Proverbs 7:26

For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong [men] have been slain by her.

For she hath cast down {H5307} many {H7227} wounded {H2491}: yea, many strong {H6099} men have been slain {H2026} by her.

For many are those she has struck down dead, numerous those she has killed.

For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.

For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.

Proverbs 7:26 serves as a stark warning within a larger discourse (Proverbs 7) against the dangers of succumbing to illicit sexual temptation, personified by the "strange woman" or adulteress.

Context

This verse is part of a vivid and cautionary narrative where the father (wisdom) warns his son (the reader) about the seductive tactics and devastating consequences of the immoral woman. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 of Proverbs extensively detail the allure and ultimate destruction associated with sexual sin. In this chapter, the seductress is depicted as a cunning predator, and verse 26 highlights the tragic outcome for those who fall prey to her. It directly follows a call to avoid her paths and not be led astray by her charms, as warned in Proverbs 7:25.

Key Themes

  • The Destructive Power of Immorality: The verse emphasizes that the "strange woman" is not merely a source of fleeting pleasure but a bringer of profound harm and death. The imagery of "cast down many wounded" and "many strong men have been slain" paints a picture of severe, often fatal, consequences. This theme is consistent throughout the wisdom literature, highlighting the dire consequences of choosing folly over wisdom.
  • Universal Vulnerability: The phrase "many strong [men]" suggests that even those who might consider themselves resilient, powerful, or immune to temptation are susceptible to her influence. No one is inherently beyond the reach of such destructive forces, underscoring the need for constant vigilance and reliance on divine wisdom.
  • Consequences of Folly: This verse underscores the direct and often irreversible results of choosing folly over wisdom. The path of the adulteress leads to ruin, contrasting sharply with the life-giving paths of wisdom described elsewhere in Proverbs, such as in Proverbs 2:16-19.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used are quite forceful. "Cast down many wounded" (חֲלָלִים רַבִּים הִפִּילָה – halalim rabbim hippila) refers to those who are literally pierced or slain, often in battle. This vivid imagery elevates the consequences of sexual sin to the level of warfare, where victims are left dead or severely injured. "Many strong [men] have been slain by her" (וַעֲצֻמִים כָּל־הֲרֻגֶיהָ – va'atzumim kol-harugeha) further reinforces the idea that even the most formidable individuals are no match for this seductive power, leading to their demise. The language suggests a comprehensive destruction, not just a moral stumble, indicating the profound and widespread damage caused by such immorality.

Practical Application

Proverbs 7:26 serves as a timeless warning about the profound and often hidden dangers of sexual immorality and other forms of destructive temptation. It reminds us that sin promises pleasure but delivers pain, often leading to spiritual, emotional, relational, and even physical ruin. For believers today, this verse underscores the importance of guarding one's heart and mind, fleeing from temptation as exhorted in 1 Corinthians 6:18, and pursuing wisdom. It calls for discernment to recognize the deceptive allure of sin and strength to resist its fatal embrace. The wisdom literature consistently teaches that true freedom and life are found in adherence to God's commands, not in pursuing fleeting desires that lead to destruction.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Nehemiah 13:26

    Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:8

    Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

  • 1 Peter 2:11

    Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

  • 1 Kings 11:1

    ¶ But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, [and] Hittites;

  • 1 Kings 11:2

    Of the nations [concerning] which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: [for] surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

  • Proverbs 6:33

    A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

  • 2 Samuel 12:9

    Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife [to be] thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

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