What is the meaning of Proverbs 7:21? With her great persuasion - The verse opens by underscoring the raw power of persuasive words. They do not merely inform; they sway the heart. - Proverbs 5:3 affirms, “For the lips of an adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil”. Smooth speech is the first hook. - Genesis 3:13 reminds us that deception by persuasive speech began in Eden: “The serpent deceived me, and I ate”. - 2 Corinthians 11:3 warns believers that minds can still “be led astray” through similar cunning. - Takeaway: Guard the mind before persuasion starts—Psalm 119:11 urges believers to store God’s word in the heart so sin gains no foothold. she entices him - “Entice” pictures a deliberate tug away from wisdom’s path. The target is already near the edge; the seductress simply gives the final nudge. - Proverbs 1:10 counsels, “My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them”. Yielding is always a choice. - James 1:14-15 exposes the mechanics: desire + enticement = sin = death. Enticers succeed only where inner desire is unrestrained. - 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises God “will also provide an escape,” making resistance possible for every believer. with her flattering lips - Flattery inflates ego and silences discernment. It says, “You deserve this,” while hiding the cost. - Psalm 12:2-3 laments, “They speak with flattering lips and a double heart… the LORD will cut off all flattering lips”. God opposes sweet-sounding lies. - Proverbs 26:28 adds that a flattering mouth “works ruin.” What sounds pleasant is spiritually toxic. - Romans 16:18 notes that false teachers “by smooth talk and flattery… deceive the hearts of the naïve.” Flattery remains a chief tool of deception in every age. she lures him - “Lure” moves from words to action, like bait drawing fish into a net. - The very next verses (Proverbs 7:22-23) show the result: “Suddenly he follows her like an ox going to the slaughter”. The end is swift and deadly. - Proverbs 6:27-29 asks, “Can a man embrace fire and not be burned?” The lure hides the flame. - Judges 16 records Delilah’s lure that blinded Samson—proof that even the strong fall when they toy with temptation. - 1 Peter 5:8 warns of an adversary “seeking someone to devour.” Behind every lure stands a predator. - 2 Peter 2:18 says deceivers “allure through the lusts of the flesh,” confirming that the strategy has not changed. - The biblical response is equally unchanged: “Flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18), not negotiate with it. summary Proverbs 7:21 lays bare a timeless sequence: persuasive words → internal consent → flattering affirmation → fatal lure. Scripture presents it literally, historically, and as a standing warning. Victory begins by treasuring God’s word, resisting the first seductive syllable, rejecting ego-stroking flattery, and promptly fleeing every lure. In Christ, believers have both the mandate and the power to walk in purity. |
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