What does Proverbs 2:16 mean?
This verse uses the metaphor of a strange woman. It's interesting to think of sin in this way, as a "forbidden" stranger. In truth, we were not created to sin, we were created to reflect God's image and His righteousness (Genesis 1:26). When sin entered the world through Adam it corrupted our nature and caused a rift between man and God.Solomon himself was a man who took advantage of every luxury available to a man. He knew, first hand, what it was to sin and sin excessively, as shown in the book of Ecclesiastes. So, when Solomon gives this warning it should be one we pay that much more attention to. The adulteress of sin flatters us with her words. Sin looks enticing, and for a brief moment it is even enjoyable. Yet by falling into sin we commit "adultery" against our Creator. Our relationship with Christ is compared to that of a marriage (Revelation 19:7–8), and sexual sin is especially grievous (1 Corinthians 6:18).
Combining these ideas, this verse tells us that sin is not what we were created for, it is a stranger, yet it is as alluring as an adulteress. We would do well to flee from it.
Proverbs 2:16–22 focuses on the virtue philosophers such as Plato refer to as integrity, which is better labelled as temperance. This virtue is more than doing what is right even when no one is looking, which is how we often define integrity. Rather, it is also keeping ourselves from situations where we might be tempted to do wrong. In the modern sense, integrity is marked by what you do, while temperance is marked by using other virtues to avoid negative situations. For instance, Paul warns how being drunk leads to debauchery (Ephesians 5:18). A person exhibiting temperance might restrict or eliminate use of alcohol, thereby avoiding drunkenness and therefore, avoiding debauchery. This can be stated succinctly as a man mastering or controlling himself (James 3). This passage contrasts the outcome of not controlling oneself against the benefit of living with integrity.
In Proverbs chapter 2, Solomon highlights various virtues, as well as provides encouragement to live a virtuous life. As in chapter 1, specific concepts wil reoccur, and are used in certain ways. Here, these are ideas such as courage, integrity, wisdom, and justice. The gist of this passage is the positive effect that virtue—including these various aspects—will have on one's life. In contrast, those who pursue non-virtuous living will suffer dire consequences.
