Proverbs 6:27

6:20-35 The word of God has something to say to us upon all occasions. Let not faithful reproofs ever make us uneasy. When we consider how much this sin abounds, how heinous adultery is in its own nature, of what evil consequence it is, and how certainly it destroys the spiritual life in the soul, we shall not wonder that the cautions against it are so often repeated. Let us notice the subjects of this chapter. Let us remember Him who willingly became our Surety, when we were strangers and enemies. And shall Christians, who have such prospects, motives, and examples, be slothful and careless? Shall we neglect what is pleasing to God, and what he will graciously reward? May we closely watch every sense by which poison can enter our minds or affections.

Can a man take fire in his bosom,.... A whore is compared to fire, and is so called by the poets (o); and it is a saying of Pythagoras, "it is a like thing to fall into fire and into a woman (p);'' the Hebrew words "esh", "fire", and "ishah", "a woman", have some affinity in sound; and the phrase of taking it "into the bosom" fitly expresses the impure embraces of a harlot; and his clothes not be burned? he cannot, it is impossible; and equally vain is it to think that a man can commit whoredom and it not be known, or he not hurt by it in his name and substance, or in his body, soul, and life. (o) Plauti Bacehides, Acts 4. Sc. 9. v. 15. "Accede ad ignem hunc", Terent. Eunuehus, Acts 1. Sc. 2. v. 5. (p) , apud Maximum, Eclog. c. 39.

The two forms of evil bring, each of them, their own penalty. By the one a man is brought to such poverty as to beg for "a piece of bread" (compare 1 Samuel 2:36 ): by the other and more deadly sin he incurs a peril which may affect his life. The second clause is very abrupt and emphatic in the original; "but as for a man's wife; she hunts for the precious life."

Verse 27. - In this and the two following verses (28 and 29) the discourse proceeds from statement to illustration, and by examples of cause and effect the teacher shows "the moral necessity of the evil consequences of the sin of adultery" (Delitzsch). The meaning of the verses is plain enough, viz. that as it is in vain to suppose that a person's garment will not be burnt or his feet not be scorched if fire is brought near them, so it is equally inconceivable that a person indulging in adultery can escape its consequences or the retribution that follows. The two questions in vers. 27 and 28 imply a strong negative, and so prepare for the conclusion in ver. 30. Take fire. The Hebrew verb khathah signifies " to take burning or live coals from the hearth" (Placater); and hence is used here in a pregnant sense "to take from the hearth and place in" (cf. Proverbs 25:22 , "For thou wilt take coals ['and heap them:' Hebrew, gekhalim khotheh ] on his head"). The fuller expression is met with in Isaiah 30:14 , "So that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth ( lakh'toth esh miyyakud ).'" The Vulgate renders by abscondere ," to hide: Numquid potest homo absconders ignem ; and the LXX. by ἀποδεῖν , equivalent to the Latin alligare "to tie or bind fast." Wordsworth explains "to take and heap up, as in a firepan or censer." In his bosom; Hebrew, b'kheyko ; LXX., ἐν κόλπῳ ; Vulgate, in sinu suo .

The word kheyk is properly "an undulation" (Delitzsch). not the lap , but as in the Authorized Version here, "the bosom," and "the bosom of a garment" as in ch. 16:33; 17:23; 21:14. The answer to the question of this and the next verse is of course a decided negative, but we may note that the teacher compares adultery to a burning fire in its consequences. Proverbs 6:27

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 brand or coal with the fire-tongs or shovel (מחתּה, the instrument for this); cf. Arab. khât, according to Lane, "he seized or snatched away a thing;" the form יחתּה is Kal, as יחנה (vid., Khler, De Tetragammate, 1867, p. 10). חיק (properly indentation) is here not the lap, but, as Isaiah 40:11, the bosom.

## The way to life; both to preserve and prolong this life, and to procure eternal life to those that obey them. Proverbs 6:24 This is mentioned as a great commendation of God’s word, because neither worldly discretion, nor civil education, nor moral precepts, nor any other considerations, are sufficient preservatives against this lust, as is manifest from daily experience. ## Proverbs 6:25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; do not give way to, nor delight thyself with, unchaste thoughts or affections. Compare Mat_5:28. ## With her eyelids; either with her beauty, which consists much in the eyes; or rather, with her amours and wanton glances. ## Proverbs 6:26 To a piece of bread; to extreme poverty, so as to want and be forced to beg his bread. Hunt for the precious life ; to take away a man’s life; either by consuming his body and spirits, and so shortening his days; or more directly and strictly, when she hath any great provocation to it, or any prospect of considerable advantage by it. Or, for the precious soul , which she corrupteth and destroyeth. But I prefer the former sense. Proverbs 6:27 The question implies a denial; he cannot escape burning. No more can he who burns in lust avoid destruction. Proverbs 6:28 No text from Poole on this verse

[Reformed Biblical] CHAP. VI. 25-29. 65 Specially valuable are this lamp and light in sensual temptation. (Chap. ii. 10, 11, 16-19; v. 1-8; vii. 1-5.) Those who choose their own light fall into a flattering snare. (Chap. ii. 16; vii, 21. The neglect of parental warning will furnish in the end bitter matter for unavailing repentance. (Chap. v. 11–13.) Oh! let the Father's instruction be heard betimes —"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." (Ps. xix. 9. Comp. v. 11; xvii. 4.) 25. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. 26. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. 27. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28. Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29. So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. Solomon here gives our Lord's own rule. (Matt. v. 28. Comp. Jam. i. 14, 15; Job, xxxi. 1; Ps. cxix. 37; also, Ecclus. ix. 3–5.) Resist lust in its first rising in the heart. By vain beauty,* and wanton eyes,† many a deluded victim has been brought to a piece of bread. ‡ Like the insatiable huntsman, who never loses sight of his prey, till he has pursued it to death; never does the seducer cease to solicit, till she has hunted for the precious life. (Gen. xxxix. 14. Judg. xvi. 18-21. Comp. Ezek. xiii

He shall die for want of discipline; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. Chapter 6 My son, if thou hast become surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand for a stranger, thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, since thou hast come into the hand of thy friend: go, humble thyself, and be urgent with thy friend. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids: deliver thyself as a gazelle from the hand [of the hunter], and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise: which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, provideth her bread in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest. How long, sluggard, wilt thou lie down? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest! So shall thy poverty come as a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man. A man of Belial, a wicked person, is he that goeth about with a perverse mouth; he winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; deceits are in his heart; he deviseth mischief at all times, he soweth discords. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly: in a moment shall he be broken, and without remedy. These six [things] doth Jehovah hate, yea, seven are an abomination unto him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood;