Proverbs 5:20

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Proverbs.5.20", "source": "וְלָ֤מָּה תִשְׁגֶּ֣ה בְנִ֣י בְזָרָ֑ה וּ֝תְחַבֵּ֗ק חֵ֣ק נָכְרִיָּֽה", "text": "And-why *tišgeh* my-*bĕnî* in-*zārâ* and-*tĕḥabbēq* *ḥēq* *nokrîyyâ*", "grammar": { "*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" }, "variants": { "*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" } }

📖 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

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Why, my son, should you be captivated by a forbidden woman or embrace the bosom of a stranger?

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And why will you, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

• 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?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  My sonne, why wilt thou haue pleasure in an harlot, and embrace the bosome of another woma?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For why shouldest thou delite, my sonne, in a strange woman, or embrace the bosome of a stranger?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Why wylt thou my sonne haue pleasure in a straunge woman, and embrace the bosome of a straunger?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And why dost thou magnify thyself, My son, with a stranger? And embrace the bosom of a strange woman?

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Why let yourself, my son, go out of the way with a strange woman, and take another woman in your arms?

• World English Bible (2000)

  For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But why should you be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, and embrace the bosom of a different woman?

Referenced Verses

• Prov 6:24 : 24 { "verseID": "Proverbs.6.24", "source": "לִ֭שְׁמָרְךָ מֵאֵ֣שֶׁת רָ֑ע מֵֽ֝חֶלְקַ֗ת לָשׁ֥וֹן נָכְרִיָּֽה׃", "text": "To-*lišmārḵā* from-*ʾēšet* *rāʿ* from-*meḥelqat* *lāšôn* *nāḵriyyāh*", "grammar": { "*lišmārḵā*": "preposition + verb, qal infinitive construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - to keep you", "*ʾēšet*": "noun, feminine singular construct - wife of/woman of", "*rāʿ*": "noun, masculine singular - evil/wickedness", "*meḥelqat*": "preposition + noun, feminine singular construct - from smoothness of", "*lāšôn*": "noun, feminine singular construct - tongue of", "*nāḵriyyāh*": "adjective, feminine singular - foreign/strange" }, "variants": { "*lišmārḵā*": "to keep you/to guard you/to protect you", "*ʾēšet*": "wife of/woman of", "*rāʿ*": "evil/wickedness/bad", "*meḥelqat*": "smoothness/flattery", "*nāḵriyyāh*": "foreign/strange/alien" } }
• Prov 7:5 : 5 { "verseID": "Proverbs.7.5", "source": "לִ֭שְׁמָרְךָ מֵאִשָּׁ֣ה זָרָ֑ה מִ֝נָּכְרִיָּ֗ה אֲמָרֶ֥יהָ הֶחֱלִֽיקָה׃", "text": "To *šmārḵā* from *ʾiššāh* *zārāh*, from *nāḵrîyyāh* whose *ʾămārêhā* *heḥĕlîqāh*.", "grammar": { "*šmārḵā*": "verb, qal infinitive construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - to keep you", "*ʾiššāh*": "noun, feminine singular - woman", "*zārāh*": "adjective, feminine singular - strange/foreign", "*nāḵrîyyāh*": "adjective, feminine singular - foreign/alien", "*ʾămārêhā*": "noun, masculine plural construct with 3rd person feminine singular suffix - her words/sayings", "*heḥĕlîqāh*": "verb, hifil perfect, 3rd person feminine singular - she has made smooth/flattering" }, "variants": { "*zārāh*": "strange/foreign/another/unauthorized", "*nāḵrîyyāh*": "foreign/alien/strange", "*heḥĕlîqāh*": "made smooth/flattered/made slippery" } }
• Prov 22:14 : 14 { "verseID": "Proverbs.22.14", "source": "שׁוּחָ֣ה עֲ֭מֻקָּה פִּ֣י זָר֑וֹת זְע֥וּם יְ֝הוָ֗ה *יפול־**יִפָּל־שָֽׁם׃", "text": "*šûḥāh* *'ămuqqāh* *pî* *zārôT*; *zĕ'ûm* *YHWH* *yippāl-šām*.", "grammar": { "*šûḥāh*": "noun, feminine singular - pit/ditch", "*'ămuqqāh*": "adjective, feminine singular - deep", "*pî*": "noun, masculine singular construct - mouth of", "*zārôT*": "adjective, feminine plural - strange women/foreign women", "*zĕ'ûm*": "verb, Qal passive participle, masculine singular construct - one who is indignant with", "*YHWH*": "proper noun - the LORD", "*yippāl-šām*": "verb with adverb, Qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he will fall there" }, "variants": { "*šûḥāh*": "pit/ditch/trap", "*'ămuqqāh*": "deep/profound", "*pî*": "mouth of/speech of/opening of", "*zārôT*": "strange women/foreign women/adulteresses", "*zĕ'ûm*": "cursed by/abhorred by/denounced by", "*yippāl*": "will fall/will collapse into", "*šām*": "there/therein" } }
• Prov 23:27-28 : 27 { "verseID": "Proverbs.23.27", "source": "כִּֽי־שׁוּחָ֣ה עֲמֻקָּ֣ה זוֹנָ֑ה וּבְאֵ֥ר צָ֝רָ֗ה נָכְרִיָּֽה׃", "text": "For a *šûḥāh ʿămûqqāh zônāh*, and a *bǝʾēr ṣārāh noḵrîyyāh*.", "grammar": { "*šûḥāh*": "noun, feminine singular - pit", "*ʿămûqqāh*": "adjective, feminine singular - deep", "*zônāh*": "qal participle, feminine singular - prostitute/harlot", "*bǝʾēr*": "noun, feminine singular - well/pit", "*ṣārāh*": "adjective, feminine singular - narrow", "*noḵrîyyāh*": "adjective, feminine singular - foreign/strange woman" }, "variants": { "*šûḥāh ʿămûqqāh*": "deep pit/deep ditch", "*zônāh*": "prostitute/harlot", "*bǝʾēr ṣārāh*": "narrow well/confined pit", "*noḵrîyyāh*": "foreign woman/strange woman/adulteress" } } 28 { "verseID": "Proverbs.23.28", "source": "אַף־הִ֭יא כְּחֶ֣תֶף תֶּֽאֱרֹ֑ב וּ֝בוֹגְדִ֗ים בְּאָדָ֥ם תּוֹסִֽף׃", "text": "Also she like *ḥeṯep̄ teʾěrōḇ*, and *ḇôḡǝḏîm* among *ʾāḏām tôsîp̄*.", "grammar": { "*ḥeṯep̄*": "noun, masculine singular - prey/plunder", "*teʾěrōḇ*": "qal imperfect, 3rd person feminine singular - lies in wait/ambushes", "*ḇôḡǝḏîm*": "qal participle, masculine plural - treacherous ones/unfaithful men", "*ʾāḏām*": "noun, masculine singular - mankind/humanity", "*tôsîp̄*": "hiphil imperfect, 3rd person feminine singular - increases/adds to" }, "variants": { "*ḥeṯep̄*": "prey/plunder/robber", "*teʾěrōḇ*": "lies in wait/ambushes/lurks", "*ḇôḡǝḏîm*": "treacherous ones/unfaithful men/traitors", "*tôsîp̄*": "increases/adds to/multiplies" } }
• Prov 23:33 : 33 { "verseID": "Proverbs.23.33", "source": "עֵ֭ינֶיךָ יִרְא֣וּ זָר֑וֹת וְ֝לִבְּךָ֗ יְדַבֵּ֥ר תַּהְפֻּכֽוֹת׃", "text": "Your *ʿêneḵā yirʾû zārôṯ*, and your *libbǝḵā yǝḏabbēr tahpuḵôṯ*.", "grammar": { "*ʿêneḵā*": "noun, feminine dual + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your eyes", "*yirʾû*": "qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine plural - will see", "*zārôṯ*": "adjective, feminine plural - strange things", "*libbǝḵā*": "noun, masculine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your heart", "*yǝḏabbēr*": "piel imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - will speak/utter", "*tahpuḵôṯ*": "noun, feminine plural - perverse things/distortions" }, "variants": { "*ʿêneḵā yirʾû zārôṯ*": "your eyes will see strange things/your vision will perceive odd sights", "*libbǝḵā yǝḏabbēr tahpuḵôṯ*": "your heart will utter perverse things/your mind will speak distortions" } }
• 1 Kgs 11:1 : 1 { "verseID": "1 Kings.11.1", "source": "וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה אָהַ֞ב נָשִׁ֧ים נָכְרִיּ֛וֹת רַבּ֖וֹת וְאֶת־בַּת־פַּרְעֹ֑ה מוֹאֲבִיּ֤וֹת עַמֳּנִיּוֹת֙ אֲדֹ֣מִיֹּ֔ת צֵדְנִיֹּ֖ת חִתִּיֹּֽת׃", "text": "And the *melekh* *Shelomoh* *ʾāhaḇ* *nāshīm* *nokhrīyōt* *rabbōt* and *ʾet*-daughter-of-*Parʿōh*; *Mōʾăḇīyōt*, *ʿAmmŏnīyōt*, *ʾĂdōmīyōt*, *Tsēdonīyōt*, *Ḥittīyōt*.", "grammar": { "*melekh*": "noun, masculine, singular, construct - king", "*Shelomoh*": "proper noun, masculine - Solomon", "*ʾāhaḇ*": "verb, qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - loved", "*nāshīm*": "noun, feminine, plural, absolute - women/wives", "*nokhrīyōt*": "adjective, feminine, plural - foreign/strange", "*rabbōt*": "adjective, feminine, plural - many/numerous", "*ʾet*": "direct object marker", "*Parʿōh*": "proper noun, masculine - Pharaoh", "*Mōʾăḇīyōt*": "adjective, feminine, plural - Moabite (women)", "*ʿAmmŏnīyōt*": "adjective, feminine, plural - Ammonite (women)", "*ʾĂdōmīyōt*": "adjective, feminine, plural - Edomite (women)", "*Tsēdonīyōt*": "adjective, feminine, plural - Sidonian (women)", "*Ḥittīyōt*": "adjective, feminine, plural - Hittite (women)" }, "variants": { "*ʾāhaḇ*": "loved/had affection for", "*nāshīm*": "women/wives", "*nokhrīyōt*": "foreign/strange/alien" } }
• Prov 2:16-19 : 16 { "verseID": "Proverbs.2.16", "source": "לְ֭הַצִּ֣ילְךָ מֵאִשָּׁ֣ה זָרָ֑ה מִ֝נָּכְרִיָּ֗ה אֲמָרֶ֥יהָ הֶחֱלִֽיקָה׃", "text": "to-*haṣṣîləḵā* from-*ʾiššāh* *zārāh* from-*nāḵriyyāh* *ʾămārеhā* *hеḥĕlîqāh*", "grammar": { "*haṣṣîləḵā*": "verb, hiphil infinitive construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - to deliver you", "*ʾiššāh*": "noun, feminine singular - woman", "*zārāh*": "adjective, feminine singular - strange", "*nāḵriyyāh*": "adjective, feminine singular - foreign", "*ʾămārеhā*": "noun, masculine plural construct with 3rd person feminine singular suffix - her words", "*hеḥĕlîqāh*": "verb, hiphil perfect 3rd person feminine singular - she has made smooth" }, "variants": { "*haṣṣîləḵā*": "deliver/rescue/save you", "*ʾiššāh*": "woman/wife", "*zārāh*": "strange/foreign/another", "*nāḵriyyāh*": "foreign/alien/strange", "*ʾămārеhā*": "her words/her sayings", "*hеḥĕlîqāh*": "made smooth/flattered/made slippery" } } 17 { "verseID": "Proverbs.2.17", "source": "הַ֭עֹזֶבֶת אַלּ֣וּף נְעוּרֶ֑יהָ וְאֶת־בְּרִ֖ית אֱלֹהֶ֣יהָ שָׁכֵֽחָה׃", "text": "the-*ʿōzеḇеṯ* *ʾallûf* *nəʿûrеhā* and-*ʾеṯ*-*bərîṯ* *ʾĕlōhеhā* *šāḵēḥāh*", "grammar": { "*ʿōzеḇеṯ*": "verb, qal participle feminine singular - who forsakes", "*ʾallûf*": "noun, masculine singular construct - companion of", "*nəʿûrеhā*": "noun, masculine plural construct with 3rd person feminine singular suffix - her youth", "*ʾеṯ*": "direct object marker", "*bərîṯ*": "noun, feminine singular construct - covenant of", "*ʾĕlōhеhā*": "noun, masculine plural construct with 3rd person feminine singular suffix - her God", "*šāḵēḥāh*": "verb, qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular - she has forgotten" }, "variants": { "*ʿōzеḇеṯ*": "forsaking/abandoning/leaving", "*ʾallûf*": "companion/friend/husband/chief", "*nəʿûrеhā*": "her youth/her early life", "*bərîṯ*": "covenant/agreement/alliance", "*šāḵēḥāh*": "forgotten/ignored" } } 18 { "verseID": "Proverbs.2.18", "source": "כִּ֤י שָׁ֣חָה אֶל־מָ֣וֶת בֵּיתָ֑הּ וְאֶל־רְ֝פָאִ֗ים מַעְגְּלֹתֶֽיהָ׃", "text": "for *šāḥāh* to-*māwеṯ* *bêṯāh* and-to-*rəfāʾîm* *maʿgəlōṯеhā*", "grammar": { "*šāḥāh*": "verb, qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular - she has sunk down", "*māwеṯ*": "noun, masculine singular - death", "*bêṯāh*": "noun, masculine singular construct with 3rd person feminine singular suffix - her house", "*rəfāʾîm*": "noun, masculine plural - spirits of the dead/shades", "*maʿgəlōṯеhā*": "noun, feminine plural construct with 3rd person feminine singular suffix - her tracks" }, "variants": { "*šāḥāh*": "sink down/bow down/incline", "*māwеṯ*": "death/dying", "*rəfāʾîm*": "spirits of the dead/shades/departed spirits", "*maʿgəlōṯеhā*": "her tracks/her paths/her ways" } } 19 { "verseID": "Proverbs.2.19", "source": "כָּל־בָּ֭אֶיהָ לֹ֣א יְשׁוּב֑וּן וְלֹֽא־יַ֝שִּׂ֗יגוּ אָרְח֥וֹת חַיִּֽים׃", "text": "all-*bāʾеhā* not *yəšûḇûn* and-not-*yaśśîḡû* *ʾārəḥôṯ* *ḥayyîm*", "grammar": { "*bāʾеhā*": "verb, qal participle masculine plural construct with 3rd person feminine singular suffix - those who go in to her", "*yəšûḇûn*": "verb, qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural - they will return", "*yaśśîḡû*": "verb, hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine plural - they will reach/attain", "*ʾārəḥôṯ*": "noun, feminine plural construct - paths of", "*ḥayyîm*": "noun, masculine plural - life" }, "variants": { "*bāʾеhā*": "those who go in to her/those who enter to her", "*yəšûḇûn*": "return/come back/turn back", "*yaśśîḡû*": "reach/attain/overtake", "*ʾārəḥôṯ*": "paths/ways/roads", "*ḥayyîm*": "life/living" } }