Proverbs 7:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast

NIV: All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose

NASB: Suddenly he follows her As an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as one walks in ankle bracelets to the discipline of a fool,

CSB: He follows her impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding toward a trap

NLT: He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap,

KJV: He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

NKJV: Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,

Solomon earlier referred to this young man as senseless (Proverbs 7:7). In response to temptation, this young man falls. After using various tactics (Proverbs 7:10–21), the predatory woman persuaded the foolish young man to follow her without further delay. He went to her home as an ox goes to the slaughter or as a stag gets caught in a trap. It is too late to escape! The difference between his fate and that of an ox and stag is this: he willingly entangles himself in the affair whereas the animals are unsuspecting. He is a fool, and he does not take into account that God judges sin.

Romans 6:23 assures us that "the wages of sin is death." Acts 5 records the sin of husband and wife Ananias and Sapphira. They purposely misrepresented their offering. Having sold a piece of property, Ananias, with his wife's knowledge, kept back for himself some of the proceeds and presented the money to the apostles as his offering. He could have kept the entire amount without sinning, but he hypocritically pretended his offering was the full amount of the sale. He paid for his hypocrisy by incurring the Lord's displeasure and death. Soon his wife met the same fate for joining in the hypocrisy (Acts 5:1–11).

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.