Proverbs 5:20

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

For why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְלָ֤מָּה תִשְׁגֶּ֣ה בְנִ֣י בְזָרָ֑ה וּ֝תְחַבֵּ֗ק חֵ֣ק נָכְרִיָּֽה

Transliteration

And-why tišgeh my-bĕnî in-zārâ and-tĕḥabbēq ḥēq nokrîyyâ

Grammar Details

*lāmmâ*: interrogative adverb - why
*tišgeh*: verb, qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular - be intoxicated/infatuated
*bĕnî*: noun, masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix - my son
*zārâ*: adjective, feminine singular - strange/foreign woman
*tĕḥabbēq*: verb, piel imperfect 2nd person masculine singular - embrace
*ḥēq*: noun, masculine singular construct - bosom of
*nokrîyyâ*: adjective, feminine singular - strange/foreign woman

Word Meanings

*tišgeh*: be intoxicated/be infatuated/go astray/be captivated
*bĕnî*: my son/child/descendant
*zārâ*: strange woman/foreign woman/adulteress
*tĕḥabbēq*: embrace/hug/fold in arms
*ḥēq*: bosom/lap/chest/embrace
*nokrîyyâ*: strange woman/foreign woman/another man's wife

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Prov 6:24 : 24 To keep thee from the evil woman, From the flattery of the foreigner's tongue.
Prov 7:5 : 5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, From the foreigner that flattereth with her words.
Prov 22:14 : 14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.
Prov 23:27-28 : 27 For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit. 28 Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men.
Prov 23:33 : 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter perverse things.
1 Kgs 11:1 : 1 Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites;
Prov 2:16-19 : 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words; 17 That forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God: 18 For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead; 19 None that go unto her return again, Neither do they attain unto the paths of life:

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 5:17-19
3 verses
86%
17Let them be for thyself alone, And not for strangers with thee.
18Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.
19[ As] a loving hind and a pleasant doe, Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; And be thou ravished always with her love.
Prov 7:5
82%
5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, From the foreigner that flattereth with her words.
Prov 2:16-17
2 verses
82%
16To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words;
17That forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God:
Prov 6:24-27
4 verses
80%
24To keep thee from the evil woman, From the flattery of the foreigner's tongue.
25Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; Neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
26For on account of a harlot [a man is brought] to a piece of bread; And the adulteress hunteth for the precious life.
27Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
Prov 5:2-3
2 verses
78%
2That thou mayest preserve discretion, And that thy lips may keep knowledge.
3For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil:
Prov 23:33
77%
33Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter perverse things.
Ezek 16:32
77%
32A wife that committeth adultery! that taketh strangers instead of her husband!
Prov 5:6-10
5 verses
76%
6So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, [and] she knoweth [it] not.
7Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me, And depart not from the words of my mouth.
8Remove thy way far from her, And come not nigh the door of her house;
9Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel;
10Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, And thy labors [be] in the house of an alien,
Prov 7:25
76%
25Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths.
Prov 23:26-27
2 verses
76%
26My son, give me thy heart; And let thine eyes delight in my ways.
27For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit.
Prov 4:6
76%
6Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.
Prov 22:14
75%
14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.
Prov 20:16
75%
16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for foreigners.
Song 4:9
75%
9Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, [my] bride; Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, With one chain of thy neck.
Song 8:1-3
3 verses
74%
1Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! [When] I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; Yea, and none would despise me.
2I would lead thee, [and] bring thee into my mother's house, Who would instruct me; I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate.
3His left hand [should be] under my head, And his right hand should embrace me.
Jer 11:15
74%
15What hath my beloved to do in my house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness [with] many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.
Prov 5:21
74%
21For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah; And he maketh level all his paths.
Prov 27:13
73%
13Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for a foreign woman.
Song 3:5
73%
5I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, Until he please.
Prov 7:21-22
2 verses
73%
21With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along.
22He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as [one in] fetters to the correction of the fool;
Prov 6:20-21
2 verses
73%
20My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
21Bind them continually upon thy heart; Tie them about thy neck.
Jer 2:33
73%
33How trimmest thou thy way to seek love! therefore even the wicked women hast thou taught thy ways.
Prov 1:15
72%
15My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path:
Mic 7:5
72%
5Trust ye not in a neighbor; put ye not confidence in a friend; keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
Prov 6:29
72%
29So he that goeth in to his neighbor's wife; Whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished.
Song 2:7
72%
7I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, Until he please.
Song 5:9
72%
9What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, O thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, That thou dost so adjure us?
Prov 7:12-13
2 verses
72%
12Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner.)
13So she caught him, and kissed him, [And] with an impudent face she said unto him:
Song 1:8
72%
8If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.
Prov 7:18
72%
18Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning; Let us solace ourselves with loves.
Prov 4:8
72%
8Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
Eccl 7:26
72%
26And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
Prov 30:19
72%
19The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent upon a rock; The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maiden.