Proverbs 7:12

12 Now in the street, now in the square, {at} every corner she lies in wait.

Proverbs 7:12 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 7:12

Now [is she] without
The word for whore is sometimes rendered in the Targum F9 one that goes abroad, or without her house; sitting or standing at the door of it, in an idle posture, and in order to invite her lovers in; and if she can get none this way, or quickly, grows impatient: she is now in the streets;
takes her walks abroad in the streets of the city, to see who she can light of, to pick up and bring home; and lieth in wait at every corner;
of the street, where more ways meet, sometimes at one corner, and sometimes at another, that she may take all that comes; sometimes she is "without" in the fields, and in the country, to see what she can meet with there; and sometimes in the "streets" of the city, and in the populous places of it, in the markets, and courts, and in every private corner, trying all ways to gain lovers, and satisfy her lust F11: all which may represent the diligence and industry, art and cunning, of the Romish emissaries to gain proselytes to their idolatrous worship, who everywhere lie in wait to deceive.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 Targ. Onk. in Gen. xxxiv. 31.
F11 "Mille modi veneris", Ovid de Arte Amandi, l. 3. prope finem.

Proverbs 7:12 In-Context

10 Then behold! A woman [comes] to meet him [with the] garment of a prostitute and {a secret heart}.
11 She is loud and stubborn; her feet do not stay at her house.
12 Now in the street, now in the square, {at} every corner she lies in wait.
13 She took hold of him and kissed him. Her face was impudent, and she said to him,
14 "Sacrifices of peace offerings [are] upon me; {today} I completed my vows.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "at the place of"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.