23:32 23:32

Proverbs 23:33

23:34 23:34

Bible Versions

Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
Thine eyes {H5869} shall behold {H7200} strange women {H2114}, and thine heart {H3820} shall utter {H1696} perverse things {H8419}.
Your eyes will see peculiar things, your mind will utter nonsense.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter perverse things.

Proverbs 23:33 is a powerful warning that describes two significant consequences of excessive indulgence, particularly in wine, which the preceding verses (Proverbs 23:29-32) vividly detail. It highlights how impaired judgment leads to moral corruption and inappropriate behavior, serving as a timeless caution against losing self-control.

Context

This verse is found within a broader section of Proverbs (23:29-35) that graphically illustrates the woes and dangers associated with drunkenness. The passage describes the physical ailments, quarrels, and ultimate moral degradation that befall those who "tarry long at the wine" (Proverbs 23:30). Verse 33 specifically outlines the mental and moral decay that follows the physical effects.

Key Themes

  • Impaired Judgment and Temptation: The most immediate consequence described is the loss of discernment. When under the influence, one's ability to make sound moral decisions is severely compromised, making them highly susceptible to temptation.
  • Moral Corruption and Sexual Immorality: The phrase "thine eyes shall behold strange women" directly points to vulnerability to illicit sexual encounters. In the context of Proverbs, "strange women" (often translated as harlots or adulteresses) represent a profound moral danger and a deviation from God's design for marriage and purity. This theme is consistent with earlier warnings in the book against the seduction of the adulteress.
  • Uncontrolled and Perverse Speech: The second consequence, "thine heart shall utter perverse things," speaks to the corruption of one's inner thoughts and outward expression. Intoxication loosens inhibitions, leading to speech that is twisted, vulgar, inappropriate, or even blasphemous. This highlights how an uncontrolled mind leads to an uncontrolled tongue, often bringing shame and regret.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "strange women" comes from the Hebrew word zarot (זָרוֹת), which means "foreign" or "alien." In this context, it refers to women who are outside the covenant relationship, particularly those involved in prostitution or adultery, representing moral danger and impurity.
  • "Perverse things" is translated from the Hebrew tahpukhot (תַּהְפֻּכוֹת), meaning "twisted," "contrary," or "subversive." It describes speech that is morally distorted, corrupt, or contrary to truth and righteousness.

Practical Application

Proverbs 23:33 offers a timeless warning that extends beyond just the consumption of alcohol. It speaks to the dangers of any influence or indulgence that compromises our judgment, dulls our moral senses, and leads us into sin. This can include:

  • Substance Abuse: The primary warning against drunkenness remains profoundly relevant, emphasizing the spiritual and relational costs of addiction.
  • Media Consumption: In today's world, the "strange women" can symbolize any form of media or entertainment that promotes sexual immorality, lust, or inappropriate content, influencing our thoughts and desires.
  • Guard Your Heart and Mind: The verse underscores the importance of maintaining sobriety, not just physically but also mentally and spiritually. We are called to guard our hearts, for out of it "are the issues of life." This includes carefully choosing what we allow our eyes to behold and what thoughts we entertain, as these directly influence our words and actions.

Ultimately, this verse calls believers to exercise self-control and vigilance, seeking wisdom to avoid situations and influences that could lead to moral compromise and regret, ensuring our eyes and hearts reflect God's purity.

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.

  • Jude 1:12

    These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

  • Jude 1:13

    Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

  • Daniel 5:4

    They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

  • Genesis 19:32

    Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

  • Genesis 19:38

    And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same [is] the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

  • Hosea 7:5

    In the day of our king the princes have made [him] sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

  • Psalms 69:12

    They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I [was] the song of the drunkards.
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