22:14

This proverb uses the metaphor of a pit to describe the dangers of an adulteress’s words. The person who already faces the LORD’s anger will be further punished by the consequences of falling into that pit.

14a The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;

14b he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.

22:14a

The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: This clause has two figures of speech (metonymy and metaphor). The phrase The mouth of an adulteress (metonymy) represents the flattering, enticing words that the adulteress speaks in order to seduce someone. These words are compared to a deep pit that a hunter has dug in order to trap a larger animal. This pit is usually covered over with branches or leaves in order to hide it. They are similar in several ways:

(a) The words of an adulteress are dangerous and lead to death.

(b) The dangers are hidden, so the victims do not suspect the disastrous consequences.

(c) An animal that has fallen into a pit cannot escape. Similarly, a man that has become involved in adultery will be unable to escape the bad consequences.

If your readers will understand that the mouth of an adulteress represents her words, you may be able to keep this figure of speech. Otherwise, it is recommended that you translate the meaning directly. Some other ways to translate the metaphor are:

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

The words of an unfaithful wife are like a deep trap. (New Century Version)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. Make explicit one or more of the implied similarities. For example:

The enticing/flattering words of a woman who commits adultery are ⌊dangerous⌋ . They are like a deep pit ⌊from which animals cannot escape⌋ .

adulteress: In Hebrew, this word is literally “strange ⌊women⌋ .” In Hebrew culture, a wife was considered “strange” to any man other than her husband. This word probably refers here to a woman who commits adultery. It is similar to the phrase used in 2:16a, where the parallel term clearly refers to an unfaithful wife.

Some versions use a more general term here, such as “loose woman” (New Revised Standard Version) or “immoral woman” (New Living Translation (2004)). But these were probably married women who were being unfaithful to their husbands. See the note and footnote on 2:16a.

22:14b

he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it: The words he who is under the wrath of the LORD refer to a person with whom the LORD is angry. It implies that the LORD is already angry at him and has condemned him for his previous sinful deeds. This person will face the additional consequences of falling into the pit that the words of the adulteress have dug for him.

he with whom the Lord is angry falls into it (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
if you make the Lord angry, you will fall right in (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he who is doomed by the LORD falls into it

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