What is the meaning of Proverbs 9:15? calling out “calling out” (Proverbs 9:15) • Folly is not shy; she raises her voice just as Wisdom does in Proverbs 1:20–21, but with a deadly message (Proverbs 9:13–18). • The loud invitation shows sin’s aggressive nature—temptation hunts us (Genesis 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8). • Her call masquerades as concern, yet echoes the serpent’s tone in Genesis 3:1–5, promising pleasure while hiding ruin. to those who pass by “to those who pass by” (Proverbs 9:15) • Everyday travelers are targeted—no one is exempt. Temptation meets us on the ordinary road of life (Genesis 39:11–12; Luke 4:1–2). • The phrase links to the young man “passing along the street near her corner” in Proverbs 7:7–10, warning that lingering near compromise invites danger. • Folly waits at the city heights (Proverbs 9:14), placing herself where paths converge, much like the broad road Jesus describes in Matthew 7:13. who make their paths straight “who make their paths straight” (Proverbs 9:15) • These walkers have chosen a right course—“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6). • Folly’s goal is to lure even the disciplined. Righteous momentum must be guarded, as seen when David—once vigilant—fell in 2 Samuel 11:1–4. • The verb tense highlights an ongoing commitment; saints must keep “fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1–2) so the straight path is maintained. • Temptation often appears most loudly after victory or during faithfulness (1 Kings 19:3–4; 1 Corinthians 10:12). summary Proverbs 9:15 pictures Folly actively reaching for ordinary people who are already trying to walk rightly. Her loud, strategic appeal reminds us that temptation is persistent, opportunistic, and aimed at derailing even those on straight paths. Vigilance, immediate resistance, and continual dependence on the Lord (James 4:7–8; Proverbs 4:25–27) are essential safeguards for every traveler. |
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