Proverbs 5:3

3 for honey drops from the lips of a harlot, who for a season pleases thy palate:

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 ) .

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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 son, attend to my wisdom, and apply thine ear to my words;

2 that thou mayest keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives thee a charge. Give no heed to a worthless woman;

3 for honey drops from the lips of a harlot, who for a season pleases thy palate:

4 but afterwards thou wilt find her more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two-edged sword.

5 For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established.