Proverbs 23:27

27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well.

Proverbs 23:27 in Other Translations

27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.

27 A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.

27 A whore is a bottomless pit; a loose woman can get you in deep trouble fast.

27 For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit.

27 A prostitute is a deep pit. A loose woman is a narrow well.

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

27 A prostitute is like a deep pit. A wife who commits adultery is like a narrow well.

Proverbs 23:27 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 23:27

For a whore [is] a deep ditch
Or, "as a deep ditch", so Aben Ezra; to which she may be compared for the filthiness of her whoredoms, and for her insatiable lust, as well as for her being never satisfied with what she receives from her lovers. Plautus compares ^F7 her to the sea, which devours whatever you give, and yet nothing appears; and another ^F8 calls a whore Charybdis, from her swallowing up and devouring all a man has. She is as a ditch that has no bottom, into which those that fall are ever sinking deeper and deeper, till they get into the bottomless pit; for there is seldom any recovery from this dreadful evil; and a strange woman [is] a narrow pit;
or "well" ^F9; into which when men fall, they bruise themselves in a terrible manner, by beating from side to side; and out of which they cannot extricate themselves; at least not easily, but with great difficulty, if ever. This may very well be applied to the whore of Rome, and the filthiness of her fornications; and the dreadful state of those who are drawn in to commit fornication with her.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 Truculaetus, Act. 2. Sc. 7. v. 16, 17. "Lucuculetum coenum", Bacchides, Act. 3. Sc. 1. v. 11. "Lutea meretrix", Trucul. Act. 4. Sc. 4. v. 1l.
F8 Sydonius Apollinar. l. 9. Ep. 6.
F9 (rab) "putens", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Michaelis, Schultens.

Proverbs 23:27 In-Context

25 May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!

26 My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,

27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well.

28 Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

Cross References

• 1. S Proverbs 22:14