What is the meaning of Proverbs 5:8?

Keep your path far from her

“Keep your path far from her” calls for decisive distance from the adulterous woman introduced in Proverbs 5:3-6.

• Distance protects. Proverbs 4:14-15 says, “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked… Avoid it; do not travel on it; turn from it and pass on.” Paul echoes, “Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18).

• Distance is deliberate. Joseph ran from Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:12), illustrating a pre-set resolve.

• Distance is comprehensive. “Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness” (2 Timothy 2:22) shows that walking away from sin also means running toward godliness.

Practical takeaways:

– Chart routes—physical, digital, emotional—that bypass temptation.

– Share the journey with accountable friends (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

– Fill the gap with worship, service, and wholesome community.

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do not go near the door of her house

“Do not go near the door of her house” shifts from pathway to threshold—the final step before sin.

• The threshold is dangerous. Proverbs 7:8 depicts a youth “walking along the path to her house,” a prelude to ruin.

• Jesus presses deeper: a lustful look already violates purity (Matthew 5:28), so He urges drastic measures to avoid stumbling (v.29).

• James 1:14-15 outlines the chain: desire, enticement, conception, sin, death. Staying clear of the door breaks the chain early.

Why the warning matters (Proverbs 5:9-14):

– Loss of honor and shortened years.

– Wealth drained by strangers.

– Lifelong regret and public disgrace.

Practical steps:

– Shut physical and digital doors: no late-night chats, private rendezvous, or suggestive media.

– Fortify internal doors: store Scripture in the heart (Psalm 119:11), walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).

– Open the right doors: delight in covenant intimacy (Proverbs 5:15-19), and engage in Christ-centered fellowship.

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summary

Proverbs 5:8 urges a two-part strategy against sexual temptation: create a wide margin (“Keep your path far from her”) and refuse even a foot in the doorway (“do not go near the door of her house”). Distance is both our shield and our wisdom, preserving honor, resources, and joy while steering us toward the pure, abundant life God intends.