Proverbs 5:3

3 Give thou not attention to the falseness of a woman; for the lips of an whore be an honeycomb dropping (for a whore's lips be like a dripping honeycomb), and her throat is clearer than oil;

Proverbs 5:3 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 5:3

For the lips of a strange woman drop [as] an honeycomb
"Mulsa dicta", "honey words", as is Plautus's ^F5 expression. The Septuagint and Arabic versions premise something here which is not in the Hebrew text,

``do not give heed to a wicked woman;''

and the Vulgate Latin version,

``to the fallacy of a woman:''

but there is no need to connect the words by such a supplement; since, as they lie, they give a reason why it was necessary to attend to wisdom and understanding, in order to act discreetly and speak knowingly; since there is so much danger of being drawn aside by a wicked woman, a lewd and adulterous one; the kisses of whose lips, her confabulations and songs, are as pleasing to the carnal senses of men as honey is sweet to the taste; she promises them a great deal of pleasure in her embraces, and in the enjoyment of her: so the poet ^F6 describes an agreeable voice to be sweeter than the honeycomb; and her mouth [is] smoother than oil;
her fair speeches, enticing words, and flattering fawning language, and amorous expressions, easily find their way and slide into the hearts of men, to prevail upon them to listen to her, and yield to her temptations. Gersom interprets this strange woman of the imaginative faculty; and Jarchi of heresy: it is applicable enough to the whore of Rome; who, by the blandishments of pomp and grandeur, and the allurements of wealth and riches, draws many into her idolatrous practices; which are spiritual adultery, signified by her golden cup, ( Revelation 17:4 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F5 Rudens, Act. 2. Sc. 3. v. 84. Poenulus, 1, 2. v. 112.
F6 (fwna glukerwtera h melikhrw) , Theocrit. Idyll. 21.

Proverbs 5:3 In-Context

1 My son, perceive thou my wisdom, and bow down thine ear to my prudence; (My son, pay attention to my wisdom, and listen to my understanding of things;)

2 (so) that thou keep thy thoughts (proper), and thy lips keep teaching (and thy lips speak knowingly).

3 Give thou not attention to the falseness of a woman; for the lips of an whore be an honeycomb dropping (for a whore's lips be like a dripping honeycomb), and her throat is clearer than oil;

4 but the last things [of her] be (as) bitter as wormwood, and her tongue is (as) sharp as a sword carving, (or cutting,) on each side.

5 Her feet go down into death; and her steps pierce to hells. (Her feet go downward unto death; and her steps shall lead thee unto Sheol, or the land of the dead/and her steps shall lead thee to hell.)