To keep you from the evil woman,
from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Proverbs 6:23-24

On Day 2 of our 31 Days: About Mothers, we discussed an earlier verse in this chapter with the warning to Solomon’s son to not forsake the teaching of his mother. It was the beginning of a long section to children, and sons in particular, to listen and heed their parents and especially in the realm sexual purity. Our verse today explains why sons should listen to both parents about sexual purity and will cover this in more depth when we look at “About Fathers”.

For now, I want to give some attention to the evil woman and the adulteress that Solomon’s sons were being warned against. Proverbs is not lacking with this woman’s description and character analysis which I pray will drive me to engage in some self-examination rather than finger pointing and “see if there be any wicked way in me”! (Psalm 139:24) I want to do this before we dive deep into the “Proverbs 31 Woman” found in chapter 31:10-31 and as a contrast to the woman described in those verses. You can come along for this challenging and exploratory journey.

Evil Woman: It is interesting that the Hebrew word for evil here [ra] is described as a part of speech that is “absolute state masculine plural intensive noun.” There is nothing low key or oblique about [ra]. It is not simply an adjective describing this woman, it is a noun attached to another noun! This woman is not just behaving in an evil fashion, she is evil personified. By definition it is in the very being of this woman to give others pain, unhappiness and misery. 

Other verses in Proverbs give insights into the depths of the darkness of a person who is [ra]…

Proverbs 2:14>They “rejoice to do evil.” 

Proverbs 29:6:>They plan and lay snares for their victims. 

Proverbs 15:26>The very “thoughts of the wicked [ra] are an abomination to the LORD.”

Proverbs 28:5 >They cannot even “understand justice.”

Adulteress Woman: The smooth tongue of the adulteress woman is not meant as any kind of compliment. No! Her tongue (words, not the actual body part) are “flattery, slippery places, smoothness, and partial or part”. I think of it as half-truths or only a tiny piece of truth shrouded in flattering lies and deceptions. The idea is not that she doesn’t know any better, but rather that she knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. The adulteress uses her carefully crafted words get her prey on the slippery slope (places) where there is no turning back for her victim. 

The other verses in the OT where this meaning of the Hebrew [helqa] is used are just as disagreeable.

Genesis 27:6>Describes Rebekah’s hid the smoothness [helqa] of Jacob’s skin with course animal skins to hide the truth from her husband Isaac.

Psalm 12:3>Tells us that the “LORD will cut of flattering lips silence boastful tongues.”

Psalm 12:4>The ‘smooth talker’ [modern lingo] will boast, “Our lips (words) are our own; who is lord over us?”

Isaiah 30:10>Warns that in the last days people will not want truthful prophecy but will ask for, “speak unto us smooth things…”

I know that because I am a follower of Jesus Christ and a new creation in Him, I am no longer an “evil woman” in my soul. Jesus took that away! Praise Him! But, I can certainly choose to have thoughts and actions that are evil in their intent toward others. A “Me, Myself and I” spirit of survival of the fittest. There is no place for that in the life of a born-again believer.

That is why Jesus told His followers in the Sermon on the Mount to “Love you enemies…” (Matthew 5:44)

And, I may not use my tongue (words) as a modern-day smooth talker to lure men into an adulterous affair, but do I use my smooth words to twist the truth to suit my needs and desires? I know I have and shame on me!

No more pointing fingers outwards for the new creature God has converted me into! It is enough for me to be reminded that my heart without Jesus is desperately wicked, but for His Glory, has been transformed by the renewing of my mind.