Proverbs 7:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home."

NIV: He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon."

NASB: He has taken a bag of money with him. At the full moon he will come home.'

CSB: He took a bag of silver with him and will come home at the time of the full moon."

NLT: He has taken a wallet full of money with him and won’t return until later this month. '

KJV: He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

NKJV: He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day.”

The adulteress continues her effort to persuade the foolish young man to commit adultery with her (Proverbs 7:6–19). She points out that her husband took a bag of money with him. Perhaps she mentions this fact to alleviate the young man's fear that her husband might run out of money and return home unexpectedly. She indicates that he will be far from home for several days, until there is a full moon. It seems the husband was on a business trip, but he may have planned to spend some of his money on a gift or two for his wife. If this is the case, his wife's wickedness intensifies.

The young man is being drawn into the affair slowly but surely. This entire story is meant to highlight the dangers of sexual temptation, and the tactics to which both men and women can be exposed. The young man in this example, like the son listening to Solomon's teaching, and those reading it today, would be well advised to heed the counsel given in Proverbs 1:10: "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent." Fortunately, God promises to provide a way of escape when temptation confronts us (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Proverbs 7:10–23 describes an adulteress as aggressive and seductive. Though speaking to his son, Solomon's lessons here are meant for all people. This passage is part of Solomon's teaching about the dangers of sin and temptation. The prior passage spoke of a reckless youth (Proverbs 7:6–9), who now suffers the consequences of his own choices. The woman in this story takes advantage of the young man's lust and carelessness. Solomon compares the trap she springs to those used to capture ox, a deer, and a bird.

Repeating a theme common to the early chapters of Proverbs, Solomon once again presents a dire warning about the dangers of adultery. This comes in the form of a story about a foolish young man being seduced by a predatory woman. Solomon says this is something he has seen—meaning this is likely a summary of many such examples he has witnessed in his life. The result of these reckless sins is misery and death, for both men and women alike.

In Proverbs 5 and 6 Solomon warns his son against adultery. He describes the evil woman, the adulteress, as deceptive and dangerous. While this is valid in a literal sense, it also serves as a general warning about the seductive nature of sin. In this chapter he continues his counsel about adultery, stressing the tactics used in temptation and how falling to them leads to death. The following chapter will return to the personification of wisdom as a woman, begging to be honored.

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.