What does Proverbs 7:14 mean?

Solomon quotes the words of a woman aggressively seeking to seduce a young man (Proverbs 7:10–13). Her reference to sacrifices and vows probably refers to temple offerings, where some of the meat would be taken home. The prospect of a fine meal is part of the experience she uses to tempt this reckless youth. The other lure is a brazen invitation to sexual sin (Proverbs 7:16–19).

Perhaps, the adultery-minded woman felt her offerings and vows had settled the score with God and now she could embark on a new round of sins. Or she was offering these sacrifices to some pagan deity. Regardless, she was ready to lure the foolish young man into adultery.

Even if the sacrifices offered were part of Israel's temple worship, her display of piety was hypocritical. She simply wanted to appear religious. In Isaiah's time, hypocrisy was rampant. People were going through the motions of religion, but God saw through their hypocrisy. He saw that their hearts were far from Him, describing the people as having forsaken Him (Isaiah 1:4). He asked: "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?…I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats" (Isaiah 1:11).