Proverbs 7:13

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 7:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “So she caught him, and kissed him, [And] with an impudent face she said unto him:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

So she caught him, and kissed him, [And] with an impudent face she said unto him:
Proverbs 7:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13So she caught him, and kissed him, [And] with an impudent face she said unto him:

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“So she caught him, and kissed him, etc.] The young man that went near her corner where she was plying, or in the way to her house, where she was sitting, or standing, waiting and watching for such an opportunity, for such a person, as a prey to fasten on; and no sooner she saw him, and come up to him, but, without any ceremony or address, she laid hold upon him, as the wordf179 signifies, threw her arms about his neck, and embraced him in them; and, what is unusual for women to do, kissed him, in order to stir up wanton affections and impure desires in him; [and] with an impudent face; or, “and she strengthened her face”f180; rubbed her forehead, put on a brasen face, a whore’s front; see…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The preparations for a feast do not necessarily imply peculiar religious professions. The offerer retained part of the victim for a feast (Lev 3:9, &c.). This feast she professes was prepared for him whom she boldly addresses as one sought specially to partake of it.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“she: Gen 39:7, Gen 39:12; Num 25:1, Num 25:6-8, Num 31:16; Eze 16:33; Rev 2:20 with an impudent face said: Heb. she strengthened her face and said, Isa 50:7; Eze 2:4, Eze 2:6, Eze 3:7-9 Proverbs 7:14”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“After this digression the poet returns to the subject, and further describes the event as observed by himself. And she laid hold on him and kissed him; Put on a bold brow and said to him. The verb נשׁק is here, after its primary signification, connected with the dat.: osculum fixit ei. Thus also Gen 27:26 is construed, and the Dagesh in לּו is, as there, Dag. forte conj., after the law for which the national grammarians have coined the technical name אתי מרחיק (veniens e longinquo, "coming out of the distance," i.e., the attraction of a word following by one accented on the penult.). The penult.-accenting of נשׁקה is the consequence of the retrogression of the accent (נסוג אחור), which, here…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification