23:28
This verse continues the warning in 23:27. The first line describes the way that an immoral woman traps a man. The second line describes a result of her activities.
28a Like a robber she lies in wait,
28b and multiplies the faithless among men.
23:28a
In Hebrew, this verse begins with a word that introduces or emphasizes another aspect of what the woman does. For example:
Yes, like a brigand, she lies in wait (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Indeed, she lies in wait like a robber (NET Bible)
Most versions do not translate this word explicitly.
Like a robber she lies in wait: This is a simile. It compares the way that an immoral woman seduces a man to the way that a robber hides and waits in order to rob someone. Some similarities are:
(a) Both the woman and the robber have evil intentions. They both want to get the man’s money.
(b) In both situations, the victim does not suspect that he faces danger.
she: In Hebrew, this pronoun is singular. Many versions translate it as she. It may refer to any of the immoral women that are described in 23:27a–b. Some versions translate it as “they.”
lies in wait: This phrase is one word in Hebrew. It occurs in a similar context in 7:12b. There the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “lurks.” See the translation advice there.
Some other ways to translate this line are:
They wait for you like robbers (Good News Translation)
-or-
They ambush you like robbers (New Century Version)
23:28b
and multiplies the faithless among men: This clause describes what happens when an immoral woman seduces a man. She increases the number of men who are faithless or “unfaithful” (New International Version).
faithless: In Hebrew, this word probably refers here to men who are disloyal or break their promise to someone. It means that they lack faithfulness. It does not mean that they lack faith in God.
The verse does not specify the object of the word faithless. Men who have sex with a prostitute or an adulteress are:
(a) Unfaithful to their wives. They break their marriage vows.
(b) They are also faithless to God or God’s law. They break their promise to obey God and follow his laws.
If possible, translate in a way that allows either meaning. For example:
and cause many men to be unfaithful (Good News Translation)
If you need to specify one of these options in your language, specify option (a). For example:
and cause many men to be unfaithful to their wives (New Century Version)
-or-
As a result, she adds to the number of men who have broken their wedding vows.
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