What does Proverbs 7:13 mean?

Solomon has been depicting the way careless youth fall prey to adultery, describing a senseless person taken in by a predatory seductress (Proverbs 7:10–12). The adulterous woman grabs the foolish young man and kisses him. Then she speaks to him with a brazen face. Thus, she springs the trap. While the moral guidelines given here are meant for both sexes, men—especially young men—can be particularly vulnerable to sudden temptations such as these. Such an approach is a deliberate strategy to ensnare victims. When a tempting situation arises, it is wise to recognize the danger and escape—even to flee.

A famous example of aggressive seduction happened to the patriarch Joseph. In Egypt, he was sexually assaulted by his employer's wife. She continually enticed Joseph to lie with her, and he consistently refused. Then, like the prostitute Solomon describes, Potiphar's wife caught Joseph by his garment and urged him to have relations with her. But Joseph was committed to the Lord and responded decisively to his master's wife by leaving his garment in her hand and fleeing from the house (Genesis 39:7–13).

Joseph's steadfast resistance to temptation infuriated Potiphar's wife. She lied about him to Potiphar, who promptly cast Joseph into prison. However, the Lord honors those who refuse temptation, and He honored Joseph. In time, Joseph was freed from prison and elevated to second in command over the entire nation (Genesis 41:39–45).