What does Proverbs 7:27 mean?

In this verse Solomon warns his sons about what happens to those who choose to have sexual relations with an adulterous woman. As with other lessons in this book, Solomon is directly speaking to a man—but the principles apply to both sexes. Men and women can fall prey to seduction, and both genders can sin by tempting others. These principles can also apply more broadly to any type of sin, not just sexual sin.

Solomon indicates that this woman's house is the way to Sheol and goes down to the chambers of death. Her clients put themselves on a fast road to death and the grave. Perhaps this fate comes about at the hands of an irate husband who takes revenge on whoever commits adultery with his wife (Proverbs 6:34–35). Death could result from poverty if the woman's client wasted his money on her. Death by suicide is another possibility. Feeling the sting of guilt and disgrace, the woman's client might become so depressed that he ends his life. Another possibility is disease contracted from the woman. A venereal disease might cause his body to waste away.

These general outcomes are all one reason sin is often summarized with the analogy of adultery. What started out as something desirable ends in destruction. Proverbs 14:12 proclaims, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."

In the more metaphorical sense, we know that all sin leads to death (Romans 6:23). Temptation promises us satisfaction and pleasure in sin, but sin always takes more than it gives (James 1:13–15). Spiritually speaking, the only escape from spiritual death is through Jesus Christ. He lived a sinless life and paid the penalty for our sin, "that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Believers in Jesus do still fall into sin, but He is faithful to cleanse and restore us (1 John 1:9).