Proverbs 23:28

28 indeed, she sets an ambush like a robber and increases those among men who are unfaithful.^[a]

Proverbs 23:28 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 23:28

She also lieth in wait as [for] a prey
At the door of her house, in the corner of the streets, in the dark of the night; laying her snares, and spreading her nets, for unwary persons, to make a prey of their virtue and of their money. Or, "as [a man of] prey" {k}; a thief and robber, so Gersom; thus she watches and takes all opportunities to seize on persons, and rob them of their substance, health, and credit; or rather "as [a beast of] prey"; ravenous, devouring, and insatiable; so the Targum,

``as a beast ravening, she lies in wait with her eyes;''

and increaseth the transgressors among men;
there is none that occasions wore sin, or makes more sinners, than a whorish woman; swearing, lying, drunkenness, thieving, stealing, housebreaking, robbing on the highway are the sins she leads into. Or, "increaseth treacherous" ^F12 persons; to God, to their king, to their wives, to their master's; and all that they may consume, what they can get by perfidious practices, upon them, or,

``perfidious persons among men, she adds "to herself" ^F13;''

she gets a parcel of abandoned wretches about her, whom she employs as her panders for her lust, or as bullies to spoil her gallants of their substance, or murder them for the sake of it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 (Ptxk) "tanquam vir praedae", Vatablus; "ut praedator", Mercerus, Gejerus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "ut raptor", Cocceius; "velut praedo", Michaelis; "ut harpago", Schultens.
F12 (Mydgwb) "perfidos", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schultens.
F13 (Pyowt) "adjungitque sibi", Tigurine version.

Proverbs 23:28 In-Context

26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

27 For a prostitute is a deep pit, and a forbidden woman is a narrow well;

28 indeed, she sets an ambush like a robber and increases those among men who are unfaithful.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes?

30 Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine.

Footnotes

• [a]. Pr 6:26; 7:22-23; 22:14