Proverbs 6:27

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 6:27 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
Proverbs 6:27 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
27Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?

What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The guilt and danger most obvious.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“6:27-29 walk on hot coals: Of course his feet will blister. The consequences are horrible.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Job 31:9-12; Hos 7:4-7; Jam 3:5 Proverbs 6:29”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The moral necessity of ruinous consequences which the sin of adultery draws after it, is illustrated by examples of natural cause and effect necessarily connected: 27 Can one take fire in his bosom And his clothes not be burned? 28 Or can any one walk over burning coals And his feet not be burned? 29 So he that goeth to his neighbour's wife, No one remains unpunished that toucheth her. We would say: Can any one, without being, etc.; the former is the Semitic "extended (paratactic) (Note: The παρατακτικὸς χρόνος denotes the imperfect tense, because it is still extended to the future.) construction." The first אישׁ has the conjunctive Shalsheleth. חתה signifies to seize and draw forth a…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification