What is the meaning of Proverbs 22:14? The mouth of an adulteress “The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit…” (Proverbs 22:14a) • Solomon spotlights the seductive power of words. Just as Eve was enticed by words in Genesis 3:1–6, so the adulteress uses flattering speech (Proverbs 5:3; 7:21). • Her “mouth” represents promises of pleasure and freedom, yet Proverbs 7:23 shows that such words mask a trap. • James 3:6 reminds us a tongue can “set the whole course of one’s life on fire,” warning that ungodly speech is never harmless. is a deep pit “…is a deep pit…” (22:14a) • A pit in Scripture pictures hidden danger (Psalm 7:15). Falling in means sudden, inescapable ruin. • Proverbs 23:27 echoes, “A prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.” What begins as curiosity becomes captivity. • Ecclesiastes 7:26 testifies, “I found that more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets.” he who is under the wrath of the LORD “…he who is under the wrath of the LORD…” (22:14b) • God’s wrath here points to moral accountability (Romans 1:18). Persistent rebellion hardens the heart (Hebrews 3:13). • When a person refuses wisdom, the Lord “gives them over” (Romans 1:24). That withdrawal of restraint leaves them exposed to temptation. • Proverbs 1:24–31 warns that despising God’s counsel results in calamity. will fall into it “…will fall into it.” (22:14b) • Falling is pictured as inevitable for the unrepentant (1 Corinthians 10:12). • The progression: desire → deception → disobedience → death (James 1:14-15). • Yet there is hope: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 calls believers to holiness, assuring that God empowers escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). summary Proverbs 22:14 warns that seductive words lure the careless into moral ruin, portraying adultery as a treacherous pit. Those already resisting God’s authority are especially vulnerable; divine wrath allows them to stumble into the very snare they prefer. Choosing the Lord’s wisdom and purity is the sure path to safety and blessing. |
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