Bible Strands
Proverbs 9:14
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative voice describes the woman named Folly positioned at her residence while addressing passersby who are directing their routes (Proverbs 9:13–15). The scene occurs in a public urban space where travelers are actively choosing their paths.
The words — The Hebrew יָשְׁבָה (ya.she.vah) means "she sits," and כִּסֵּא (ki.se') translates to "a seat" or elevated chair (Proverbs 9:14). These terms emphasize a deliberate, stationary posture rather than casual resting.
The thread — This posture of occupying a prominent urban location parallels Wisdom’s public proclamation from the city heights (Proverbs 9:3) and mirrors the deceptive approach of the woman in Proverbs 7:10. Both parallels establish a pattern of a female figure using strategic visibility to intercept travelers.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that deliberate positioning in a public space is a mechanism for interception and influence. A reader must evaluate whether the authority claimed by the seated figure aligns with the destination of the paths being offered.
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
King James Version
For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
Cross-references
- Proverbs 9:3 She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city.
- Proverbs 7:10 Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.