Proverbs 7:10-12 (ESV)
10 And behold, the woman meets him,
dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.
11 She is loud and wayward;
her feet do not stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the market,
and at every corner she lies in wait.
We continue to learn from what the wise father observed and shared with his son. He had been describing the young man who lacked sense strolling through the streets. Now the scene takes a darker turn. “Behold!” A new character suddenly enters the story. The woman meets him. As he passes near the adulteress’s house at night, she suddenly appears, and the focus of the story shifts to her movements. Because the young man has placed himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, sin now stands directly before him.
The Hebrew verb translated “meets” is qara. In this context it carries the sense of approaching or propositioning someone. She presents herself deliberately. She is dressed as a prostitute, wearing clothing meant to provoke desire. The description suggests a woman who conceals part of her identity while using her appearance to entice. She is described as “wily of heart.” The Hebrew word translated “wily” is natsar. The term can describe something guarded or concealed. Here it points to a crafty and calculating heart. She carefully protects her true motives while working to seduce her victim. The father, however, sees clearly through her actions and intentions.
Her behavior is then described. She is loud and wayward. Her life is marked by restless movement and defiance. Her feet do not stay at home. Instead she moves constantly through the public places of the city. The street, the market, every corner of town becomes her hunting ground. She is everywhere except where she ought to be.
The proverb says she “lies in wait.” The Hebrew verb is arav, which means to lie in ambush. It describes someone hiding and waiting to capture prey. Her purpose is not innocent conversation or friendly company. She is hunting. Although the man who lacks sense may imagine that she is waiting specifically for him, the truth is that he is simply the nearest target. Like a hunter, she is ready to capture whoever crosses her path.
She intends to take advantage of him, seeking to gratify her own desires, and in the end she does not care what happens to this man as long as she gets what she wants. The adulteress is not satisfied with life and is continually searching for something more exciting. She goes where the crowds gather so she can find someone new. There is nothing wrong with enjoying people or busy city life, but this woman goes there to devour. She uses others for selfish gain. Do you ever find yourself using people to get what you want? If so, ask God to change your heart today. Pray that he would teach you to love others sincerely in a way that honors him.