Proverbs 9:13

The Way of Folly

13 1The woman Folly is 2loud; she is seductive[a] and 3knows nothing.

Proverbs 9:13 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 9:13

A foolish woman [is] clamorous
Some by this woman understand folly itself, as opposed to wisdom; others blind reason, ignorant of divine things; others carnal sensual pleasure, which entices and draws men to that which is evil; others heresy and superstition; others the old serpent, the devil; she seems to be the same with the strange woman and harlot before described, ( Proverbs 2:16 ) ( 5:3 ) ( 7:5 ) and being set in direct opposition to Wisdom, or Christ, seems to design antichrist, who is described in the book of the Revelation as the great whore; and all the characters here agree with the same. Antichrist is represented as a "woman", ( Revelation 17:3 Revelation 17:4 Revelation 17:6 Revelation 17:18 ) ; and is "foolish"; for whatever worldly cunning and craft, and wicked subtlety, there may be in the Romish antichrist, yet he is destitute of all spiritual wisdom and knowledge; and is "clamorous" and noisy, has a mouth speaking great swelling words of vanity and blasphemy, boasting of infallibility, works of supererogation, merits, miracles, wealth, and riches; and very pressing and importunate to gain proselytes to his religion; the priests and Jesuits are compared to noisy, clamorous, croaking frogs, ( Revelation 16:13 ) ; [she is] simple, and knoweth nothing;
a woman of follies, extremely foolish and simple, and most grossly ignorant; knows nothing that is good, as the Targum; that is, spiritually good; knows not God aright; is without the fear and love of him, and faith in him; nor knows Christ, and the way of righteousness and life by him; nor the Spirit of God, and the operations of his grace upon the heart; nor the Gospel, and the doctrines of it; nor the ways, worship, and ordinances of God. The Septuagint and Arabic versions are, "she knows not shame"; but is bold and impudent, having a whore's forehead, and on it written, "Mystery, Babylon, the mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth", ( Revelation 17:5 ) .

Proverbs 9:13 In-Context

11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
13 The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way,

Cross References 3

  • 1. For ver. 13-18, see Proverbs 7:7-27
  • 2. Proverbs 7:11
  • 3. Proverbs 5:6

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.