Proverbs 23:28 — Word Study
WLCאַף־ הִ֭יא כְּחֶ֣תֶף תֶּֽאֱרֹ֑ב וּ֝בוֹגְדִ֗ים בְּאָדָ֥ם תּוֹסִֽף׃
BSALike a robberchetheph△ [one who takes by force] shehûwʼ lies in waitʼârab▸ [as for a prey, secretly] and multipliesyâçaph▸ [increases, adds to] ◂the faithlessbâgad [unfaithful, treacherous, acting deceitfully] among menʼâdâm [humanity, the people of Adam]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אַף־ | also | Particle |
| הִ֭יא | she | Pronoun |
| כְּחֶ֣תֶף | like a robber | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| תֶּֽאֱרֹ֑ב | she lies in wait | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| וּ֝בוֹגְדִ֗ים | and treacherous [people] | Conjunction, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural |
| בְּאָדָ֥ם | among humankind | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| תּוֹסִֽף׃ | she increases | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person feminine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men. |
| KJV | She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. |
| ASV | Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men. |
| YLT | She also, as catching prey, lieth in wait, And the treacherous among men she increaseth. |
| WEB | Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men. |
| BBE | Yes, she is waiting secretly like a beast for its food, and deceit by her is increased among men. |
Where they part company is כְּחֶ֣תֶף — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is followed by a prepositional phrase and a verb phrase, illustrating the actions and context of the subject.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָרַב
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 23:28
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Warnings Against Immoralitygenerated
Proverbs 23:28 warns about the dangers of a treacherous woman, likening her to a robber who lies in wait to ambush. This verse is part of a larger discourse that cautions against the seductive nature of immoral individuals, emphasizing the consequences of such relationships, as seen in surrounding verses like Proverbs 23:27 and Proverbs 23:29.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 2:16–19 | It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words |
| 2 | Proverbs 7:12–22 | Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner. |
| 3 | Proverbs 9:18 | But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. |
| 4 | Proverbs 22:14 | The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it. |
| 5 | Judges 16:4–22 | Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תֶּֽאֱרֹ֑ב, te.'e.Rogenerated
The verb תֶּֽאֱרֹ֑ב (te'ērov) is in the imperfect tense, indicating an ongoing action of lying in wait or ambushing. It describes a deliberate act of deception, often associated with hostility or treachery.
This word conveys a sense of danger, as it suggests a hidden threat that can catch someone off guard. The imagery of ambush is strong, highlighting the predatory nature of the treacherous woman.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb תֶּֽאֱרֹ֑ב (te'ērov), she lies in wait, governs the structure of the verse. It is supported by a noun phrase הִ֭יא (hi') as the subject and a prepositional phrase בְּאָדָ֥ם (be'adam) indicating where the action takes place.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the action of ambushing first, followed by the description of the subject and the context, creating a vivid image of the treacherous woman's behavior.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תֶּֽאֱרֹ֑ב as ἀπολεῖται (apoleitai), which means 'to be lost' or 'to perish.' This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the consequences of deceitful actions, suggesting that those who engage in treachery ultimately face ruin.
This rendering indicates a shift from the specific act of ambush to the final outcome of such behavior, emphasizing the destructive nature of treachery.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 23:28 compares a treacherous woman to a robber who lies in wait and increases the number of unfaithful people. This verse serves as a warning about the dangers of engaging with immoral individuals, highlighting the potential consequences of such relationships.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This phrase indicates that the treacherous woman is deceptive and predatory, seeking to ambush and ensnare those who are unsuspecting.
The surrounding verses provide context for the warning against immorality, emphasizing the dangers of engaging with such individuals and the consequences of their actions.
The word 'multiplies' suggests that the treacherous woman not only deceives individuals but also increases the number of unfaithful people, leading to a broader impact on society.
The imagery of a robber conveys the idea of stealth and danger, highlighting the treacherous woman's ability to deceive and harm others without warning.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I guard against being deceived by treachery in my own life?
- How can I be more aware of the influences around me that may lead me away from faithfulness?
- What steps can I take to strengthen my relationships and avoid the pitfalls described in this verse?
- How does understanding the nature of treachery help me in my interactions with others?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 23:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleShe also lieth in wait as [for] a prey,.... At the door of her house, in the corner of the streets, in the dark of the night; laying her snares, and spreading her nets, for unwary persons, to make a
Read John Gill on Proverbs 23 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryShe also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 23 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleLieth in wait as for a prey; watching all opportunities of insnaring young men to their destruction. Increaseth the transgressors among men; she is the cause of innumerable sins against God, and against the marriage-bed, against the soul and body too, and by her wicked example and arts involveth many persons in the guilt of her sins.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 23 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 23:28 She also lieth in wait as [for] a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.Ver. 28. She also lieth in wait.] Terence calls harlots Cruces crumenimulgas, sordida poscinummia, &c., base beg pennies, pick purses, &c. See the notes upon Proverbs 7:1-27. &c And increaseth the transgressors among men.] Nothing hath ever so enriched hell as the whorish woman. See above.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 23 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(28) Increaseth the transgressors (faithless) among men.—This vice being the fruitful source of faithlessness both towards man and God.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 23 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 28. Increaseth the transgressors among men.] More iniquity springs from this one source of evil, than from any other cause in the whole system of sin. Women and strong drink cause many millions to transgress.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 23 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges28. as for a prey] Better, with A.V. marg., R.V. text, as a robber. transgressors] Better, treacherous. Those whom she seduces become in their turn seducers and untrustworthy in similar relations. The Evils of Drunkenness, Proverbs 23:29-35.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 23 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible27, 28. A strange woman — A lewd woman. Proverbs 23:27 very forcibly represents the helpless and all but inextricable condition of him who falls a prey to the wiles of a bad woman. As for a prey — Like a robber.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 23 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
Indeed, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
Tyndale line
She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men.
Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, and increaseth the treacherous among men.
She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
Also she lyeth in wait as for a praye, and she increaseth the transgressers among men.
Strictly literal
She also lieth in wait as a robber, and increaseth the treacherous among men.
She also, as catching prey, lieth in wait, And the treacherous among men she increaseth.
She also, as catching prey, lies in wait, || And she increases the treacherous among men.
She also lieth in wait like a robber, and she increaseth the treacherous among men.
She lies in wait like a robber and she increases the number of the treacherous among humanity.
From the Latin
She lieth in wait in the way as a robber, and him whom she shall see unwary, she will kill.
Simplified
Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
Yes, she is waiting secretly like a beast for its food, and deceit by her is increased among men.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in content, although the Septuagint's word order and articles differ. Both texts convey the same warning about the treacherous woman's deceitful nature and its impact on humanity.
אַף־ הִ֭יא כְּחֶ֣תֶף תֶּֽאֱרֹ֑ב וּ֝בוֹגְדִ֗ים בְּאָדָ֥ם תּוֹסִֽף׃
5 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 23:28
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word אַף (aph) is a conjunction that indicates addition, often implying something greater. It can mean 'also,' 'yea,' or 'though,' and is used to connect ideas in a sentence. The entries highlight its use as both an adverb and conjunction, with a focus on its additive nature.
אַף conj. denoting addition, esp. of something greater, also, yea
base
H637 אַף conj. denoting addition, esp. of something greater, also, yea
637 'aph af
a primitive particle; meaning accession (used as an adverb or
conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though:--also, +
although, and (furthermore, yet), but, even, + how much less
(more, rather than), moreover, with, yea.
אַף (aph) — also.
conj (denoting addition, esp of something greater)
1) also, yea, though, so much the more
adv
2) furthermore, indeed
Aramaic equivalent: aph (אַף "also" H0638)
HTj — ParticleHTj
ol'-so: In the Greek kai, when it is equivalent to "also" or "even," is always placed before the word or phrase which it is intended to emphasize (e.g. Ac 12:3; 1 Joh 4:21). Mt 6:14 should therefore read, "Your heavenly Father will forgive you also"; Lu 6:13, "Whom also he named apostles"; Heb 8:6, "The mediator of a better covenant also"; and 1Th 4:14, `If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also (we believe that) those who are fallen asleep in Jesus, God will bring with Him.'
הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.
הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it
an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)
It resumes the subj. with emph.
Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible
It anticipates (as it seems) the subject
As an emph. predicate, of God
In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)
With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.
base
H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)
. It resumes the subj. with emph.
. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible
. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject
. As an emph. predicate, of God
. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)
. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.
1931 huw' hoo
of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a
primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or
it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also
(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;
sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally
(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),
it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,
this, those, which (is), who.
הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.
pron 3p s
1) he, she, it
1a) himself (with emphasis)
1b) resuming subj with emphasis
1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)
1d) (anticipating subj)
1e) (emphasising predicate)
1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron
2) that (with article)
Pron — PronounHPp3fs
חֶ֫תֶף (chetheph) refers to 'prey' or 'robber.' It is derived from a root meaning 'rapine' or 'robbery.' The term appears only in Proverbs 23:28, where it signifies the act of taking advantage of others.
חֶ֫תֶף n.[m.] prey—only Pr 23:28
ref
H2863 חֶ֫תֶף
2863 chetheph kheh'-thef
from 2862; properly, rapine; figuratively, robbery:--prey.
see HEBREW for 02862
חֶ֫תֶף (che.teph) — robber.
1) prey
2) (CLBL) robber
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
אָרַב (arab) is a primitive root meaning to lie in wait or ambush. It covers actions like lurking or setting an ambush, with forms in Qal, Piel, and Hiphil that indicate different nuances of waiting or attacking. The entries consistently emphasize its hostile connotation.
אָרַב vb. lie in wait
Qal lie in wait (with hostile purpose)
Pi. Pt. pl. liers-in-wait
Hiph. Impf. but txt. dub.
base
H693 אָרַב lie in wait
693 'arab aw-rab'
a primitive root; to lurk:--(lie in) ambush(-ment), lay (lie
in) wait.
אָרַב (a.rav) — to ambush.
1) to lie in wait, ambush, lurk
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to lie in wait
1a2) ambush (participle as subst)
1b) (Piel) ambushers, liers-in-wait (pl. participle)
1c) (Hiphil) to lay an ambush
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singularHVqi3fs
wat:
1. The Substantive:
The word is used in the Old Testament both as a substantive add as a verb. In the New Testament it appears as a verb only. 'erebh, ma'arabh, mean a concealed hiding-place for purposes of sudden attack, an ambuscade.
(1) "Lie in wait": "Abimelech rose up .... from lying in wait" (Jud 9:35 the King James Version); "When they .... abide in the covert to lie in wait" (Job 38:40).
בָּגַד (bagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to act treacherously or deceitfully. It is derived from a root that suggests covering or acting covertly, and it encompasses actions such as offending or being unfaithful. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, highlighting themes of betrayal and unfaithfulness.
[בָּגַד] vb. act or deal treacherously
base
H898 בָּגַד act or deal treacherously
898 bagad baw-gad'
a primitive root; to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to
act covertly; by implication, to pillage:--deal deceitfully
(treacherously, unfaithfully), offend, transgress(-or),
(depart), treacherous (dealer, -ly, man), unfaithful(-ly,
man), X very.
בָּגַד (ba.gad) — to act treacherously.
1) to act treacherously, deceitfully, deal treacherously
1a) (Qal) to act or deal treacherously, faithlessly, deceitfully, offend
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine pluralHC/Vqrmpa
pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…
אָדָם (adam) refers to 'man' or 'mankind,' encompassing both individual humans and the species as a whole. It is also the name of the first man in the Bible, Adam, who is mentioned in various verses, including Genesis 2:19. The term can denote a city in the Jordan valley as well. The entries indicate a range of meanings, but there is no significant disagreement among them.
אָדָם 560 n.m. Gn 1:27 man, mankind
a man = human being
coll. man, mankind
n.pr.m. Adam, first man (without art.)
n.pr.loc. city in Jordan valley (as built?)
base
H120 אָדָם man, mankind . a man = human being
. coll. man, mankind
120 'adam aw-dawm'
from 119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the
species, mankind, etc.):--X another, + hypocrite, + common
sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.
see HEBREW for 0119
אָדָם (a.dam) — man.
1) man, mankind
1a) man, human being
1b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT)
1c) Adam, first man
1d) city in Jordan valley
אָדָם (a.dam) — the man (Adam).
The first named man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.2.19;
married to Eve (H2332);
father of: Cain (H7014B), Abel (H1893) and Seth (H8352); also translated "man" at Gen.2.19,21,23; 3.8,9,20; 5.2; "mankind" at Deu.32.8; "others" at Job.31.33;
Another spelling of a.dam (אָדָם "Adam" H0121)
man, human being
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
יָסַף (yacaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to add or increase. It can denote actions like joining oneself to something or continuing to do a task. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, with nuances of doing something again or augmenting an amount.
יָסַף 214 vb. add
Qal add
Niph.
join (intr.), join oneself to
be joined, added to
Hiph.
add
sq. inf. add to do = do again or more
sq. Impf.
sq. Impf. asynd.
base
H3254 יָסַף add . add
. . join (intr.), join oneself to
. be joined, added to
. . add
. . sq. inf. add to do = do again or more
. sq. Impf.
. sq. Impf. asynd.
3254 yacaph yaw-saf'
a primitive root; to add or augment (often adverbial, to
continue to do a thing):--add, X again, X any more, X cease, X
come more, + conceive again, continue, exceed, X further, X
gather together, get more, give more-over, X henceforth,
increase (more and more), join, X longer (bring, do, make,
much, put), X (the, much, yet) more (and more), proceed
(further), prolong, put, be (strong-) er, X yet, yield.
יָסַף (ya.saph) — to add: again.
: again/continue/more[instances]
1) to add, increase, do again
1a) (Qal) to add, increase, do again
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to join, join oneself to
1b2) to be joined, be added to
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to add, increase
1c2) to do more, do again
יָסַף (ya.saph) — to add.
: add/more[amount]
1) to add, increase, do again
1a) (Qal) to add, increase, do again
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to join, join oneself to
1b2) to be joined, be added to
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to add, increase
1c2) to do more, do again
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person feminine singularHVhi3fs
