Proverbs 7:25 — Word Study
WLCאַל־ יֵ֣שְׂטְ אֶל־ דְּרָכֶ֣יהָ לִבֶּ֑ךָ אַל־ תֵּ֝תַע בִּנְתִיבוֹתֶֽיהָ׃
BSADo notʼal [let it be] let your heartlêb [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] turn asidesâṭâh▸ [decline, stray] toʼêl her waysderek [path, manner of life] do notʼal [under no circumstances] straytâʻâh▸ [go astray, wander] into her pathsnâthîyb [roads, beaten tracks]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אַל־ | may not | Particle |
| יֵ֣שְׂטְ | it turn aside | Verb, Qal, jussive third person masculine singular |
| אֶל־ | to | Preposition |
| דְּרָכֶ֣יהָ | ways her | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| לִבֶּ֑ךָ | heart your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| אַל־ | may not | Particle |
| תֵּ֝תַע | it go astray | Verb, Qal, jussive second person masculine singular |
| בִּנְתִיבוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ | in pathways her | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths. |
| KJV | Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. |
| ASV | Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths. |
| YLT | Let not thy heart turn unto her ways, Do not wander in her paths, |
| WEB | Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths, |
| BBE | Let not your heart be turned to her ways, do not go wandering in her footsteps. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of שָׂטָה — see How Translations Differ.
The verse consists of two main clauses, each with a clear warning against moral deviation.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׂטָה
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 7:25
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 Adulterygenerated
Proverbs 7:25 is part of a father’s counsel to his sons, emphasizing the importance of staying true to moral paths and avoiding the temptations that lead to destruction. This chapter elaborates on the dangers posed by an immoral woman, urging vigilance against her seductive ways, as seen in surrounding verses that reinforce the need for wisdom and discernment.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 4:14–15 | Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. |
| 2 | Proverbs 5:8 | Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house, |
| 3 | Proverbs 6:25 | Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. |
| 4 | Proverbs 23:31–33 | Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. |
| 5 | Matthew 5:28 | But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׂטָה, Ye.setgenerated
The verb שָׂטָה (satah) means to turn aside or deviate from the expected path. It is a jussive form, indicating a command or wish, specifically directed at the heart's inclinations. The context suggests a moral deviation, warning against straying from righteousness.
This word captures the essence of choosing to go against one's duty or expected behavior. It highlights the importance of maintaining focus on the right path and resisting distractions that lead one away from moral integrity.
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 verse consists of two main clauses, each introduced by a negative particle אַל (al), followed by a verb phrase. The structure emphasizes the prohibitive nature of the advice, urging the listener to avoid both turning aside and straying.
The first clause addresses the heart's inclination, while the second warns against wandering into paths that lead to danger, creating a parallel structure that reinforces the message.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the verb שָׂטָה is rendered as ἐκκλινάτω (ekklinato), which also means to turn aside. This choice maintains the warning against deviation but may carry a slightly different nuance in the Greek context.
The translation reflects a similar cautionary tone, emphasizing the importance of staying on the right path.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 7:25 advises not to let your heart be led away by the seductive ways of an immoral woman. The speaker warns against straying into her paths, emphasizing the dangers of such temptations.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It refers to allowing your feelings and desires to lead you away from the right path, particularly towards immoral actions.
The heart represents the center of feelings, will, and intellect, making it crucial in moral decision-making.
Straying into her paths can lead to destruction and moral failure, as highlighted later in the chapter.
By being vigilant, seeking wisdom, and adhering to moral teachings that guide one's actions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I guard my heart against temptations that lead me astray?
- How can I apply the wisdom from this verse in my daily decisions?
- What are some practical steps I can take to stay on the right path?
- How do the influences around me affect my moral choices?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 7:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLet not thine heart decline to her ways,.... Or turn not aside from the right way, the path of truth and holiness, to those of the whorish woman, that lead to ruin and destruction; do not so much as
Read John Gill on Proverbs 7 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLet not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. Neither err in heart (the first clause), nor in movements (the second clause).
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 7 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleDecline to her ways; either to the paths which lead to her house, or to her manner of living.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 7 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 7:25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.Ver. 25. Let not thine heart.] Think not of her, lust not after her. Thoughts and affections are sibi mutuo causae. "While I mused the fire burned," so that thoughts kindle affections, and these cause thoughts to boil. See Job 31:1. See therefore that evil thoughts, though they rush into the heart, yet they rest not in it.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 7 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible24, 25. Hearken, etc. — These verses contain an earnest and affectionate exhortation by the teacher to avoid the evils on which he has been discoursing.
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
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.
Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths,
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways – do not wander into her pathways;
Tyndale line
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths.
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
Let not thine heart decline to her wayes: wander thou not in her paths.
Strictly literal
Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths:
Let not thy heart turn unto her ways, Do not wander in her paths,
Do not let your heart turn to her ways, || Do not wander in her paths,
Let not thy heart turn aside to her ways, do not go astray on her paths.
May your heart not turn aside onto her paths; do not be led astray onto her paths.
From the Latin
Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.
Simplified
Don't even think about following her. Don't stray down her road.
Let not your heart be turned to her ways, do not go wandering in her footsteps.
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 reads: אַל־ יֵ֣שְׂטְ אֶל־ דְּרָכֶ֣יהָ לִבֶּ֑ךָ אַל־ תֵּ֝תַע בִּנְתִיבוֹתֶֽיהָ׃. The Septuagint matches five of the eight words, indicating a close relationship between the two texts, though the word order and articles differ.
אַל־ יֵ֣שְׂטְ אֶל־ דְּרָכֶ֣יהָ לִבֶּ֑ךָ אַל־ תֵּ֝תַע בִּנְתִיבוֹתֶֽיהָ׃
5 of the 8 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 7:25
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.
אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.
אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
base
H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
408 'al al
a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified
negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,
nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing
(worth), rather than.
see HEBREW for 03808
אַל (al) — not.
1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)
1a) do not, let not (with a verb)
1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)
1c) not, no (with substantive)
1d) nothing (as substantive)
Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Part — ParticleHTn
שָׂטָה (satah) is a primitive root meaning to turn aside or deviate from duty. It covers actions like declining or going aside, primarily in the Qal form. The entries consistently emphasize this notion of turning away.
[שָׂטָה] vb. turn aside
base
H7847 שָׂטָה
7847 satah saw-taw'
a primitive root; to deviate from duty:--decline, go aside,
turn.
שָׂטָה (sa.tah) — to turn aside.
1) to turn aside, go aside, turn, decline
1a) (Qal) to turn aside
V-Qal-Juss-3ms — Verb · Qal · jussive third person masculine singularHVqj3ms
a-sid': "Distinct from others," "privately," such is the sense of the word in 2Ki 4:4; Mr 7:33. Also "to withdraw" (Lu 9:10 the King James Version; Ac 23:19: hupochoreo, also anachoreo). One is said to have turned aside when he departs from the path of rectitude (Ps 14:3; Sirach 2:7; 1Ti 1:6). In a figurative sense it is used to express the thought of putting aside, to renounce, every hindrance or impediment to a consecrated earnest Christian life (Heb 12:1: apotithemi).
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Prep — PrepositionHR
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.
דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner
way, road, path
journey
of direction, almost or quite = toward
way, manner
fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings
of moral action and character
of duty
specif.: in good sense
oftener in bad sense
way of י׳
base
H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path
. journey
. of direction, almost or quite = toward
. way, manner
. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings
. . of moral action and character
. of duty
. specif.: in good sense
. oftener in bad sense
. way of י׳
1870 derek deh'-rek
from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of
life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because
of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,
passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),
whither(-soever).
see HEBREW for 01869
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.
: conduct/lifestyle
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.
This name means way, road
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.
This name means way, road
Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.
: direction
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.
: road/route
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.
: journey
N-cp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3fs
The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.
לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart
seldom of things in the midst of the sea
elsewhere of men
the inner man in contrast with the outer
the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
specific reference to mind
spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
spec. ref. to conscience
[various]
for the man himself
as seat of appetites
as seat of emotions and passions
seat of courage
base
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea
. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer
. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
. specific reference to mind
. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
. spec. ref. to conscience
. [various]
. for the man himself
. as seat of appetites
. as seat of emotions and passions
. seat of courage
H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash
3820 leb labe
a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very
widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;
likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,
consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),
(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X
heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X
themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,
wisdom.
see HEBREW for 03824
לֵב (lev) — heart.
1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
1a) inner part, midst
1a1) midst (of things)
1a2) heart (of man)
1a3) soul, heart (of man)
1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
1a6) conscience
1a7) heart (of moral character)
1a8) as seat of appetites
1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
לֵב (lev) — Leb.
§ Leb- = "heart of"
(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms
אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.
אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
base
H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
408 'al al
a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified
negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,
nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing
(worth), rather than.
see HEBREW for 03808
אַל (al) — not.
1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)
1a) do not, let not (with a verb)
1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)
1c) not, no (with substantive)
1d) nothing (as substantive)
Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Part — ParticleHTn
תָּעָה (ta`ah) is a Hebrew verb that means to wander or go astray, both physically and ethically. It can refer to being led astray, as in a moral sense, or to the effects of intoxication. The word has various forms, including Qal (to err), Niphal (to be made to wander), and Hiphil (to cause to wander).
תָּעָה vb. err
Qal
physically wander about
of intoxication
ethically
Niph.
be made to wander about, as a drunkard
ethically: be led astray
Hiph.
physically cause to wander about
of intoxication
mentally and morally, cause to err, mislead
base
H8582 תָּעָה err .. physically wander about
. of intoxication
. ethically
. . be made to wander about, as a drunkard
. ethically: be led astray
. . physically cause to wander about
. of intoxication
. mentally and morally, cause to err, mislead
8582 ta`ah taw-aw'
a primitive root; to vacillate, i.e. reel or stray (literally
or figuratively); also causative of both:--(cause to) go
astray, deceive, dissemble, (cause to, make to) err, pant,
seduce, (make to) stagger, (cause to) wander, be out of the
way.
תָּעָה (ta.ah) — to go astray.
1) to err, wander, go astray, stagger
1a) (Qal) to err
1a1) to wander about (physically)
1a2) of intoxication
1a3) of sin (ethically)
1a4) wandering (of the mind)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be made to wander about, be made to stagger (drunkard)
1b2) to be led astray (ethically)
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to wander
1c1) to cause to wander about (physically)
1c2) to cause to wander (of intoxication)
1c3) to cause to err, mislead (mentally and morally)
V-Qal-Juss-2ms — Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singularHVqj2ms
a-stra' (ta`ah, "to wander," "to err"; planaomai, "to go astray," each carrying the idea of being lost): With one exception (Ex 23:4 "his ass going astray") used metaphorically of moral wandering, going astray in paths of error and sin, like "sheep going astray" (1Pe 2:25 the King James Version; Isa 53:6; Ps 119:176).
נָתִיב (nathiyb) refers to a path or pathway, emphasizing a trodden track. It can denote both a physical path and the concept of travel or a traveler. The feminine form נְתִיבָה (nethiybah) shares the same meaning. The word is derived from an unused root meaning to tramp.
נָתִיב n.m. path, pathway
base
נְתִיבָה n.f. id. [n.gd.ab];—path
base
H5410a נָתִיב path, pathway H5410b נְתִיבָה id. [5410a]
5410 nathiyb naw-theeb'
or (feminine) nthiybah {neth-ee-baw'}; or nthibah (Jeremiah
6:16) {neth-ee-baw'}; from an unused root meaning to tramp; a
(beaten) track:--path((-way)), X travel(-ler), way.
נָתִיב (na.tiv) — path.
1) trodden with the feet, path, pathway
2) path, pathway, traveller
נְתִיבָה (ne.ti.vah) — path.
1) trodden with the feet, path, pathway
2) path, pathway, traveller
Also means: na.tiv (נָתִיב "path" H5410A)
Prep | N-cp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncfpc/Sp3fs