· Translation: KJV

Proverbs 22:14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under Yahweh's wrath will fall into it.

The setting

Ancient Israel, ~1000-700 BC. A father warns his son about predatory women who target vulnerable men in Jerusalem's streets and marketplaces.

The emotion here: urgent paternal concern for moral safety

The original word

šāḥat (שַׁחַת) — deep pit, grave, place of destruction and no escape

Why it matters

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, adultery was punishable by death for both parties, making this literally a life-or-death warning

Read with care

What most readers miss in Proverbs 22:14

This isn't about all women - it's specifically about predatory people who target those already under God's discipline

Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about avoiding bad women, but it's about recognizing when YOU are vulnerable. The 'wrath of Yahweh' refers to someone already in spiritual trouble who becomes easy prey.

Bible Genome reading

Proverbs 22:14 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerSolomon
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionanxious
Literary typewisdom

Emotional genome

Comfort power20%
Quotability60%
Memorability70%
Crisis relevance60%
Standalone70%
Themes:temptationconsequences

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22:14 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include temptation, consequences. Notable phrases: mouth of an adulteress; deep pit.

Your reflection

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