Proverbs 2 · Verse 16

Proverbs 2:16

To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

Proverbs 2:16, King James Version

Proverbs 2:16 in other translations

BSB	It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words
WEB	to deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words,
ASV	To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words;
YLT	To deliver thee from the strange woman, From the stranger who hath made smooth her sayings,
DARBY	To deliver thee from the strange woman, from the stranger who flattereth with her words;
BBE	To take you out of the power of the strange woman, who says smooth words with her tongue;
Webster	To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger who flattereth with her words;

What does Proverbs 2:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 2:16-19

16-19. Deliverance from another danger. the strange woman--This term is often used for harlot, or loose woman (Jud 11:1, 2), married (Pr 7:5, 19) or not (1Ki 11:1), so called, because such were, perhaps at first, foreigners, though "strange" may also denote whatever is opposed to right or proper, as "strange fire" (Nu 3:4); "strange incense" (Ex 30:9). flattereth--literally, "smooths." her words--(Psa 5:9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 16 The stranger which flattereth with her words - החליקה hechelikah, she that smooths with her words. The original intimates the glib, oily speeches of a prostitute. The English lick is supposed to be derived from the original word.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 2:10-22

If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, lightsome paths of uprightness, to walk in…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 2:10-22 →

Proverbs 2:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לְ֭הַצִּ֣ילְךָle.ha.Tzi.le.khato deliver youH5337

מֵאִשָּׁ֣הme.'i.Shahfrom a womanH802

זָרָ֑הza.RahstrangeH2114

מִ֝נָּכְרִיָּ֗הmi.na.khe.ri.Yahfrom a foreign [woman]H5237

אֲמָרֶ֥יהָ'a.ma.Rei.ha[who] words herH561

הֶחֱלִֽיקָה\׃he.che.Li.kahshe makes smoothH2505

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 2:16

Ecclesiastes 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.
Proverbs 22:14
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.
Proverbs 6:24
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
Proverbs 7:5-23
That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, …
Proverbs 23:27
For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
Nehemiah 13:26-27
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
Genesis 39:3-12
And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. …
Proverbs 29:5
A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
Proverbs 5:3-20
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

deliver.
5:3-20; 6:24; 7:5-23; 22:14; 23:27; Ge 39:3-12; Ne 13:26,27; Ec 7:26
flattereth.
7:21; 29:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Proverbs 2:15
Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
Proverbs 2:16
To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
Proverbs 2:17
Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

Read all of Proverbs 2

Proverbs 2:16 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Para librarte de la mujer extraña, de la ajena que halaga con sus palabras;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Pour te sauver de la femme étrangère, de l’étrangère qui use de paroles flatteuses,
German Elberfelder 1871	um dich zu erretten von dem fremden Weibe, von der Fremden, die ihre Worte glättet;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Ut eruaris a muliere aliena, et ab extranea quæ mollit sermones suos,