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Proverbs 23:27

For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

KJV

Fovea enim profunda est meretrix, et puteus angustus aliena.

Vulgate

πίθος γὰρ τετρημένος ἐστὶν ἀλλότριος οἶκος καὶ φρέαρ στενὸν ἀλλότριον.

LXX

For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit.

ASV

כִּֽי שׁוּחָ֣ה עֲמֻקָּ֣ה זוֹנָ֑ה וּ/בְאֵ֥ר צָ֝רָ֗ה נָכְרִיָּֽה

Hebrew

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In the original Hebrew

7 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.

בְּאֵ֣ר
b'r
noun · 36×
ו
v
verb · 107×
זוֹנָ֔ה
zvnh
verb · 92×
כִּֽי
ky
pronoun · 4439×
נָכְרִיָּֽה
nkryh
adjective · 46×
עָמֹ֖ק
'mq
adjective · 17×
שׁוּחָה֙
shvchh
noun · 5×

Historic Christian voices

3 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

1. As to believe carelessly and in a random way, comes of an over-easy temper; so to be beyond measure curious and meddlesome, marks a most gross understanding. On this account Thomas is held to blame. For he believed not the Apostles when they said, We have seen the Lord; not so much mistrusting them, as deeming the thing to be impossible, that is to say, the resurrection from…

Cross-references

  • Eccl 7:26 — And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
  • Gen 39:10 — And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
  • Judg 16:4 — And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
  • Num 31:16 — Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
  • Prov 2:16 — To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
  • Prov 9:15 — To call passengers who go right on their ways:
  • Prov 22:14 — The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
  • Prov 22:14 — The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.