Proverbs 5:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,

NIV: Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house,

NASB: Keep your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house,

CSB: Keep your way far from her. Don’t go near the door of her house.

NLT: Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house!

KJV: Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

NKJV: Remove your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house,

In this verse Solomon advises his sons to stay far away from the seductress. He warns them not to go near the door of her house. This follows earlier references to a woman who uses flattery and enticement to tempt a man into adultery (Proverbs 5:3–6). Of course, the same principles apply whether either party is male or female.

Sometimes the best defense against temptation is to get away from it. The apostle Paul advised young Timothy to flee sin (1 Timothy 6:11). When Joseph was Potiphar's servant in Egypt, Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph. Genesis 39:7 states, "After a time [Potiphar's] wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, 'Lie with me.'" She repeated this temptation day after day (Genesis 39:10), but Joseph refused to yield to her temptation, because he would not sin against God. When she grabbed him by his garment, he fled and got out of the house (Genesis 39:12).

Avoiding sources of temptation is sound advice for everyone. Those with unfortunate experiences often take this very seriously. Alcoholics are counselled to entirely avoid drinking and stay away from bars. Gambling addicts know even "innocent" bets can start a downward spiral. People who sincerely guard their lives recognizes that all people are fundamentally flawed, so they stay away from anything that might draw them into sin.

Proverbs 5:7–14 comes after Solomon has warned his son about the allurement of a seductress. Here, Solomon lists a number of catastrophes that result from committing adultery. This list precedes his advice to stay faithful to one's spouse and enjoy the blessings of marriage—this is advice suitable for people of either sex.

Solomon approaches the subject of adultery by describing a prototype seducer: a smooth talker who leads the victim down a dangerous road. Sin promises pleasure, but it is ultimately brief and destructive consequences are long lasting. The destructive consequences include a loss of strength, respect, money, and longevity. The person who disregards godly counsel about adultery experiences ruin and disgrace. Faithfulness in marriage brings a person exuberance and joy. No sin, including adultery, is hidden from God. Sin ensnares the adulterer and shows that he is foolish, undisciplined, and far from the Lord.

This chapter continues the wise sayings Solomon addresses to his children and / or students. Solomon warns about the temptation to succumb to adultery. He points out the calamities of yielding to sexual sin, and of violating one's marriage. This warning is similar the one given in Proverbs 1:8–10. After cautioning about the risks of adultery, he cites the joys and advantages of monogamous marriage.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.