Proverbs 7:16

16 I've spread fresh, clean sheets on my bed, colorful imported linens.

Proverbs 7:16 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 7:16

I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry
Made use of by the ancients F15 for bed clothes: beautiful ornaments, as Gersom; and precious garments, as Jarchi. She had adorned her bed with curtains and clothes, very delightful to the eye, and inviting; and had well corded it, as some interpret it, with cords of fine linen, and all to allure her lovers; she soon discovered her lustful inclinations, what her heart was upon, and says this, and more, to fire the young man's lust, and cause him to follow her: so the church of Rome adorns her places of worship in the most pompous manner; which are the beds in which she commits adultery, ( Revelation 2:22 ) ; and also her images to strike the minds of people, and draw them into her idolatrous worship; with carved [works];
perhaps the bed's head, tester, and posts, were all carved, and cut out of cedar wood and others, as Gersom observes; though some think: this refers to the variety of work in tapestry, which look like incisions and carvings, or the network, and agnet holes made therein: this may be very well applied to the carved work, and carved images, set up in the Romish churches; with fine linen of Egypt;
the sheets, pillows, and bolsters, made thereof, and so soft to lie upon; which was reckoned the best and finest, though not the strongest. Pliny says F16, of the linen of Egypt, that it had less strength and firmness in it (it being so fine); but bore the best price, and was the most gainful and profitable. The word used is not what is elsewhere met with, even when the linen of Egypt is mentioned, and indeed is nowhere else used: the Targum renders it, an Egyptian covering; and so most of the Oriental versions interpret it of bed coverings of tapestry painted, brought out of Egypt. The word is used in the Chaldee language for cords; and may here signify threads of linen twisted together, or linen cords, with which the harlot's bed was corded, and looked beautiful. Pliny F17 says, there were four sorts of linen in Egypt; Tanitic, Pelusiac, Butic, and Tenterytic; so called from the names and provinces where they were cultivated; and perhaps the Etun of Egypt may be the Tanitic: the fine linen, called "byssus", was brought out of India into Egypt; and is said to grow upon a tree as high as the poplar, and its leaves like a willow F18. Egypt is very properly made mention of in this account; it being one of the names of the city of Rome, of the great city, which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, and equal to both for lust and luxury, ( Revelation 11:8 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F15 Vid. Homer. Odyss. 4. c. 299. & Odyss. 7. prope finem.
F16 Nat. Hist. l. 19. c. 1.
F17 Ibid.
F18 Philostrat. Vit. Apollen. l. 2. c. 9.

Proverbs 7:16 In-Context

14 "I've got all the makings for a feast - today I made my offerings, my vows are all paid,
15 So now I've come to find you, hoping to catch sight of your face - and here you are!
16 I've spread fresh, clean sheets on my bed, colorful imported linens.
17 My bed is aromatic with spices and exotic fragrances.
18 Come, let's make love all night, spend the night in ecstatic lovemaking!
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.