| 2 | Proverbs 23:27 | For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well. |
| 3 | Proverbs 6:24–29 | to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet? So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished. |
| 4 | Proverbs 7:5–27 | that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words. For at the window of my house I looked through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment, crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house, at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night. Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart. She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home. Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner. She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him: “I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows. So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you. I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses! For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.” With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him. He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap, until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare— not knowing it will cost him his life. Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth. Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths. For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number. Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death. |
| 5 | Proverbs 2:16–19 | It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God. For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits. None who go to her return or negotiate the paths of life. |
| 6 | Nehemiah 13:26 | Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin. |
| 7 | Deuteronomy 32:19 | When the LORD saw this, He rejected them, provoked to anger by His sons and daughters. |
| 8 | Psalms 81:12 | So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. |
| 9 | Proverbs 5:3–23 | Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol. She does not consider the path of life; she does not know that her ways are unstable. So now, my sons, listen to me, and do not turn aside from the words of my mouth. Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house, lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel; lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich the house of a foreigner. At the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are spent, and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my mentors. I am on the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly.” Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. Why should your springs flow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth: A loving doe, a graceful fawn— may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever. Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, or embrace the bosom of a stranger? For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths. The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him. He dies for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly. |
| 10 | Judges 16:20–21 | Then she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When Samson awoke from his sleep, he thought, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison. |
Proverbs 22:14 Summary
[The verse Proverbs 22:14 warns us about the dangers of being tempted by someone who wants to lead us into sin. This can happen when we listen to words that are deceitful and seductive, and it can lead to spiritual ruin (as seen in Proverbs 7:21). To avoid this, we need to be careful about the company we keep and the conversations we have, and instead seek to follow God's wisdom and guidance (as instructed in Psalm 119:9-11). By doing so, we can avoid falling into the 'deep pit' of sin and its destructive consequences.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is meant by 'the mouth of an adulteress' in Proverbs 22:14?
The phrase 'mouth of an adulteress' refers to the tempting and deceiving words of someone who would lead another into sin, as seen in Proverbs 7:21, where the adulteress uses her words to seduce the simple. This can apply to anyone who uses their words to lead others astray.
Who is under the wrath of the LORD according to this verse?
Those who are under the wrath of the LORD are individuals who have not turned to Him in repentance and faith, as stated in John 3:36, where it says that the wrath of God remains on those who do not believe in Jesus Christ.
What is the 'deep pit' that the verse warns against falling into?
The 'deep pit' is a metaphor for the destructive consequences of sin, particularly the sin of adultery, which can lead to spiritual, emotional, and relational ruin, as seen in Proverbs 23:27-28, where it describes the devastating effects of such sin.
How can we avoid falling into the 'deep pit' described in Proverbs 22:14?
To avoid falling into the 'deep pit', we must be cautious of tempting situations and words, and instead, seek to follow God's wisdom and guidance, as instructed in Psalm 119:9-11, where it says that we can avoid sin by hiding God's word in our hearts and seeking His wisdom.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways can I be more mindful of the company I keep and the conversations I engage in, to avoid being led astray by tempting words?
- How can I cultivate a deeper understanding of God's wisdom and guidance, so that I can make better choices and avoid the pitfalls of sin?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be vulnerable to the 'deep pit' of sin, and how can I seek God's help to overcome them?
- In what ways can I use my own words to build up and encourage others, rather than leading them astray?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 22:14
The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit,.... The mouth of harlots; the kisses of their mouth, their fair speech and flattering words, their amorous talk, and lascivious and wanton language,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 22:14
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 22:14
The mouth; her fair and flattering speeches, wherewith she enticeth him to gross filthiness, as it is noted, . A deep pit; into which it is easy to fall, but hard, if not impossible, to get out of it. It is a rare thing for any person, once entered into the course of whoredom, sincerely to repent of it, and turn from it. See . That is abhorred of the Lord, to wit, in a high and singular manner; who by his former impieties, and contempt of God and of his grace, hath provoked God to leave and loathe him, and to punish one sin with another; for otherwise all sinners, as such, are abhorred by God.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 22:14
Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.Ver. 14. The month of a strange woman.] Diabolus capite blanditur, ventre oblectat, cauda ligat, saith Rupertus. These she sinners, as their gallants call them, are most dangerous. Solomon had the woeful experience of it; and Samson, who “ Lenam non potuit, potuit superare lesenam, Quem fera non potuit vincere, vicit hera.” How did David muddy himself in this deep pit, and there might have stuck in the mire, had not God drawn him out by a merciful violence, and purged him with hyssop from that abhorred filth? He that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.] As the Jesuits, those odious Connubisanctifugae Commeretricitegae, too often do; though they boast that they can talk and dally with the fairest women without danger, and the people must believe no otherwise, but that when they are kissing a woman, they are giving her good counsel. David George, that execrable heretic, was so far from accounting adulteries, fornications, incests, &c., for being any sins, that he did recommend them to his most perfect scholars as acts of grace and mortification; and was confident that the whole world would submit to his doctrine. Peccatum peccatum trahit, as the Hebrew proverb hath it. One sin draws on another, and the latter is oft a punishment of the former; God, by a peculiar kind of revenge, delivering up such to a reprobate sense, or a mind disallowed or abhorred of God, as the apostle’ s word signifies. Hist. David.
Georgii. ειςνουναδοκιμον.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 22:14
(14) Strange women.—See above on Proverbs 2:16.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 22:14
Verse 14. The mouth of strange women is a deep pit] In Proverbs 23:27, he says, A whore is a DEEP DITCH:, and a strange woman is a NARROW PIT. The allusions in these three places are too plain to be misunderstood. Virgil's hell has been adduced in illustration: - ----------------Sate sanguine Divum, Tros Anchisiade, facilis decensus Averni; Noctes atque dies patet atri janua Ditis: Sed revocare gradum, superasque evadere ad auras, HOC OPUS, hic LABOR est. Pauci quos aequus amavit Jupiter, aut ardens evexit ad aethera virtus, Dis geniti potuere. VIRG. AEn. lib. vi., ver. 125. "O glorious prince of brave Anchises' line! Great godlike hero! sprung from seed divine, Smooth lies the road to Pluto's gloomy shade; And hell's black gates for ever stand display'd: But 'tis a long unconquerable pain, To climb to these ethereal realms again. The choice-selected few, whom favouring Jove, Or their own virtue, rais'd to heaven above, From these dark realms emerged again to day; The mighty sons of gods, and only they.
PITT.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 22:14
14. a deep pit] such as is dug by a hunter for his prey. Comp. Proverbs 23:27.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 22:14
The fall of the man into the snare of the harlot seems to be the consequence of the abhorrence or wrath of Yahweh. That abhorrence is, however, the result of previous evil.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 22:14
14. Mouth of strange women is a deep pit — What their mouth utters is as dangerous and destructive to the unwary youth as a deep pit into which he is liable to fall.
Sermons on Proverbs 22:14
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Fatherly Exhortation Part 1 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith gives fatherly exhortations and advice to his son. He emphasizes the importance of not getting caught up in the crowd of drinkers and gluttons, a |
|
Backslidings of Balaam by Charles Banna | This sermon emphasizes the dangers of falling into covetousness and pride, using the example of Balaam who was led astray by these sins. It highlights the importance of fleeing fro |
|
The New Quest and Law of Life. 7:1-29 by W.J. Erdman | In this sermon by W.J. Erdman, the Preacher embarks on a new quest to discover 'the Good' in a high law for life under the sun, possibly found in the fear of God. He seeks wisdom a |
|
|
(Through the Bible) Proverbs 21-25 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of listening to wise instruction and applying it to our lives. The main message is to trust in the Lord. The speaker also warn |
|
Have You Heard? There Is Bread in Bethlehem by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker discusses a story from the Bible about a woman who had access to her possessions taken away by another man. The Kingsman Redeemer steps in and confronts |
|
|
The Knowledge of God by Robert Constable | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not just passively listening to sermons, but actively applying the teachings of God to our lives. The speaker encourages tr |
|
His Wives Turned Away His Heart. by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer warns that every individual has a vulnerable point in their character, as exemplified by Solomon, whose heart was turned away from God by his foreign wives. Despite his |