How does Proverbs 6:33 warn against the consequences of adultery? Text of Proverbs 6:33 “Wounds and dishonor he will find, and his reproach will not be wiped away.” Three-fold warning packed into one verse • Wounds • Dishonor • An unerasable reproach Physical wounds – the body bears the cost • “Wounds” points to tangible injury. Adultery often invites the violent jealousy of a wronged spouse (v. 34) or the tragic fallout of disease (1 Corinthians 6:18). • Scripture treats sexual sin as uniquely self-damaging: “He who sins sexually sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). • The warning is literal: sinful pleasure may leave scars that cannot be hidden. Public disgrace – reputation collapses • “Dishonor” speaks of social shame. In biblical culture, sexual unfaithfulness destroyed credibility and standing (Proverbs 5:9-14). • David’s sin with Bathsheba left him forgiven yet publicly scarred; Nathan declared, “by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme” (2 Samuel 12:14). • Trust, once forfeited, is hard to rebuild; marriages, friendships, churches, and vocations feel the tremors. Permanent stain – disgrace that lingers • “His reproach will not be wiped away”: even after repentance, the memory of adultery tends to echo. • Hebrews 13:4 warns that “fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” That judgment may come now in earthly consequences and later at Christ’s tribunal (2 Corinthians 5:10). • The verse is not denying God’s forgiving grace; it is stressing that earthly consequences can remain long after pardon. Harmony with the wider book of Proverbs • 6:27-29 – fire burns; no one is exempt from scars. • 5:11 – “At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.” • 7:22-27 – the path of adultery “leads down to the chambers of death.” Practical takeaways for today • Guard the heart (Proverbs 4:23); adultery starts long before the act. • Flee temptation decisively (1 Corinthians 6:18; Genesis 39:12). • Cultivate marital intimacy and faithfulness (Proverbs 5:15-19). • Remember that sin’s pleasure is momentary, but its wounds, dishonor, and reproach can last a lifetime. In summary Proverbs 6:33 issues an unflinching warning: adultery brings bodily harm, social ruin, and an enduring stain on one’s name. God’s Word speaks plainly so that we might turn from danger and walk the path of purity He designed for our good. |
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