Proverbs 5:4But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. A father speaks privately to his son before marriage, warning about the seductive married woman who frequents the city gates. Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: urgent paternal concern, knowing his son will face this exact temptation
The original word
la'anah (לַעֲנָה) — wormwood, an extremely bitter desert plant used medicinally
Why it matters
Wormwood was so bitter that even small amounts could make wine undrinkable
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 5:4
The 'two-edged sword' cuts both ways — the adulterer AND the family are destroyed
Common misconceptionPeople think this only warns men about prostitutes, but it's about ANY adultery — including emotional affairs and the 'other woman' who seems so sweet at first.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 5:4
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 5:4 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 5:4 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 10% and a tone that is prophetic. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include consequences, deception. Notable phrases: bitter as wormwood; sharp as sword.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 5:4 mean to you, today?
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