Proverbs 9:18

“But he knoweth not that the dead [are] there, etc.] In the house of this foolish and wicked woman, into which she invites passengers to turn; the simple, that is persuaded by her, does not consider that there are none there to be his companions, but such who are dead in a moral or spiritual sense; that, though they live in pleasure, they are dead while they live. Aben Ezra refers this to “hell” in the next clause; where her guests are, and where those that are slain by her have their everlasting abode; and where the giants are, as the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions; or the mighty ones she has cast down there, as the Targum; so the word “rephaim” sometimes signifies: and some think that…”

“(Compare Pro 2:18-19; Pro 7:27). Next: Proverbs Chapter 10”

“Compare the marginal reference. With this warning the long introduction closes, and the collection of separate proverbs begins. Wisdom and Folly have each spoken; the issues of each have been painted in life-like hues. The learner is left to choose. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Proverbs 9". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/proverbs-9.html. 1870. StudyLight.org © 2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”

“9:18 Folly’s dinner guests end up in the depths of the grave, in contrast to the reward for Wisdom’s guests (see 9:6).”

“he: Pro 1:7; Psa 82:5; Pe2 3:5 the dead: Pro 2:18, Pro 2:19, Pro 5:5, Pro 6:26, Pro 7:27 Next: Proverbs Chapter 10”

“He goes within: 18 And he knows not that the dead are there; In the depths of Hades, her guests. How near to one another the house of the adulteress and Hades are, so that a man passes through the one into the other, is already stated in Pro 2:18; Pro 7:27. Here, in the concluding words of the introduction to the Book of Proverbs, addressed to youth, and for the most part containing warning against sinful pleasure, these two further declarations are advanced: the company assembled in the house of lewdness consists of רפאים, i.e., (cf. p. 83) the old, worn-out, who are only in appearance living, who have gone down to the seeming life of the shadowy existence of the kingdom of the dead; her…”