Proverbs 7:13 — Word Study
WLCוְהֶחֱזִ֣יקָה בּ֭וֹ וְנָ֣שְׁקָה־ לּ֑וֹ הֵעֵ֥זָה פָ֝נֶ֗יהָ וַתֹּ֣אמַר לֽוֹ׃
BSAShe seizeschâzaq [catches, laid hold of] and kissesnâshaq [touches, equips with affection] she brazenlyʻâzaz■ [with an impudent face, without shame] saysʼâmar▸ [speaks, declares]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְהֶחֱזִ֣יקָה | and she takes hold | Verb, Hiphil, sequential perfect third person feminine singular |
| בּ֭וֹ | on him | Preposition, suffix |
| וְנָ֣שְׁקָה־ | and she kisses | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person feminine singular |
| לּ֑וֹ | him | Preposition, suffix |
| הֵעֵ֥זָה | she has made firm | Verb, Hiphil, perfect third person feminine singular |
| פָ֝נֶ֗יהָ | face her | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וַתֹּ֣אמַר | and she said | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person feminine singular |
| לֽוֹ׃ | to him | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him: |
| KJV | So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, |
| ASV | So she caught him, and kissed him, And with an impudent face she said unto him: |
| YLT | And she laid hold on him, and kissed him, She hath hardened her face, and saith to him, |
| WEB | So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him: |
| BBE | So she took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a sign of shame she said to him: |
Where they part company is in the description of her demeanor — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a main action followed by additional actions, creating a flow that emphasizes her assertiveness.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
verbחָזַק
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 7:13
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Seduction of the Young Mangenerated
Proverbs 7:13 describes a woman who actively pursues a young man, demonstrating her boldness and lack of shame. This verse is part of a larger warning against the dangers of seduction and temptation, as seen in the surrounding verses that depict her lurking and waiting for an opportunity to entice.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 39:7–12 | and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” |
| 2 | Numbers 25:1–6 | While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab, |
| 3 | Numbers 31:16 | “Look, these women caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to turn unfaithfully against the LORD at Peor, so that the plague struck the congregation of the LORD. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 16:33 | Men give gifts to all their prostitutes, but you gave gifts to all your lovers. You bribed them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors. |
| 5 | Revelation 2:20 | But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הֵעֵ֥זָה, he.'E.zahgenerated
The verb עָזַז (azaz) means to be strong or to prevail, and in this context, it conveys a sense of shameless boldness. The parsing indicates it is in the Hiphil form, which suggests that she is making herself firm and assertive in her actions.
This word captures the essence of her character — she is not just bold in her actions but also in her demeanor, as she approaches without shame, fully aware of her intentions.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains multiple clauses, with the main action being initiated by the finite verb הֶחֱזִ֣יקָה, she seizes. This action is followed by a series of phrases that describe her actions and intentions.
The structure emphasizes her proactive approach, as she first takes hold of him and then kisses him, culminating in her brazen declaration. The use of sequential verbs creates a sense of immediacy and intensity.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הֶחֱזִ֣יקָה as ἐπιλαβομένη, which means 'having seized.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning of taking hold, emphasizing her assertive action.
The Greek rendering captures the same sense of boldness and determination, suggesting that the translators understood the woman's actions as both physical and symbolic of temptation.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 7:13 shows a woman who takes hold of a man and kisses him, speaking to him boldly. This verse warns about the dangers of temptation and the seductive nature of such encounters.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates that she speaks with confidence and without shame, trying to entice him.
She seizes him to assert her control and to initiate a seductive encounter.
The kiss represents intimacy and affection, but in this context, it is also a tool of seduction.
It serves as a warning against the dangers of temptation and the consequences of succumbing to seduction.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways that I can recognize temptation in my own life?
- How can I guard against the boldness of seductive influences?
- In what situations have I felt pressured to act without shame?
- What can I learn from this verse about the importance of discernment in relationships?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators, like Bede, reflect on the nature of temptation and the actions of the woman in this verse, emphasizing her deceitful approach.
And having seized the young man, it kisses him. With the flattery of deceitful words, it tempts the unstable.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 7 →
And with a shameless face, it flatters, saying, etc. According to the letter, the understanding is evident, because the harlot confesses that she has prepared a magnificent feast.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 7 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 7:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleSo she caught him, and kissed him,.... The young man that went near her corner where she was plying, or in the way to her house, where she was sitting, or standing, waiting and watching for such an
Read John Gill on Proverbs 7 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentarySo she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, So she caught him, and kissed him - instead of waiting for him to make the first advance, as is the course of natural propriety.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 7 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 7:13 So she caught him, and kissed him, [and] with an impudent face said unto him,Ver. 13. So she caught him, and kissed him.] Strange impudence in this "strange woman," who hath not her name for nought. Potiphar’ s wife was such a beast; so was Messalina the empress, wife to Claudius, Joan, queen of Naples, and other prodigious strumpets, of the kind of those whom they call Borboritae. We have heard, saith a grave divine, of virgins, which at first seemed modest, blushing at the motions of an honest love; who being once corrupted and debauched, have grown flexible to easy entreaties to unchastity; and from thence boldly lascivious so as to solicit others, so as to prostitute…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 7 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 13. So she caught him] Laid fast hold on him, and kissed him, to show that she was affectionately attached to him. And with an impudent face] העזה פניה heezzah paneyha, "she strengthened her countenance," assumed the most confident look she could; endeavoured to appear friendly and sincere.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 7 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13. with an impudent face] An excellent translation (Lit. she strengthened, or hardened her face, and said, A.V. and R.V. marg.), following the LXX. ἀναιδεῖπροσώπῳ, and the Vulg. procaci vultu.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 7 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible13. Impudent face — Literally, made strong her face; put on a bold, familiar air.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 7 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him:
So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:
She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him:
So she grabbed him and kissed him, and with a bold expression she said to him,
Tyndale line
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
So she caught him, and kissed him, And with an impudent face she said unto him:
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face she said unto him:
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him,
So she caught him and kissed him and with an impudent face said vnto him,
Strictly literal
And she caught him and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
And she laid hold on him, and kissed him, She hath hardened her face, and saith to him,
And she laid hold on him and kissed him, || She has hardened her face and says to him,
And she caught hold of him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face she said to him,
So she grabbed him and kissed him, with a strong face she said to him,
From the Latin
And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:
Simplified
She grabbed hold of him and kissed him, and with a bold face she told him,
So she took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a sign of shame she said to him:
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with six of the eight words matched. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the woman's actions and intent across these ancient texts.
וְהֶחֱזִ֣יקָה בּ֭וֹ וְנָ֣שְׁקָה־ לּ֑וֹ הֵעֵ֥זָה פָ֝נֶ֗יהָ וַתֹּ֣אמַר לֽוֹ׃
6 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 7:13
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word חָזַק (chazaq) means to be strong or to strengthen. It encompasses a range of meanings including to support, encourage, and make firm, as well as to seize or hold fast. The word can be used in various forms, such as to strengthen oneself or to display strength. There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
חָזַק 291 vb. be or grow firm, strong, strengthen
Qal
intrans. be or grow strong
transit. only strengthened him not
Pi.
make strong (physically)
strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage
make strong = bold, encourage
make firm
make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden
Hiph.
make strong, strengthen
make firm, the kingdom
display strength
make severe, of battle
support
= repair
prevail
esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp
Hithp.
strengthen oneself
put forth strength, use one's strength
withstand
hold strongly with
base
H2388 חָזַק be or grow firm, strong, strengthen .. intrans. be or grow strong
. transit. only strengthened him not
. . make strong (physically)
. strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage
. make strong = bold, encourage
. make firm
. make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden
. . . make strong, strengthen
. make firm, the kingdom
. display strength
. make severe, of battle
. support
. = repair
. prevail
. esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp
. . strengthen oneself
. put forth strength, use one's strength
. withstand
. hold strongly with
2388 chazaq khaw-zak'
a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong
(figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help,
repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:--aid,
amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant,
constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly),
encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make
hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play
the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered,
repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be
stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold),
be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
חָזַק (cha.zaq) — to strengthen: strengthen.
: strengthen/support/encourage
1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be strong, grow strong
1a1a) to prevail, prevail upon
1a1b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure
1a1c) to press, be urgent
1a1d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense)
1a1e) to be severe, be grievous
1a2) to strengthen
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to make strong
1b2) to restore to strength, give strength
1b3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage
1b4) to make strong, make bold, encourage
1b5) to make firm
1b6) to make rigid, make hard
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to make strong, strengthen
1c2) to make firm
1c3) to display strength
1c4) to make severe
1c5) to support
1c6) to repair
1c7) to prevail, prevail upon
1c8) to have or take or keep hold of, retain, hold up, sustain, support
1c9) to hold, contain
1d) (Hithpael)
Conj | V-Hiphil-3fs — Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect third person feminine singularHc/Vhq3fs
hold: In the American Standard Revised Version frequently "stronghold" (Jud 9:49; 1Sa 22:4; 24:22; 2Sa 5:17; 23:14; 1Ch 11:16; 12:16). See FORTIFICATION. In Re 18:2 for the King James Version "cage" (phulake) the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes, as in first clause, "hold," and in the margin "prison."
Hold
A fortress, the name given to David’s lurking-places (1 Sam. 22:4, 5; 24:22).
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
נָשַׁק (nashaq) primarily means 'to kiss,' with various forms indicating gentle touching or equipping with weapons. The exact meaning can be uncertain, possibly extending to handling or being equipped. It appears in contexts related to affection and attachment, as well as in descriptions of armed individuals.
נָשַׁק vb. kiss
Qal kiss
Pi. kiss
Hiph. of wings of cherubim, gently touching each other
base
[נָשַׁק] vb. exact meaning uncertain; prob. either handle or be equiped with
base
H5401a נָשַׁק kiss H5401b נָשַׁק exact meaning uncertain; prob. either handle or be equiped with
5401 nashaq naw-shak'
a primitive root (identical with 5400, through the idea of
fastening up; compare 2388, 2836); to kiss, literally or
figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip
with weapons:--armed (men), rule, kiss, that touched.
see HEBREW for 05400
see HEBREW for 02388
see HEBREW for 02836
נָשַׁק (na.shaq) — to kiss.
1) to put together, kiss
1a) (Qal) to kiss
1b) (Piel) to kiss
1c) (Hiphil) to touch gently
נָשַׁק (na.shaq) — to handle.
1) to handle, be equipped with
1a) (Qal) to be equipped
Conj | V-Qal-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person feminine singularHc/Vqq3fs
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
עָזַז (azaz) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be strong or to prevail. It can refer to both literal and figurative strength, with uses in the Qal form indicating strength or prevailing, and in the Hiphil form suggesting making firm or strengthening. The entries highlight its application in contexts of boldness, particularly in relation to a wicked man.
[עָזַז] vb. be strong
Qal be strong, prevail
Hiph. a wicked man maketh firm (sheweth boldness) with his face
base
H5810 [עָזַז] be strong .be strong, prevail
. a wicked man maketh firm (sheweth boldness) with his face
5810 `azaz aw-zaz'
a primitive root; to be stout (literally or
figuratively):--harden, impudent, prevail, strengthen (self),
be strong.
עָזַז (a.zaz) — be strong.
1) to be strong
1a) (Qal) to be strong, prevail
1b) (Hiphil) to make firm, strengthen
V-Hiphil-Perf-3fs — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person feminine singularHVhp3fs
The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.
[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces
face, faces
presence, person
technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
face of seraphim
face of animals
face (= surface) of ground
as adv.loc. before
for other phrases
with prepositions
base
H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces
. . presence, person
. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
. face of seraphim
. face of animals
. face (= surface) of ground
. as adv. loc. before
. for other phrases
. with prepositions
6440 paniym paw-neem'
plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh
{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);
used in a great variety of applications (literally and
figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a
preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),
against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),
+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,
face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er
time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +
honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +
meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,
open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,
presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right
forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,
X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.
: before/to/front
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.
: face
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…
HNcmpc/Sp3fs — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3fs
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singularHc/Vqw3fs
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms