Proverbs 23:27

For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — A father instructs his son to commit his heart and direct his eyes to divine ways, immediately preceding a warning about sexual temptation.

The words — The Hebrew שׁוּחָה (shu.Chah) and עֲמֻקָּה ('a.mu.Kah) literally mean "pit" and "deep," while צָרָה (tza.Rah) translates to "narrow."

The thread — Proverbs 22:14 parallels this imagery by stating that the mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit where those under God's wrath will fall.

Why it lands — The text states that a prostitute and an adulteress function as a deep pit and a narrow well, which the reader must recognize as a concealing trap that restricts escape and ensnares the faithful.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּֽי־ki-for שׁוּחָ֣הshu.Chah[is] a pit עֲמֻקָּ֣ה'a.mu.Kahdeep זוֹנָ֑הzo.Naha prostitute וּבְאֵ֥רu./ve.'Erand/ [is] a well צָ֝רָ֗הtza.Rahnarrow נָכְרִיָּֽה׃na.khe.ri.Yaha foreign [woman]

King James Version

For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

Cross-references

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.