Proverbs 2:18

KJV

For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

KJV (with Strong's)

For her house {H1004} inclineth {H7743} unto death {H4194}, and her paths {H4570} unto the dead {H7496}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Her house is sinking toward death, her paths lead to the dead.

Berean Standard Bible

For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.

American Standard Version

For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Proverbs 2:18 delivers a profound and urgent warning within a father's instruction, vividly portraying the inevitable and dire consequences of succumbing to the allure of the "strange woman," a figure representing destructive folly and moral compromise. It asserts that her sphere of influence and chosen way of life are inherently oriented towards spiritual desolation and ultimate ruin, leading those who follow her not merely to danger, but directly to the realm of death and the lifeless shades of the underworld. This verse powerfully underscores the profound and destructive nature of choosing sin over the protective embrace of divine wisdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Proverbs 2:18 is strategically placed within a father's earnest and extended exhortation to his son (found in [Proverbs 2:1-22](/proverbs/2 "Proverbs 2 - The Blessings of Wisdom")) to diligently seek, embrace, and guard wisdom. The chapter commences with a compelling call to receive wisdom's words, treasure her commands, and incline one's ear to understanding, promising profound benefits for those who do. The immediate preceding verses, [Proverbs 2:16-17](/proverbs/2-16-17 "Proverbs 2:16-17 - Warning Against the Strange Woman"), introduce the figure of "the strange woman" (אִשָּׁה זָרָה, _ʼishshah zarah_), often interpreted as an adulteress or, more broadly, a personification of destructive folly. These verses describe her deceptive flattery and her abandonment of her covenant with God, setting the stage for the climactic warning in verse 18. This verse then directly articulates the catastrophic destination of her "house" and "paths," serving as the stark culmination of the warning against her seductive influence, contrasting sharply with the security and life found on the path of wisdom described in the chapter's concluding verses, [Proverbs 2:20-22](/proverbs/2-20-22 "Proverbs 2:20-22 - The Path of the Good").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite society, the family unit and the integrity of marriage were foundational pillars, deeply intertwined with the nation's covenant relationship with God. Adultery was considered a grave offense, often punishable by death, as it threatened the social fabric, lineage, and covenant fidelity. The "strange woman" (אִשָּׁה זָרָה, _ʼishshah zarah_) could refer to a foreign woman, a prostitute, or, more broadly, any woman who deviates from the moral and social norms of the community, embodying the antithesis of covenantal wisdom. Her "house" would be her literal dwelling, a place of illicit encounters, but also metaphorically her entire sphere of influence, her lifestyle, and her moral domain. The concept of "paths" (דרכים, _derakhim_) is a pervasive metaphor in wisdom literature, representing one's chosen way of life, moral conduct, and ultimate destiny. The warning in [Proverbs 2:18](/proverbs/2-18 "Proverbs 2:18 - The Strange Woman's Path to Death") reflects the deep societal and spiritual concern for maintaining purity and order, safeguarding the young from destructive influences prevalent in urban environments or from temptations to abandon the covenant way of life prescribed by God.
* **Key Themes:** [Proverbs 2:18](/proverbs/2-18 "Proverbs 2:18 - The Strange Woman's Path to Death") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Proverbs. Firstly, it highlights **The Two Ways**, a central motif contrasting the path of wisdom, which leads to life and blessing, with the path of folly and wickedness, which inevitably leads to destruction and death. This verse explicitly details the grim destination of the latter. Secondly, it underscores the **Consequences of Choice**, emphasizing that moral decisions have inevitable and profound outcomes, particularly in the realm of sexual purity and fidelity. The "strange woman" is a potent personification of the deceptive nature of sin, which promises immediate pleasure but delivers ultimate ruin. Thirdly, it reinforces the **Value of Discernment**, as the entire chapter urges the listener to actively seek and apply understanding to distinguish between life-giving wisdom and death-dealing folly. This discernment is crucial for navigating the moral landscape and avoiding the snares of temptation, as exemplified by the sharp contrast between the destructive path described here and the "path of the righteous" that "shines ever brighter" in [Proverbs 4:18](/proverbs/4-18 "Proverbs 4:18 - The Path of the Righteous").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **house (Hebrew, _bayith'_):** From H1004, this word primarily refers to a physical dwelling but extends broadly to encompass a household, family, lineage, or a wider sphere of influence. In [Proverbs 2:18](/proverbs/2-18 "Proverbs 2:18 - The Strange Woman's Path to Death"), "her house" signifies not merely a literal building but the entire domain, lifestyle, and moral environment associated with the strange woman. It represents the very core of her being and the destructive principles she embodies, which draw others into her ruinous orbit, implying an intrinsic connection between her character and the destiny of those who enter her sphere.
* **inclineth (Hebrew, _shûwach'_):** From H7743, meaning "to sink," "bow down," or "incline." This verb denotes a definite downward trajectory and a determined leaning or orientation. It suggests that the strange woman's "house" is not merely near death but is actively, inherently, and decisively directed towards it. It implies a gravitational pull, a downward slope that inevitably leads to the stated destination, emphasizing the certainty and irreversibility of the outcome for those who enter her domain. The verb highlights the active, destructive nature of her influence.
* **dead (Hebrew, _râphâʼ'_):** From H7496, derived from a root meaning "lax" or "feeble," this term refers specifically to the "Rephaim" – the shades, ghosts, or spirits of the dead in the underworld (Sheol). It evokes a sense of utter lifelessness, weakness, and being cut off from the vibrant world of the living. Unlike a general reference to physical death, "the dead" here paints a vivid picture of a desolate, shadowy existence, signifying a profound spiritual and existential ruin, a state of being utterly devoid of vitality, purpose, and connection to God's life-giving presence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For her house inclineth unto death":** This clause establishes the inherent direction and ultimate destination of the strange woman's influence. Her "house," representing her entire sphere of life, values, and actions, is not merely dangerous but is fundamentally and actively oriented towards "death" (H4194, _mâveth_). In wisdom literature, "death" often signifies spiritual ruin, separation from God, and a cessation of true life and flourishing, rather than merely physical demise. It suggests a downward slope, a path of no return once entered, where the very essence of her being is aligned with destruction.
* **"and her paths unto the dead":** This second clause reinforces and amplifies the warning of the first through powerful synonymous parallelism. "Her paths" refers to the specific courses of action, behaviors, and choices that one makes when following her influence or adopting her ways. These paths lead directly "unto the dead" (H7496, _râphâʼ_), specifically the Rephaim, the shadowy, powerless inhabitants of Sheol. This imagery emphasizes a state of utter desolation, spiritual emptiness, and being cut off from the community of the living and from God's life-giving presence. It is a profound metaphor for spiritual demise, existential ruin, and separation from the source of all vitality.

#### Literary Devices
[Proverbs 2:18](/proverbs/2-18 "Proverbs 2:18 - The Strange Woman's Path to Death") employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent warning with striking clarity and impact. **Personification** is central, as "wisdom" and "folly" (represented by the "strange woman") are presented as active agents, vying for the listener's allegiance. The "strange woman" is not just an abstract concept but a vivid character whose "house" and "paths" have a distinct, destructive trajectory. **Metaphor** is extensively utilized, with "house" symbolizing her lifestyle, moral domain, and sphere of influence, and "paths" representing the choices, conduct, and way of life that lead to a specific destiny. The destination, "death" and "the dead," are also powerful metaphors for spiritual and existential ruin, a state of being cut off from true life and God. Furthermore, the verse masterfully uses **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second clause ("and her paths unto the dead") echoes and intensifies the meaning of the first clause ("For her house inclineth unto death"). This repetition reinforces the certainty and severity of the consequences, driving home the message with poetic force and ensuring its memorability. The vivid **Imagery** of a house leaning towards death and paths leading to the shadowy realm of the dead creates a chilling and memorable picture of destruction.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Proverbs 2:18](/proverbs/2-18 "Proverbs 2:18 - The Strange Woman's Path to Death") is a profound theological statement on the nature of sin and its ultimate consequence. It teaches that sin, particularly sexual immorality and the embrace of folly, is not merely a transgression but a destructive force that reorients one's entire being and trajectory towards spiritual death and separation from God. The "strange woman" embodies the allure of immediate gratification and the deceptive promises of folly, which ultimately lead to a state of being cut off from God, the source of all true life and flourishing. This verse underscores the biblical principle that choices have inevitable spiritual outcomes, highlighting the stark contrast between the life-giving path of wisdom and the death-dealing path of folly. It serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of moral purity and the necessity of discernment to avoid eternal ruin, emphasizing that true life is found only in alignment with God's ways.

* [Proverbs 5:5](/proverbs/5-5 "Proverbs 5:5 - Her Feet Go Down to Death")
* [Proverbs 7:27](/proverbs/7-27 "Proverbs 7:27 - Her House is the Way to Sheol")
* [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin is Death")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Proverbs 2:18](/proverbs/2-18 "Proverbs 2:18 - The Strange Woman's Path to Death") offers a timeless and urgent call to vigilance and discernment, relevant for every generation. It compels us to recognize that our choices, particularly concerning relationships, moral conduct, and the influences we allow into our lives, are never neutral; they actively incline us towards either life or death. The "house" and "paths" of the strange woman serve as a powerful metaphor for any influence, ideology, or lifestyle that promises immediate gratification, fleeting pleasure, or worldly success but ultimately leads away from God's truth and into spiritual desolation. This verse challenges us to critically evaluate the company we keep, the media we consume, the desires we entertain, and the values we prioritize, asking whether they are drawing us towards life-giving wisdom and God's presence or towards the "dead" realm of spiritual emptiness and ruin. True wisdom, as presented in Proverbs, is not merely intellectual knowledge but a practical, moral orientation that safeguards our hearts, minds, and relationships, enabling us to walk in integrity and experience the fullness of life that God intends for His children.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "houses" or "paths" in my life, whether relationships, habits, or prevailing cultural influences, might be subtly inclining me towards spiritual apathy, moral compromise, or a departure from God's wisdom?**
* **How does the allure of immediate gratification, worldly acceptance, or deceptive promises sometimes mask the destructive long-term consequences described in this verse?**
* **What practical steps can I take today to more intentionally pursue and guard God's wisdom, ensuring my path leads to life, flourishing, and deeper communion with Him, rather than to the "dead"?**

### FAQ
**Who is "the strange woman" in Proverbs, and is she always a literal person?**

Answer: The "strange woman" (אִשָּׁה זָרָה, _ʼishshah zarah_) in Proverbs, particularly prominent in chapters [Proverbs 2](/proverbs/2 "Proverbs 2 - The Blessings of Wisdom"), [Proverbs 5](/proverbs/5 "Proverbs 5 - Warning Against Immorality"), [Proverbs 6](/proverbs/6 "Proverbs 6 - Warnings Against Various Vices"), and [Proverbs 7](/proverbs/7 "Proverbs 7 - The Allure of the Adulteress"), is primarily a literary and theological figure. While she can certainly represent a literal adulteress or prostitute, her deeper and more pervasive significance is as a personification of **Folly** itself, the antithesis of divine Wisdom. She embodies the deceptive, destructive, and alluring nature of sin, specifically sexual sin, but also any deviation from God's righteous path and covenant. Her "house" and "paths" symbolize the entire lifestyle, values, and inevitable consequences of choosing ungodliness over divine wisdom. Therefore, the warnings against her are applicable to any temptation, ideology, or influence that promises pleasure, freedom, or gain but ultimately leads to spiritual ruin, separation from God, and a state of being "dead" to true life.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Proverbs 2:18](/proverbs/2-18 "Proverbs 2:18 - The Strange Woman's Path to Death"), with its stark warning against paths leading to death and the dead, finds its ultimate fulfillment and redemptive answer in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "strange woman" represents the way of sin and folly, whose dominion is spiritual death, separation from God, and existential ruin. However, Jesus declares Himself to be the very embodiment of the life-giving alternative: "[I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life")." He is the true Wisdom of God, the divine Logos through whom all things were created (as seen in [1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God") and [Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - In Christ are Hidden All Treasures of Wisdom")), who offers a path not to the shadowy shades of the underworld but to abundant and eternal life. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross and His glorious resurrection, Christ decisively conquered the power of sin and death (a victory powerfully celebrated in [1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1_corinthians/15-54-57 "1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Victory Over Death")). He delivers us from the domain of darkness and transfers us into His glorious kingdom (a truth profoundly articulated in [Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Delivered from Darkness")). While the strange woman's house "inclineth unto death," the "house" of Christ—His Church, His presence, and His eternal dwelling—leads to resurrection, redemption, and everlasting communion with God, offering true freedom, vitality, and purpose that the paths of folly can never provide. He is the Good Shepherd who leads His sheep to "green pastures" and "still waters," restoring their souls and guiding them in "paths of righteousness" for His name's sake (echoing the profound promises of [Psalm 23:2-3](/psalms/23-2-3 "Psalm 23:2-3 - The Lord is My Shepherd")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Proverbs 9:18

But he knoweth not that the dead [are] there; [and that] her guests [are] in the depths of hell.

Ephesians 5:5

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Galatians 5:19

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Galatians 5:21

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Proverbs 5:4

But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.

Proverbs 5:14

I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

1 Corinthians 6:9

¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,