Proverbs 9:15

Translation
King James Version
To call passengers who go right on their ways:
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KJV (with Strong's)
To call H7121 passengers H5674 H1870 who go right H3474 on their ways H734:
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Complete Jewish Bible
calling to those who pass by, to those going straight along their ways,
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Berean Standard Bible
calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight.
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American Standard Version
To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways:
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World English Bible Messianic
To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
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Geneva Bible (1599)
To call them that passe by the way, that go right on their way, saying,
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Young's Literal Translation
To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight on their paths.
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See also
Proverbs 7:25Proverbs 7:27Proverbs 23:27Proverbs 23:28Proverbs 7:13Proverbs 7:15
In the KJVVerse 16,654 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Proverbs 9:15 presents a vivid and cautionary portrait of Dame Folly, the personification of ungodly choices and deceptive wisdom. She is depicted as brazenly positioned at the entrance of her house, loudly beckoning to individuals who are already progressing on what appears to be a straight and righteous path. Her sinister intent is to divert them from their upright course, luring them into her destructive domain, which ultimately leads to spiritual and literal death. This verse serves as a profound warning against the subtle, yet potent, temptations that target even those who are well-intentioned and striving for integrity.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Proverbs 9 serves as the climactic conclusion to the book's foundational instructional section (Proverbs 1-9), which functions as an extended parental appeal to embrace wisdom. This chapter masterfully employs a stark allegorical contrast between two archetypal women: Lady Wisdom (representing divine wisdom and righteousness) and Dame Folly (embodying human foolishness and wickedness). Lady Wisdom is introduced in Proverbs 9:1-6, where she is portrayed as building her house, preparing a magnificent feast, and sending out her maidens to invite all who are simple or lacking understanding to partake of her life-giving sustenance. In direct and chilling opposition, Proverbs 9:13-18 introduces Dame Folly as loud, boisterous, and utterly ignorant. Verse 15 specifically details her method of enticement, directly mirroring Lady Wisdom's public call by targeting passersby, but with the malevolent purpose of leading them astray to their ruin.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The book of Proverbs, deeply embedded in the ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition, frequently employs personification to render abstract concepts tangible and relatable for its audience. In a society where hospitality was a paramount virtue and social norm, the imagery of a woman calling from her house or sitting prominently at the city gate to invite guests would have been immediately understood. However, the moral implications of such an invitation were entirely dependent on the character of the woman and the nature of her call. While a virtuous woman might genuinely offer aid, fellowship, or instruction, Folly's call subverts this social expectation, transforming an act of invitation into a predatory trap. The metaphor of "ways" or "paths" was ubiquitous in the ancient world, representing one's life choices, moral conduct, and destiny. Thus, "going right on their ways" would have been a clear and powerful reference to living uprightly, in accordance with both societal and divine expectations.
  • Key Themes: This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes woven throughout the book of Proverbs. It powerfully underscores the theme of Moral Choice, presenting life as an existential journey with two fundamentally divergent paths: the path of wisdom, which leads to life and flourishing, and the path of folly, which inevitably culminates in death. This stark contrast is vividly illustrated by the contrasting outcomes described in Proverbs 9:11 and the chilling revelation of Proverbs 9:18. The verse also highlights the Insidiousness of Temptation, demonstrating that folly's allure is not confined to those already steeped in wickedness; rather, it often cunningly preys on individuals who are seemingly well-intentioned and "going right," making spiritual vigilance and discernment absolutely critical. Furthermore, it reinforces the theme of Discernment, emphasizing the profound need to distinguish between genuine, life-giving invitations and deceptive, destructive ones—a crucial skill that the wise person diligently cultivates throughout their life, as urged in passages like Proverbs 2:10-15.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • call (Hebrew, qârâʼ', H7121): This primitive root (H7121) signifies "to call out to," "to address by name," or "to invite." In this context, it emphasizes the active, public, and intentional nature of Folly's outreach. Unlike a quiet whisper, Folly's call is a loud proclamation, designed to capture the attention of those passing by. It implies an overt invitation, though one laden with deceit and hidden danger.
  • passengers (Hebrew, ʻâbar', H5674): Derived from a root (H5674) meaning "to cross over" or "to pass by," this word refers to those who are simply "passing along" or "going through." It suggests individuals who are on a journey, not necessarily seeking Folly, but merely traversing their own established paths. This highlights Folly's opportunistic and predatory nature, as she preys on those who are vulnerable simply by being in transit.
  • right (Hebrew, yâshar', H3474): This root (H3474) means "to be straight or even," and figuratively, "to be right" or "upright." It describes the moral alignment of the "passengers." They are not depicted as already lost or wicked, but as individuals who are attempting to walk an upright, righteous, or morally correct path. This makes Folly's temptation particularly insidious, as she aims to divert those who are actively striving for integrity and virtue.

Verse Breakdown

  • "To call passengers": This opening phrase immediately establishes Dame Folly's primary action: she is actively soliciting attention and seeking to intercept individuals. The "passengers" are those who are simply going about their daily lives, minding their own business, and not necessarily looking for trouble or distraction. Folly's strategy is to draw them away from their intended course, interrupting their journey with her alluring, yet ultimately destructive, invitation.
  • "who go right on their ways": This crucial second clause describes the moral disposition and current trajectory of Folly's targets. They are not depicted as aimless wanderers or already wayward individuals; rather, they are "going right" or "making their path straight." This implies individuals who are morally upright, disciplined, or at least earnestly attempting to live according to a good and righteous standard. Folly's temptation, therefore, is not merely for the already corrupt, but specifically for those who are striving for integrity, making her call a direct and dangerous challenge to their commitment to a virtuous life.

Literary Devices

Proverbs 9:15 is rich in Personification, with "Dame Folly" acting as a vibrant, living character who actively calls out and entices. This device makes the abstract concept of foolishness tangible and relatable, emphasizing its active, seductive, and dangerous nature. There is a profound element of Contrast woven throughout the broader chapter, as Folly's deceptive and death-dealing call directly opposes Lady Wisdom's life-giving and nourishing invitation, starkly highlighting the two divergent paths available to humanity. Furthermore, the phrase "who go right on their ways" introduces a subtle yet potent Irony and Dramatic Tension. The very individuals who are striving for righteousness and moral uprightness are presented as the specific targets of Folly's most dangerous temptations, suggesting that spiritual vigilance is required even, and perhaps especially, when one feels secure and confident on a seemingly good path.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Proverbs 9:15 offers profound theological insights into the pervasive nature of sin and temptation. It reveals that the alluring power of folly is not exclusively limited to those already entrenched in wickedness; rather, it often cunningly targets those who are striving for righteousness, seeking to subtly derail their spiritual progress. This highlights the constant spiritual battle that believers face and the pervasive presence of temptation in a fallen world. The verse underscores the critical importance of spiritual discernment, serving as a solemn reminder that not every appealing invitation or seemingly benign distraction is from God. Indeed, such seemingly harmless detours can lead to catastrophic spiritual consequences, as the tragic end of Folly's path is the realm of the dead, Sheol (Proverbs 9:18).

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Proverbs 9:15 serves as a powerful and timeless warning for all who endeavor to live a life pleasing to God. It profoundly reminds us that spiritual complacency is a perilous state, for even when we earnestly believe we are "going right on our ways," the seductive whispers and brazen calls of folly are ever-present and relentless. This verse compels us to cultivate a posture of continuous vigilance, humble self-awareness, and absolute dependence on divine wisdom. We must never assume immunity from temptation simply because our intentions are good, our current path seems righteous, or we feel morally secure. Instead, we are challenged to regularly and rigorously examine our motivations, the influences we allow into our lives, and the "calls" we choose to heed. True wisdom involves not only knowing and choosing the right path but, perhaps even more critically, recognizing and resolutely resisting the subtle, deceptive detours that promise ease, pleasure, or a shortcut but ultimately lead to spiritual and moral destruction.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what specific areas of my life might I be "going right" in my own estimation, yet still be susceptible to subtle temptations or distractions that could lead me astray?
  • How can I actively cultivate greater spiritual discernment to recognize the deceptive "calls" of folly in my daily interactions, media consumption, and personal aspirations?
  • What practical, actionable steps can I take to strengthen my resolve and remain steadfast on the path of wisdom, even when alluring alternatives present themselves with promises of immediate gratification or perceived advantage?

FAQ

What does "passengers who go right on their ways" mean in this context?

Answer: This phrase refers to individuals who are depicted as being on a morally upright or righteous path. They are not inherently wicked, aimless, or already lost, but rather are striving to live correctly, following what they believe to be the right course of action according to societal or personal standards. Dame Folly's specific target is precisely these individuals, making her temptation particularly insidious as she aims to divert those who are otherwise well-intentioned and disciplined. It highlights that temptation can arise even when one feels secure in their good conduct, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance and a deeper understanding of true righteousness, which ultimately comes through God's wisdom, not merely human effort (Proverbs 3:5-6).

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Proverbs 9:15, with its portrayal of Dame Folly's deceptive call to those "going right," finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the ultimate contrast between the world's alluring lies and the singular, life-giving truth found exclusively in Jesus Christ. While Folly calls to subtly divert those on a seemingly good path to their destruction, Jesus declares Himself to be the exclusive "Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6), emphasizing that no one comes to the Father except through Him. The "right ways" that the passengers pursue in Proverbs, while perhaps morally upright by human standards, are ultimately insufficient to lead to eternal life apart from Christ, for "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Christ, as the very embodiment of divine Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30), stands in stark contrast to Dame Folly. He does not subtly divert but openly invites all, especially those burdened and weary, to find true rest and life in Him (Matthew 11:28-30). The "straight path" that Folly seeks to corrupt is ultimately fulfilled in the narrow gate and difficult road that leads to life, which only Christ enables us to walk (Matthew 7:13-14). Thus, Proverbs 9:15 serves as a powerful backdrop, accentuating the unique and salvific call of Jesus, who alone offers the true and living way that leads to eternal joy and salvation, not the death offered by folly.

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Commentary on Proverbs 9 verses 13–18

We have heard what Christ has to say, to engage our affections to God and godliness, and one would think the whole world should go after him; but here we are told how industrious the tempter is to seduce unwary souls into the paths of sin, and with the most he gains his point, and Wisdom's courtship is not effectual. Now observe,

I. Who is the tempter - a foolish woman, Folly herself, in opposition to Wisdom. Carnal sensual pleasure I take to be especially meant by this foolish woman (Pro 9:13); for that is the great enemy to virtue and inlet to vice; that defiles and debauches the mind, stupefies conscience, and puts out the sparks of conviction, more than any thing else. This tempter is here described to be, 1. Very ignorant: She is simple and knows nothing, that is, she has no sufficient solid reason to offer; where she gets dominion in a soul she works out all the knowledge of holy things; they are lost and forgotten. Whoredom, and wine, and new wine, take away the heart; they besot men, and make fools of them. (2.) Very importunate. The less she has to offer that is rational the more violent and pressing she is, and carries the day often by dint of impudence. She is clamorous and noisy (Pro 9:13), continually haunting young people with her enticements. She sits at the door of her house (Pro 9:14), watching for a prey; not as Abraham at his tent-door, seeking an opportunity to do good. She sits on a seat (on a throne, so the word signifies) in the high places of the city, as if she had authority to give law, and we were all debtors to the flesh, to live after the flesh, and as if she had reputation, and were in honour, and thought worthy of the high places of the city; and perhaps she gains upon many more by pretending to be fashionable than by pretending to be agreeable. "Do not all persons of rank and figure in the world" (says she) "give themselves a greater liberty than the strict laws of virtue allow; and why shouldst thou humble thyself so far as to be cramped by them?" Thus the tempter affects to seem both kind and great.

II. Who are the tempted - young people who have been well educated; these she will triumph most in being the ruin of. Observe, 1. What their real character is; they are passengers that go right on their ways (Pro 9:15), that have been trained up in the paths of religion and virtue and set out very hopefully and well, that seemed determined and designed for good, and are not (as that young man, Pro 7:8) going the way to her house. Such as these she has a design upon, and lays snares for, and uses all her arts, all her charms, to pervert them; if they go right on, and will not look towards her, she will call after them, so urgent are these temptations. (2.) How she represents them. She calls them simple and wanting understanding, and therefore courts them to her school, that they may be cured of the restraints and formalities of their religion. This is the method of the stage (which is too close an exposition of this paragraph), where the sober young man, that has been virtuously educated, is the fool in the play, and the plot is to make him seven times more a child of hell than his profane companions, under colour of polishing and refining him, and setting him up for a wit and a beau. What is justly charged upon sin and impiety (Pro 9:4), that it is folly, is here very unjustly retorted upon the ways of virtue; but the day will declare who are the fools.

III. What the temptation is (Pro 9:17): Stolen waters are sweet. It is to water and bread, whereas Wisdom invites to the beasts she has killed and the wine she has mingled; however, bread and water are acceptable enough to those that are hungry and thirsty; and this is pretended to be more sweet and pleasant than common, for it is stolen water and bread eaten in secret, with a fear of being discovered. The pleasures of prohibited lusts are boasted of as more relishing than those of prescribed love; and dishonest gain is preferred to that which is justly gotten. Now this argues, not only a bold contempt, but an impudent defiance, 1. Of God's law, in that the waters are the sweeter for being stolen and come at by breaking through the hedge of the divine command. Nitimur in vetitum - We are prone to what is forbidden. This spirit of contradiction we have from our first parents, who thought the forbidden tree of all others a tree to be desired. 2. Of God's curse. The bread is eaten in secret, for fear of discovery and punishment, and the sinner takes a pride in having so far baffled his convictions, and triumphed over them, that, notwithstanding that fear, he dares commit the sin, and can make himself believe that, being eaten in secret, it shall never be discovered or reckoned for. Sweetness and pleasantness constitute the bait; but, by the tempter's own showing, even that is so absurd, and has such allays, that it is a wonder how it can have any influence upon men that pretend to reason.

IV. An effectual antidote against the temptation, in a few words, Pro 9:18. He that so far wants understanding as to be drawn aside by these enticements is led on, ignorantly, to his own inevitable ruin: He knows not, will not believe, does not consider, the tempter will not let him know, that the dead are there, that those who live in pleasure are dead while they live, dead in trespasses and sins. Terrors attend these pleasures like the terrors of death itself. The giants are there - Rephaim. It was this that ruined the sinners of the old world, the giants that were in the earth in those days. Her guests, that are treated with those stolen waters, are not only in the highway to hell and at the brink of it, but they are already in the depths of hell, under the power of sin, led captive by Satan at his will, and ever and anon lashed by the terrors of their own consciences, which are a hell upon earth The depths of Satan are the depths of hell. Remorseless sin is remediless ruin; it is the bottomless pit already. Thus does Solomon show the hook; those that believe him will not meddle with the bait.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 13–18. Public domain.
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BedeAD 735
Commentary on Proverbs
To call passersby who walk by the way, etc. Heresy often calls the Catholics to deception, seeing them proceed on the right path, wishing to quickly pass through this world and hasten to the eternal homeland.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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