Proverbs 7:14

KJV

[I have] peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

KJV (with Strong's)

I have peace {H8002} offerings {H2077} with me; this day {H3117} have I payed {H7999} my vows {H5088}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"I had to offer peace sacrifices, and I fulfilled my vows today.

Berean Standard Bible

“I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows.

American Standard Version

Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me; This day have I paid my vows.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Proverbs 7:14 captures the deceptive allure of the adulterous woman, who, in her cunning monologue, presents herself as a devout and morally upright individual. She claims to have recently fulfilled her religious obligations by offering peace offerings and paying her vows, thereby implying a state of ritual purity, divine favor, and an abundance of food from the sacrificial meal. This calculated display of piety serves as a manipulative facade, designed to disarm the naive young man and legitimize her illicit invitation, cloaking her immoral intentions in a veneer of spiritual respectability.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Proverbs 7:14 is a crucial moment within the extended warning against the "strange woman" that dominates [Proverbs 7](/proverbs/7 "Proverbs 7 - The Adulteress's Seduction"). The chapter opens with a father's earnest plea for his son to embrace wisdom and guard against temptation ([Proverbs 7:1-5](/proverbs/7-1 "Proverbs 7:1-5 - The Father's Warning")). The narrative then shifts to a vivid, almost cinematic depiction of a naive young man encountering the seductress ([Proverbs 7:6-9](/proverbs/7-6 "Proverbs 7:6-9 - The Naive Youth")). Verse 14 is part of the woman's seductive monologue ([Proverbs 7:10-23](/proverbs/7-10 "Proverbs 7:10-23 - The Seductress's Speech")), where she strategically employs religious language to lower the young man's guard, setting the stage for his eventual downfall, which is powerfully summarized in the chapter's concluding warning about the path to death ([Proverbs 7:24-27](/proverbs/7-24 "Proverbs 7:24-27 - The Path to Death")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, religious practices were deeply interwoven with daily life and social standing. Peace offerings (*zevach shelamim*) were voluntary sacrifices, often offered in thanksgiving or to fulfill a vow ([Leviticus 7:11-21](/leviticus/7-11 "Leviticus 7:11-21 - Law of the Peace Offering")). A unique aspect of these offerings was that, after a portion was given to God and the priests, the worshipper and their family would consume the remainder in a communal meal, often at the temple or a designated holy place. This meal symbolized fellowship with God and was a joyous occasion, signifying divine blessing and purity. Vows (*neder*) were solemn promises made to God, and their fulfillment was a mark of piety and integrity ([Numbers 30:2](/numbers/30-2 "Numbers 30:2 - The Law of Vows")). By claiming to have "peace offerings" and to have "paid my vows," the woman is leveraging these deeply respected religious customs to present herself as ritually clean, blessed by God, and possessing an abundance of sacred food, making her home appear as a legitimate and even sanctified place for a feast.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Proverbs. It highlights the pervasive theme of **Deception and Hypocrisy**, where outward religious observance is used to mask inward corruption and illicit intentions. It underscores the **Misuse of Sacred Things**, demonstrating how holy practices, meant for communion with God, can be perverted and exploited for sinful purposes. The passage also emphasizes the critical need for **Discernment** in the face of temptation, as the naive young man is unable to see through the adulteress's spiritual facade. Ultimately, Proverbs 7, with this verse as a pivotal point, serves as a stark **Warning Against Sexual Immorality**, portraying it not merely as a physical act but as a spiritual snare that leads to destruction, often cloaked in seemingly respectable or even appealing guises.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Peace offerings (Hebrew, _shelem'_):** Derived from the root *shâlam* (H7999), meaning "to be safe, complete, or at peace," *shelem* (H8002) refers specifically to a voluntary sacrifice offered for thanks, a vow, or fellowship. The term itself evokes ideas of wholeness, well-being, and reconciliation. In this context, the woman's claim to have *shelem* implies not only that she has performed a religious duty but also that she is in a state of peace and blessing with God, and crucially, has a portion of the sacrificial meat available for a celebratory meal. This religious act, meant for genuine communion, is here twisted into a tool for seduction.
* **Paid (Hebrew, _shâlam'_):** This verb (H7999) means "to be safe, complete," or "to make whole," and by extension, "to repay," "to render," or "to make peace." When the woman states she has "paid" her vows, she uses a verb that signifies completion and fulfillment of an obligation. This reinforces her feigned piety, presenting her as someone who diligently honors her commitments to God. The irony is profound: while she claims to have made herself "complete" or "right" with God through her vows, she is simultaneously planning an act that utterly violates God's covenant.
* **Vows (Hebrew, _neder'_):** From the root *nâdar* (to promise), *neder* (H5088) denotes a promise or pledge made to God, often involving a commitment to abstain from something or to offer something. Fulfilling a vow was a serious religious obligation and a sign of devotion. By declaring she has "paid my vows," the woman further solidifies her image as a righteous and trustworthy individual, someone who keeps her word, even to God. This assertion is a calculated move to establish credibility and moral standing, making her subsequent invitation appear less scandalous and more like a legitimate, even blessed, celebration.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"[I have] peace offerings with me":** The adulteress immediately establishes a facade of religious piety and material abundance. Her declaration implies that she has recently participated in a sacred ritual, the peace offering, which was a voluntary sacrifice often followed by a communal meal. This suggests she is ritually clean, in good standing with God, and has a surplus of food from the offering, which was considered a blessing. This statement is designed to disarm the young man, making her home seem like a place of legitimate feasting and fellowship, rather than a den of iniquity.
* **"this day have I payed my vows":** This second clause reinforces her feigned devotion. "This day" adds an element of immediacy and fresh piety, suggesting she has just completed a significant religious obligation. Paying vows was a serious act of commitment to God, further enhancing her image as a diligent and trustworthy individual. By combining the peace offering with the fulfillment of vows, she crafts a powerful illusion of spiritual integrity and divine favor, presenting herself as someone above reproach, thereby making her subsequent immoral invitation seem less like a transgression and more like a natural extension of her "blessed" state.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich with **Irony**, as the woman's outward display of piety directly contradicts her inner intentions and subsequent actions. She uses sacred religious rites—peace offerings and vows—as a pretext for sin, twisting symbols of fellowship with God into instruments of seduction. This creates a stark **Contrast** between appearance and reality, highlighting the deceptive nature of sin, which often cloaks itself in respectability or even spiritual legitimacy. The verse also functions as part of a larger **Dramatic Monologue**, where the adulteress's persuasive words are designed to ensnare her victim, revealing her cunning and manipulative character. Her language is carefully chosen to appeal to the young man's naiveté, making her invitation seem not only harmless but perhaps even divinely sanctioned, a masterful use of **Rhetoric** for malevolent purposes.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Proverbs 7:14 serves as a profound theological commentary on the nature of hypocrisy and the perversion of sacred things. It reveals how outward religious performance, devoid of genuine heart-devotion, can become a tool for deception and a cover for sin. The woman's actions expose a fundamental truth: true piety is not merely about performing rituals or fulfilling obligations, but about a heart transformed by God that seeks to live in integrity and obedience. Her misuse of peace offerings, meant for fellowship with God and man, underscores the danger of divorcing religious practice from moral purity, turning blessings into snares. This incident highlights the ever-present need for spiritual discernment, reminding believers that sin often approaches not in overtly evil forms, but disguised as something good, legitimate, or even holy.

* [Isaiah 1:10-17](/isaiah/1-10 "Isaiah 1:10-17 - God Rejects Empty Ritualism"): God rejects the empty sacrifices and religious observances of His people when their hands are full of blood and injustice.
* [Matthew 23:27-28](/matthew/23-27 "Matthew 23:27-28 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees"): Jesus condemns the Pharisees for their outward show of righteousness that conceals inner corruption, likening them to whitewashed tombs.
* [2 Corinthians 11:14-15](/2_corinthians/11-14 "2 Corinthians 11:14-15 - Satan Disguises Himself"): Paul warns that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light, and his servants as ministers of righteousness, emphasizing the deceptive nature of evil.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Proverbs 7:14 offers a timeless and sobering reflection for believers in every age. It compels us to look beyond superficial appearances, especially in matters of faith and character. The adulteress's deceptive use of religious language should prompt us to cultivate a deep spiritual discernment, enabling us to recognize and resist temptations that are cloaked in respectability or even spiritual guise. Are our own religious practices truly expressions of genuine devotion, or do we sometimes use them to project an image or to justify desires that are contrary to God's will? This verse calls us to examine our motives, ensuring that our walk matches our talk, and that our piety is rooted in a sincere love for God and His commands, rather than being a mere performance. It also serves as a poignant reminder to guard our hearts and minds, understanding that the most dangerous snares are often those that appear harmless, attractive, or even divinely sanctioned.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse challenge my perception of what "spiritual" looks like in myself and others?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to use outward religious acts to mask inner struggles or ungodly desires?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate deeper spiritual discernment and resist subtle forms of deception?**
* **How can I ensure my religious practices are truly expressions of genuine devotion rather than a performance for others?**

### FAQ
**What were "peace offerings" in ancient Israel, and why are they significant in this verse?**

Answer: Peace offerings (Hebrew: *zevach shelamim*) were a type of voluntary sacrifice in ancient Israelite worship, detailed in [Leviticus 7](/leviticus/7 "Leviticus 7 - Laws of Offerings"). They were often offered in thanksgiving, to fulfill a vow, or simply to express fellowship with God. A unique aspect was that, after portions were given to God and the priests, the worshipper would eat the remaining meat with their family and friends in a communal meal. This meal symbolized peace, wholeness, and communion with God. In Proverbs 7:14, the adulteress's claim to have peace offerings implies she is ritually clean, blessed by God, and has an abundance of sacred food for a feast, making her invitation seem legitimate and even spiritually sanctioned, despite her illicit intentions.

**Why does the adulteress mention "paying her vows" in addition to peace offerings?**

Answer: Mentioning the payment of vows (Hebrew: *neder*) further strengthens the adulteress's deceptive facade of piety and trustworthiness. Vows were solemn promises made to God ([Numbers 30:2](/numbers/30-2 "Numbers 30:2 - The Law of Vows")), and their fulfillment was a serious religious obligation and a mark of integrity. By declaring that she has "this day" fulfilled her vows, she presents herself as someone who is diligent in her religious duties, keeps her word, and is therefore morally upright and deserving of trust. This calculated assertion is designed to disarm the naive young man, making her appear respectable and her invitation less suspicious, even though her true intentions are contrary to God's law.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Proverbs 7:14, with its portrayal of deceptive piety, finds its ultimate fulfillment and stark contrast in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The adulteress's false claims of purity and fulfilled vows highlight the futility of outward religious performance without inward transformation, a theme Jesus repeatedly addressed in His condemnation of the Pharisees' hypocrisy ([Matthew 23:27-28](/matthew/23-27 "Matthew 23:27-28 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees")). Unlike the woman who uses sacred rites to lure to destruction, Christ is the true and perfect **Peace Offering** ([Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - Christ Our Peace")), whose sacrifice genuinely brings reconciliation with God and true peace to those who believe. He perfectly "paid" the ultimate vow of obedience to the Father, fulfilling all righteousness ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Christ's Obedience")), not for self-gain, but to redeem humanity from sin. While the adulteress's invitation leads to death ([Proverbs 7:27](/proverbs/7-27 "The Path to Death")), Jesus invites us to a genuine feast of life, the communion table, where He offers Himself as the bread of life and the true drink ([John 6:53-58](/john/6-53 "Eating Christ's Flesh and Drinking His Blood")). He is the embodiment of true wisdom, exposing all deception and offering a path of integrity and life, in stark contrast to the destructive path of the "strange woman" and all who masquerade as righteous ([2 Corinthians 11:14-15](/2_corinthians/11-14 "Satan Disguises Himself")).

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 21:27

¶ The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination: how much more, [when] he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

Leviticus 7:11

¶ And this [is] the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.

2 Samuel 15:7

¶ And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

2 Samuel 15:9

And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

1 Kings 21:9

And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:

1 Kings 21:10

And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And [then] carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.

Deuteronomy 12:6

And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: