How does Proverbs 6:32 define the consequences of adultery? Verse in Focus Proverbs 6:32: “He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.” What the Verse Says at Face Value • Adultery is an act of folly—“lacks judgment.” • The sin turns inward—“destroys himself.” • No mention of mere inconvenience; the language is final and devastating. “Lacks Judgment” – More Than a Bad Decision • Hebrew literally points to a deficiency in heart and sense. • Highlights moral blindness: choosing fleeting pleasure over lifelong covenant (Genesis 2:24). • Signals rebellion against God’s design for marriage (Exodus 20:14). “Destroys Himself” – Layers of Ruin • Physical: disease, broken families, financial fallout. • Emotional: guilt, anxiety, loss of trust. • Spiritual: separation from God’s fellowship (Isaiah 59:2). • Eternal: unrepentant sexual sin bars one from the kingdom (Revelation 21:8). Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • “Flee from sexual immorality … sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). • “Marriage is to be honored … God will judge the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4). • “He will be wounded and disgraced” (Proverbs 6:33) immediately follows, amplifying the warning. Takeaway for Today When God labels adultery self-destruction, He is not restricting pleasure; He is rescuing us from ruin. Choosing marital faithfulness aligns with His wisdom, guards body and soul, and preserves the joy He intends. |
    |