Proverbs 7:21 — Word Study
WLCהִ֭טַּתּוּ בְּרֹ֣ב לִקְחָ֑הּ בְּחֵ֥לֶק שְׂ֝פָתֶ֗יהָ תַּדִּיחֶֽנּוּ׃
BSAWith her greatrôb [abundant, persuasive] persuasionleqach she entices himnâṭâh■ [seduces, lures away] with her flatteringchêleq [smooth] lipssâphâh [language, words] she lures himnâdach▸ [forces, leads astray]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הִ֭טַּתּוּ | she turns him | Verb hiphil perfect third person feminine singular, suffix |
| בְּרֹ֣ב | with [the] greatness of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| לִקְחָ֑הּ | persuasiveness her | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| בְּחֵ֥לֶק | with [the] seductiveness of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| שְׂ֝פָתֶ֗יהָ | lips her | Noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| תַּדִּיחֶֽנּוּ׃ | she impels him | Verb hiphil imperfect third person feminine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him. |
| KJV | With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. |
| ASV | With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along. |
| YLT | She turneth him aside with the abundance of her speech, With the flattery of her lips she forceth him. |
| WEB | With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him. |
| BBE | With her fair words she overcame him, forcing him with her smooth lips. |
The translations agree on the rendering of הִ֭טַּתּוּ as entices.
The sentence has a main clause and two prepositional phrases that describe the means of persuasion and luring.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
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 7:21
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 — Warning Against Seductiongenerated
Proverbs 7:21 describes how a woman uses her persuasive words to entice a man, illustrating the dangers of temptation. The surrounding verses provide context, showing the consequences of following such seductive paths, as seen in Proverbs 7:20 and Proverbs 7:22.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 7:5 | that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words. |
| 2 | Proverbs 5:3 | Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, |
| 3 | Judges 16:15–17 | “How can you say, ‘I love you,’” she asked, “when your heart is not with me? This is the third time you have mocked me and failed to reveal to me the source of your great strength!” |
| 4 | Psalm 12:2 | They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart. |
| 5 | 1 Samuel 28:23 | Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הִ֭טַּתּוּ, Hi.ta.tugenerated
The verb הִ֭טַּתּוּ (Hi.ta.tu) is a Hiphil perfect form of the root נָטָה (natah), meaning to stretch or extend. In this context, it conveys the idea of seduction or leading someone away from their intended path.
The parsing indicates that it is a third person feminine singular verb, referring to the woman in the passage. This word captures the act of enticing someone, often with negative moral implications.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In this study, we examine the verse as rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term entices.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is הִ֭טַּתּוּ, she entices, governing the rest of the sentence. The structure includes a prepositional phrase describing the means of persuasion and a second clause detailing the action of luring.
The syntax shows a clear flow from the act of enticing to the method of persuasion, emphasizing the woman's cunning speech.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates the verse using δὲ (de), which serves as a conjunction but does not alter the meaning of the Hebrew. This choice retains the focus on the woman's persuasive actions.
The Greek rendering aligns closely with the Hebrew, indicating a consistent understanding of the seductive nature of the woman's speech.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 7:21 shows how a woman uses her persuasive words to lead a man astray. This verse warns about the dangers of temptation and the consequences of following seductive paths, as illustrated in the surrounding verses.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that she uses her persuasive words to draw him away from the right path, leading him into temptation.
This verse serves as a warning against the dangers of seduction and the importance of wisdom in avoiding such temptations.
We learn that words can have a powerful influence, and one must be cautious about the intentions behind them.
It reminds us to be aware of persuasive influences in our lives and to seek wisdom in our choices.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways I can guard myself against persuasive temptations in my life?
- How can I discern the true intentions behind someone's words?
- In what situations have I experienced the power of persuasion, either positively or negatively?
- How can I apply the wisdom of Proverbs to my daily decisions?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 7:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWith her much fair speech she caused him to yield,.... Or, "to decline" from the right way: or, "inclined him" (d); his ear to listen to her, and his heart to go after her and along with her.
Read John Gill on Proverbs 7 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWith her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 7 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWith her much fair speech; which implies that her alluring words were more effectual with him than her impudent kisses, which possibly had a little alienated his mind from her. She caused him to yield; whereby he signifies that no provocation to sin is a sufficient excuse for sin. She forced him; she prevailed over him; which argues that there was some reluctancy in his judgment or conscience against it.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 7 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 7:21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.Ver. 21. With much fair speech.] Fair words make fools fain. This Circe so enchanted the younker with her fine language, that now she may do what she will with him, for he is wholly at her devotion. A young nobleman or gentleman, a youth of high rank.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 7 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 21. With her much fair speech] With her blandishments and lascivious talk, she overcame all his scruples, and constrained him to yield.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 7 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleFair speech - The Hebrew word is usually translated “doctrine,” or “learning” Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 4:2; Proverbs 9:9; possibly it is used here in keen irony.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 7 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible21. Much fair speech — Literally, her much taking; a word sometimes rendered learning, as in Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 4:2; Proverbs 9:9.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 7 →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
With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.
With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.
She persuaded him with persuasive words; with her smooth talk she compelled him.
Tyndale line
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along.
With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forceth him away.
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she impelled him.
Thus with her great craft she caused him to yeelde, and with her flattering lips she entised him.
Strictly literal
With her much enticement she beguiled him; with the smoothness of her lips she constrained him.
She turneth him aside with the abundance of her speech, With the flattery of her lips she forceth him.
She turns him aside with the abundance of her speech, || She forces him with the flattery of her lips.
She seduced him by the abundance of her reasoning: by the flattery of her lips she misguided him.
With much talk she turned him; with her smooth lips she misled him.
From the Latin
She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.
Simplified
She convinced him with all that she said; she seduced him with her smooth talking.
With her fair words she overcame him, forcing him with her smooth lips.
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 agree in their wording, with all six words matched. This suggests a strong textual consistency in conveying the theme of seduction in this verse.
הִ֭טַּתּוּ בְּרֹ֣ב לִקְחָ֑הּ בְּחֵ֥לֶק שְׂ֝פָתֶ֗יהָ תַּדִּיחֶֽנּוּ׃
6 of the 6 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 7:21
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.
נָטָה (natah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stretch out, spread out, or extend. It encompasses a wide range of actions, including bending, inclining, and pitching a tent. The word can also imply moral deflection or turning aside. The entries suggest various applications, from physical actions to metaphorical uses, but do not indicate significant disagreement among the lexicons.
נָטָה 215 vb. stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
Qal
stretch out, extend, hand, rod
stretch line and plummet
= offer
Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent
Bend, turn, incline
Niph. be stretched out
Hiph.
rarely stretch out, hand
rarely spread out cloth on rock
usu. turn, incline
base
H5186 נָטָה stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend .. . stretch out, extend, hand, rod
. stretch line and plummet
. = offer
. Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent
. Bend, turn, incline
. be stretched out
. . rarely stretch out, hand
. rarely spread out cloth on rock
. usu. turn, incline
5186 natah naw-taw'
a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication,
to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great
variety of application (as follows):--+ afternoon, apply, bow
(down, - ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down,
be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched,
overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread
(out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away),
wrest, cause to yield.
נָטָה (na.tah) — to stretch.
1) to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to stretch out, extend, stretch, offer
1a2) to spread out, pitch (tent)
1a3) to bend, turn, incline
1a3a) to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down
1a3b) to bend, bow
1a3c) to hold out, extend (fig.)
1b) (Niphal) to be stretched out
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to stretch out
1c2) to spread out
1c3) to turn, incline, influence, bend down, hold out, extend, thrust aside, thrust away
V-Hiphil-Perf-3fs | Suff — Verb hiphil perfect third person feminine singular · suffixHVhp3fs/Sp3ms
רֹב (rov) refers to a multitude or abundance, encompassing ideas of greatness and numerousness. It is derived from a related root and can describe anything from a large quantity to excellence. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, emphasizing its broad application in the Old Testament.
רֹב 151 n.m. multitude, abundance, greatness
base
H7230 רֹב multitude, abundance, greatness
7230 rob robe
from 7231; abundance (in any respect):--abundance(- antly),
all, X common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number),
huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much,
multitude, plenty(-ifully), X very (age).
see HEBREW for 07231
רֹב (rov) — abundance.
1) multitude, abundance, greatness
1a) multitude
1a1) abundance, abundantly
1a2) numerous
1b) greatness
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
לֶ֫קַח (leqach) refers to learning or teaching, encompassing both the act of instruction and the content taught. It implies something received, whether as personal insight or as a doctrine. The term can also carry a negative connotation, suggesting persuasion or inveiglement. The entries collectively highlight its use in contexts of education and influence.
לֶ֫קַח n.m. learning, teaching (concrete; prob. what is received)
instruction, subjective, as personal acquirement
teaching, obj., as thing taught; also = teaching-power, persuasiveness
base
H3948 לֶ֫קַח learning, teaching (concrete; prob. what is received) . instruction, subjective, as personal acquirement
. teaching, obj., as thing taught; also = teaching-power, persuasiveness
3948 leqach leh'-kakh
from 3947; properly, something received, i.e. (mentally)
instruction (whether on the part of the teacher or hearer);
also (in an active and sinister sense)
inveiglement:--doctrine, learning, fair speech.
see HEBREW for 03947
לֶ֫קַח (le.qach) — teaching.
1) learning, teaching, insight
1a) instruction (obj)
1b) teaching (thing taught)
1b1) teaching-power
1b2) persuasiveness
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3fs
The Hebrew word חֵ֫לֶק (*cheleq*) has two main meanings: it can refer to a portion or share, often in the context of land or inheritance, and it can denote smoothness or seductiveness, particularly in speech. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including as a divine award. Notably, it appears in Proverbs 7:21 in relation to speech.
חֵ֫לֶק n.m. portion, tract, territory
portion, share
portion, tract, of land
hence portion, i.e. (acquired) possession
chosen portion, habitual mode of life
portion, award, from God
H2506a חֵ֫לֶק portion, tract, territory H2506b חֵ֫לֶק smoothness, seductiveness of speech
2506 cheleq khay'lek
from 2505; properly, smoothness (of the tongue); also an
allotment:--flattery, inheritance, part, X partake, portion.
see HEBREW for 02505
חֵ֫לֶק (che.leq) — portion.
1) portion, share, part, territory
1a) portion, share
1b) portion, tract, parcel (of land)
1c) one's portion, one's possession
1d) (chosen) portion
1e) portion, award (from God)
Aramaic equivalent: cha.laq (חֲלָק "portion" H2508)
חֵ֫לֶק (che.leq) — smoothness.
smoothness, seductiveness, flattery
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.
שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge
lip
language
edge: shore of sea; bank of river
base
H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip
. language
. edge: shore of sea; bank of river
8193 saphah saw-faw'
or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from
5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by
analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,
bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,
prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.
see HEBREW for 05595
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 05490
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.
: lips/mouth
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.
: words/language
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.
: edge/border/opening
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.
: shore/bank(of_sea/river)
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
N-fd | Suff — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHNcfdc/Sp3fs
נָדַח (nadach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to impel, thrust, or banish. It encompasses a variety of actions, including driving away, compelling, and being thrust out or banished. The word appears in different forms, indicating various nuances such as being hunted or thrust into darkness. There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
[נָדַח] vb. impel, thrust, banish
Qal trans.
impel (i.e. wield) an axe
thrust away, banish
Niph.
be impelled
be thrust out, banished
driven away (fr. herd, i.e.) straying
thrust away, aside
Pu. thrust into darkness
Hiph.
thrust, move, impel
thrust out, banish
thrust away, aside
compel, force, subj. adulteress (by flattery)
Hoph. chased, hunted
base
H5080 [נָדַח] impel, thrust, banish .trans. . impel (i.e. wield) an axe
. thrust away, banish
. . be impelled
. be thrust out, banished
. driven away (fr. herd, i.e.) straying
. thrust away, aside
. thrust into darkness
. . thrust, move, impel
. thrust out, banish
. thrust away, aside
. compel, force, subj. adulteress (by flattery)
. chased, hunted
5080 nadach naw-dakh'
a primitive root; to push off; used in a great variety of
applications, literally and figuratively (to expel, mislead,
strike, inflict, etc.):--banish, bring, cast down (out),
chase, compel, draw away, drive (away, out, quite), fetch a
stroke, force, go away, outcast, thrust away (out), withdraw.
נָדַח (na.dach) — to banish.
1) to impel, thrust, drive away, banish
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to impel
1a2) to thrust away, banish
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be impelled
1b2) to be thrust out, be banished
1b2a) banished, outcast (participle)
1b3) to be driven away
1b4) to be thrust away, thrust aside
1c) (Pual) to be thrust into
1c1) thrust (participle)
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to thrust, move, impel
1d2) to thrust out, banish
1d3) to thrust away, thrust aside
1e) (Hophal) to be chased, be hunted
1e1) chased, hunted (participle)
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect third person feminine singular · suffixHVhi3fs/Sp3ms