Proverbs 9:16

16 Who is a little man in wit; bow he to me (And she saith to herself, Who is a man of little intelligence; turn he unto me). And she spake to a coward, (and said,)

Proverbs 9:16 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 9:16

Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither
The harlot's house, Popish chapels and churches. She uses the same form of words that Wisdom does, ( Proverbs 9:4 ) ; having a form of godliness, a show of religion, but without the power of it; her priests are wolves in sheep's clothing, and speak lies in hypocrisy: and such that she fixes upon as proper persons to work on are the simple, the credulous and unwary; who are not on their guard, and are easily persuaded and imposed on;

and [as for] him that wanteth understanding;
is not well grounded in the principles of Christianity he professes; has not a spiritual and experimental understanding of them:

she saith to him;
addresses him in such language as follows:

Proverbs 9:16 In-Context

14 sitteth in the doors of her house (sitteth at the door of her house), on a seat, in an high place of the city;

15 to call men passing by the way, and men going in their journey. (to call to men passing by the way, and to men going on their journey.)

16 Who is a little man in wit; bow he to me (And she saith to herself, Who is a man of little intelligence; turn he unto me). And she spake to a coward, (and said,)

17 Waters of theft be sweeter, and bread hid is sweeter. (Stolen water is sweeter, and hidden bread is sweeter.)

18 And [he] knew not that giants be there; and the guests of her be in the depths of hell. Soothly he that shall be applied, either fastened, to her, shall go down to hells. For why he that goeth away from her shall be saved. (And he knew not that death is there; and that her guests be in the depths of hell. Truly, he who shall be fastened to her, shall go down to Sheol, that is, to the land of the dead/shall go down to hell. But he who goeth away from her, shall be saved.)