Proverbs 7:17

KJV

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

KJV (with Strong's)

I have perfumed {H5130} my bed {H4904} with myrrh {H4753}, aloes {H174}, and cinnamon {H7076}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I've perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

Berean Standard Bible

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.

American Standard Version

I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Proverbs 7:17 is a pivotal line in the "strange woman's" seductive monologue, where she describes the luxurious and sensually overwhelming environment she has meticulously prepared to ensnare her unsuspecting victim. This verse vividly portrays the calculated allure of sin, appealing to the senses through the rich, exotic aromas of myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon, thereby creating an atmosphere of intimacy and indulgence designed to lower the young man's inhibitions and lead him astray from the path of wisdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is intricately woven into the fabric of [Proverbs chapter 7](/proverbs/7 "Proverbs 7 - The Warning Against the Adulteress"), which serves as a dramatic and cautionary narrative from a father to his son concerning the dangers of sexual immorality. The preceding verses, specifically [Proverbs 7:10-16](/proverbs/7-10 "Proverbs 7:10-16 - The Adulteress's Appearance and Invitation"), detail the adulteress's brazen appearance, cunning demeanor, and the deceptive invitation she extends. Verse 17, therefore, functions as a continuation of her persuasive rhetoric, revealing the sensory preparations she has made to complement her verbal enticement. It sets the stage for the tragic consummation of her plan described in [Proverbs 7:18-23](/proverbs/7-18 "Proverbs 7:18-23 - The Entrapment and Its Consequences"), ultimately contrasting the path of wisdom and life with the perilous and destructive path of folly and sin.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, aromatic spices like myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon were highly prized commodities, often imported and thus indicative of wealth and luxury. These substances were used for various purposes, including perfumes, anointing oils, incense, and even embalming. The "bed" (Hebrew: *mishkâb*) in this context was not merely for sleep but often served as a couch or divan for reclining, especially during meals or intimate gatherings, making it a central piece of furniture for social and private interactions. The act of perfuming a bed or chamber with such expensive fragrances would have signaled an intention to create an atmosphere of opulence, sensuality, and illicit pleasure, far removed from the modest and chaste setting of a virtuous home. This cultural detail underscores the deliberate and extravagant effort made by the adulteress to create an irresistible trap.
* **Key Themes:** [Proverbs 7:17](/proverbs/7-17 "Proverbs 7:17 - The Adulteress's Perfumed Bed") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Proverbs and this specific chapter. Primarily, it highlights the theme of **seduction and enticement**, demonstrating how sin often presents itself not as overtly evil but cloaked in attractive, sensory guises. The verse also underscores the **sensory allure of sin**, revealing how temptation often targets our physical desires and senses, aiming to overwhelm judgment with immediate gratification. Furthermore, it speaks to the theme of **deception and folly**, as the temporary pleasure offered by the adulteress's perfumed bed ultimately leads to the bitter and destructive consequences of sin, a stark contrast to the life-giving path of wisdom championed throughout [the book of Proverbs](/proverbs/1 "Proverbs 1 - The Purpose of Proverbs").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **perfumed (Hebrew, _nûwph'_):** This verb, H5130, carries a primary meaning of "to quiver," "vibrate up and down," or "rock to and fro." While it can denote various actions like shaking, waving, or lifting, in this context, it specifically refers to the act of "perfuming" or "sprinkling" with fragrance. The root suggests an active, deliberate motion, implying that the adulteress has not merely placed scents but has actively and thoroughly diffused them, saturating the environment with their aroma. This highlights her intentionality and the pervasive nature of the seductive atmosphere she creates.
* **bed (Hebrew, _mishkâb'_):** The Hebrew term H4904, *mishkâb*, refers to a bed or couch. Crucially, it also carries the euphemistic meaning of "carnal intercourse." This dual meaning is highly significant in [Proverbs 7:17](/proverbs/7-17 "Proverbs 7:17 - The Adulteress's Perfumed Bed"), as the "bed" is not just a piece of furniture but directly implies the intended illicit sexual activity. The perfuming of the bed, therefore, is not merely for comfort but is a direct preparation for the act of adultery, making the setting itself a symbol of the sin to be committed.
* **myrrh (Hebrew, _môr'_):** H4753, *môr*, refers to myrrh, a fragrant resin known for its bitter taste but sweet aroma when used as a perfume or anointing oil. Its inclusion alongside aloes and cinnamon signifies luxury and exoticism. Myrrh was often associated with love and sensuality in ancient literature (e.g., [Song of Solomon 1:13](/song_of_solomon/1-13 "Song of Solomon 1:13 - Myrrh as a Lover's Embrace")), making its use here a powerful signal of the adulteress's intent to create an atmosphere of romantic and sexual enticement.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I have perfumed my bed":** This clause immediately establishes the speaker as the "strange woman" and highlights her active role in creating the seductive environment. The verb "perfumed" (from *nûwph*) denotes a deliberate, thorough act of saturating her private space. The "bed" (mishkâb), as discussed, is not just a place of rest but a clear euphemism for the site of illicit sexual activity. Thus, she is announcing that she has prepared her intimate space specifically for carnal indulgence, making it alluring and ready for her victim.
* **"with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon":** This specifies the luxurious and exotic substances used to perfume the bed. Myrrh (môr), aloes (ʼăhâlîym), and cinnamon (qinnâmôwn) were all highly valued, imported aromatics in the ancient world, signifying wealth, extravagance, and sensuality. The combination of these particular scents would have created a rich, heady, and intoxicating aroma, designed to overwhelm the senses, create an atmosphere of pleasure and intimacy, and ultimately lower the young man's inhibitions, making the forbidden act seem irresistible and desirable.

#### Literary Devices
Proverbs 7:17 is rich in **Sensory Imagery**, primarily olfactory, as it vividly describes the "perfumed" bed with "myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon." This appeals directly to the sense of smell, creating a powerful mental picture of an intoxicating and alluring environment designed to overwhelm the victim's judgment. The "bed" itself functions as **Symbolism**, representing not just a piece of furniture but the very locus of illicit sexual activity and the path to moral decay. The use of expensive and exotic spices further employs **Symbolism** to convey the themes of luxury, indulgence, and the deceptive attractiveness of sin. The entire description is part of a larger **Personification** of Folly (the adulteress), who actively prepares her trap with cunning and sensory appeal, making her a vivid and tangible antagonist to Wisdom.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the deceptive nature of temptation, often cloaked in sensory appeal and promises of immediate gratification rather than appearing as overt evil. The adulteress's elaborate preparations underscore how sin meticulously crafts an alluring environment, targeting the "lust of the flesh" ([1 John 2:16](/1_john/2-16 "1 John 2:16 - The Lust of the Flesh")) to draw individuals away from God's wisdom. It serves as a powerful reminder that true wisdom involves discerning the hidden dangers beneath attractive surfaces and understanding that the temporary pleasures of sin inevitably lead to destruction, contrasting sharply with the lasting joy and life found in obedience to God's commands.

* [James 1:14-15](/james/1-14 "James 1:14-15 - The Process of Temptation and Sin")
* [Ephesians 5:3-5](/ephesians/5-3 "Ephesians 5:3-5 - Warning Against Immorality")
* [Song of Solomon 3:6](/song_of_solomon/3-6 "Song of Solomon 3:6 - Myrrh and Frankincense")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Proverbs 7:17 offers a timeless warning for believers, urging us to cultivate spiritual discernment in a world brimming with subtle temptations. Just as the adulteress used exotic perfumes to mask her destructive intentions, sin often presents itself in alluring, seemingly harmless guises, appealing to our desires for pleasure, comfort, or excitement. This verse calls us to be vigilant guardians of our senses and minds, recognizing that what we allow to influence our sight, hearing, and even our thoughts can profoundly impact our spiritual well-being and lead us down paths of compromise. It challenges us to question the true nature of what entices us and to remember that temporary sensory gratification offered by the world's follies ultimately leads to bitter consequences, while true fulfillment is found only in walking the path of wisdom and righteousness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do modern temptations, like those presented online or in media, use "sensory allure" similar to the perfumed bed described in this verse?**
* **What practical steps can I take to "guard my senses" and cultivate discernment against subtle forms of temptation in my daily life?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be susceptible to the "lust of the flesh" or the deceptive promises of immediate gratification?**

### FAQ

**Why are specific spices like myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon mentioned?**

Answer: The mention of myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon is highly significant because these were not common household scents but expensive, imported, and luxurious aromatics in the ancient Near East. Their presence immediately signals opulence, extravagance, and a deliberate attempt to create an atmosphere of intense sensuality and intimacy. Myrrh and aloes, in particular, were often associated with love, desire, and even funerary rites, carrying connotations of both life's deepest affections and its ultimate end. By specifying these costly and exotic perfumes, the text emphasizes the calculated effort of the "strange woman" to overwhelm the senses, impress her victim with a display of lavishness, and make her illicit invitation seem irresistible and highly desirable, thereby masking the destructive consequences that inevitably follow her path, as detailed later in [Proverbs 7:27](/proverbs/7-27 "Proverbs 7:27 - Her House is the Way to Hell").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Proverbs 7:17 vividly portrays the seductive power of sin and the dangers of yielding to the lusts of the flesh, it implicitly points to the necessity of a greater power and a purer fragrance found in Christ. The adulteress's perfumed bed offers a fleeting, deceptive pleasure that leads to death ([Proverbs 7:27](/proverbs/7-27 "Proverbs 7:27 - Her House is the Way to Hell")), whereas Christ offers true and lasting satisfaction. He is the ultimate antidote to the allure of sin, having been tempted in every way, yet without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our High Priest")). Unlike the adulteress who prepares a bed for illicit union, Christ prepares a place for His bride, the Church, a union of purity and eternal life ([John 14:2-3](/john/14-2 "John 14:2-3 - Jesus Prepares a Place")). Furthermore, the rich aromas of myrrh and aloes, though used here for a sinful purpose, find their redemptive fulfillment in the burial of Jesus, where Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes to anoint His body ([John 19:39](/john/19-39 "John 19:39 - Nicodemus Brings Myrrh and Aloes for Jesus' Burial")). This transformation of meaning underscores that even the elements used for sin can be redeemed and consecrated in Christ's ultimate sacrifice. Through His atoning work, believers are called to flee sexual immorality ([1 Corinthians 6:18](/1_corinthians/6-18 "1 Corinthians 6:18 - Flee Sexual Immorality")) and instead offer their bodies as living sacrifices, a "fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" ([Ephesians 5:2](/ephesians/5-2 "Ephesians 5:2 - Christ's Love and Sacrifice")). The temporary, intoxicating scent of sin pales in comparison to the eternal, life-giving aroma of Christ's righteousness and the Spirit's indwelling presence, which empowers believers to walk in holiness.

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

Psalms 45:8

All thy garments [smell] of myrrh, and aloes, [and] cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

Song Of Solomon 4:13

Thy plants [are] an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,

Song Of Solomon 4:14

Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

Exodus 30:23

Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred [shekels], and of sweet cinnamon half so much, [even] two hundred and fifty [shekels], and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty [shekels],

Song Of Solomon 3:6

¶ Who [is] this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

Isaiah 57:7

Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

Isaiah 57:9

And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase [thyself even] unto hell.