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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 2:18 For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/2-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/20_Pro_02_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Proverbs 2:18 - The Benefits of Wisdom" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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it is the road to the grave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/proverbs/2.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/proverbs/2.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/2.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For her house sinks down to death, And her tracks <i>lead</i> to the dead;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/2.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />For her house sinks down to death, And her tracks <i>lead</i> to the dead;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For her house sinks down to death And her tracks <i>descend</i> to the dead;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For her house leads down to death And her paths lead to the dead;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />for her house sinks down to death and her ways to the land of the departed spirits.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />for her house sinks down to death and her ways to the land of the departed spirits. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/2.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The road to her house leads down to the dark world of the dead. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/2.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Her house sinks down to death. Her ways lead to the souls of the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/2.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />If you go to her house, you are traveling the road to death. To go there is to approach the world of the dead. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/2.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />For her house leads down to death, and her paths down to the realm of the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/2.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />For her house sinks down to death, and her paths lead to the place of the departed spirits. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />for her house leads down to death, her paths to the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For her house inclineth to death, and her paths to the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/2.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />For her house has inclined to death, "" And her paths to Rephaim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> For her house hath inclined unto death, And unto Rephaim her paths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For her house sunk down to death, and her tracks to the shades.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And hath forgotten the covenant of her God: for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths to hell. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />and who has forgotten the covenant of her God. For her household inclines toward death, and her paths toward Hell.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/2.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For her path sinks down to death, and her footsteps lead to the shades. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />for her way leads down to death, and her paths to the shades;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For she has forgotten the threshold of her house and the way of her paths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />She has forgotten the doorposts of her house and the steps of her paths.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />For her house sinketh down unto death, And her paths unto the shades;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For she has fixed her house near death, and <i>guided</i> her wheels near Hades with the giants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/2-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpUA5ZltBeQ?start=318" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/2.htm">The Benefits of Wisdom</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">17</span>who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God. <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: bê·ṯāh (N-msc:: 3fs) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house.">her house</a> <a href="/hebrew/7743.htm" title="7743: šā·ḥāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To sink down. A primitive root; to sink, literally or figuratively.">sinks down</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/4194.htm" title="4194: mā·weṯ (N-ms) -- Death. From muwth; death; concretely, the dead, their place or state; figuratively, pestilence, ruin.">death,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4570.htm" title="4570: ma‘·gə·lō·ṯe·hā (N-fpc:: 3fs) -- An entrenchment, track. Or feminine mapgalah; from the same as agol; a track; also a rampart.">and her tracks</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: wə·’el- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/7496.htm" title="7496: rə·p̄ā·’îm (N-mp) -- Shades, ghosts. From rapha' in the sense of raphah; properly, lax, i.e. a ghost.">the departed spirits.</a> </span><span class="reftext">19</span>None who go to her return or negotiate the paths of life.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/5-5.htm">Proverbs 5:5</a></span><br />Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/7-27.htm">Proverbs 7:27</a></span><br />Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/2-20.htm">Revelation 2:20-23</a></span><br />But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. / Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling. / Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-13.htm">Matthew 7:13-14</a></span><br />Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. / But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/9-18.htm">Proverbs 9:18</a></span><br />But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/7-25.htm">Proverbs 7:25-26</a></span><br />Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths. / For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/17-1.htm">Revelation 17:1-6</a></span><br />Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.” / And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-9.htm">1 Corinthians 6:9-10</a></span><br />Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/6-26.htm">Proverbs 6:26</a></span><br />For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/23-27.htm">Proverbs 23:27-28</a></span><br />For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well. / Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-1.htm">2 Peter 2:1-3</a></span><br />Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/57-9.htm">Isaiah 57:9</a></span><br />You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/51-6.htm">Jeremiah 51:6-8</a></span><br />Flee from Babylon! Escape with your lives! Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves. / Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad. / Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered. Wail for her; get her balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Ezekiel 23:17</a></span><br />Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. But after she had been defiled by them, she turned away in disgust.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/6-21.htm">Romans 6:21-23</a></span><br />What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death. / But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. / For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For her house inclines to death, and her paths to the dead.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/5-4.htm">Proverbs 5:4-14</a></b></br> But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/6-26.htm">Proverbs 6:26-35</a></b></br> For by means of a whorish woman <i>a man is brought</i> to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/7-22.htm">Proverbs 7:22-27</a></b></br> He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/143-3.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/proverbs/1-32.htm">Death</a> <a href="/proverbs/2-15.htm">Footsteps</a> <a href="/psalms/144-12.htm">House</a> <a href="/psalms/119-112.htm">Inclined</a> <a href="/psalms/40-1.htm">Inclineth</a> <a href="/psalms/37-8.htm">Leads</a> <a href="/proverbs/2-15.htm">Paths</a> <a href="/job/26-5.htm">Rephaim</a> <a href="/psalms/107-14.htm">Shades</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-49.htm">Sinketh</a> <a href="/psalms/10-10.htm">Sinks</a> <a href="/psalms/106-37.htm">Spirits</a> <a href="/psalms/77-19.htm">Tracks</a> <a href="/proverbs/2-13.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/proverbs/9-18.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/proverbs/5-5.htm">Death</a> <a href="/proverbs/2-20.htm">Footsteps</a> <a href="/proverbs/3-33.htm">House</a> <a href="/proverbs/5-13.htm">Inclined</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-1.htm">Inclineth</a> <a href="/proverbs/12-26.htm">Leads</a> <a href="/proverbs/2-19.htm">Paths</a> <a href="/proverbs/9-18.htm">Rephaim</a> <a href="/proverbs/9-18.htm">Shades</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-18.htm">Sinketh</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-18.htm">Sinks</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-2.htm">Spirits</a> <a href="/songs/1-8.htm">Tracks</a> <a href="/proverbs/2-20.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Proverbs 2</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/2-1.htm">wisdom promises godliness to her children</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/2-10.htm">and safety from evil company</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/2-20.htm">and direction in good ways</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/proverbs/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>For her house sinks down to death</b><br>This phrase refers to the consequences of following the path of the adulterous woman, a recurring theme in Proverbs. The "house" symbolizes her domain or influence, which leads to spiritual and moral decay. In biblical context, the house is often a metaphor for one's life or family (<a href="/joshua/24-15.htm">Joshua 24:15</a>). The imagery of sinking suggests a gradual decline, emphasizing the deceptive nature of sin. The concept of death here is not just physical but spiritual, aligning with <a href="/romans/6-23.htm">Romans 6:23</a>, which states that the wages of sin is death. This reflects the ultimate separation from God, a theme consistent throughout Scripture.<p><b>and her tracks to the departed spirits</b><br>The "tracks" or paths indicate the direction and outcome of following her ways. In ancient Near Eastern culture, paths were often used metaphorically to describe one's life choices and moral direction (<a href="/psalms/1.htm">Psalm 1:1</a>). The term "departed spirits" refers to Sheol, the abode of the dead in Hebrew thought, a place of darkness and separation from the living (<a href="/isaiah/14-9.htm">Isaiah 14:9</a>). This highlights the seriousness of the consequences, as it leads to a state of spiritual death and separation from God. The warning is clear: choosing the path of folly and immorality leads to destruction, a theme echoed in the teachings of Jesus, who spoke of the broad road leading to destruction (<a href="/matthew/7-13.htm">Matthew 7:13</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_adulterous_woman.htm">The Adulterous Woman</a></b><br>In the context of Proverbs, she symbolizes temptation and the allure of sin, leading individuals away from wisdom and righteousness.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/h/house.htm">House</a></b><br>Represents the dwelling or domain of the adulterous woman, metaphorically indicating a place of spiritual and moral decay.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/death.htm">Death</a></b><br>Not just physical death, but spiritual death, separation from God, and the ultimate consequence of living a life contrary to His wisdom.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/d/departed_spirits.htm">Departed Spirits (Sheol)</a></b><br>In Hebrew, "Sheol" refers to the realm of the dead, a place of darkness and separation from the living and from God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_temptation.htm">The Danger of Temptation</a></b><br>Recognize that temptation often appears attractive but leads to spiritual death and separation from God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_wisdom.htm">The Importance of Wisdom</a></b><br>Pursue wisdom and discernment to avoid the paths that lead to destruction.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_the_heart.htm">Guarding the Heart</a></b><br>Be vigilant in guarding your heart against influences that draw you away from God's truth and righteousness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_sin.htm">Consequences of Sin</a></b><br>Understand that sin has real and severe consequences, not just in this life but in the life to come.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/seeking_god's_path.htm">Seeking God's Path</a></b><br>Commit to seeking God's path, which leads to life, rather than the deceptive paths that lead to death.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_proverbs_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 2</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_faith_aid_disease_healing.htm">Why boast about your own achievements?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_quarrelsome_women.htm">What does the Bible say about quarrelsome women?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_emphasize_cheerful_giving_over_tithing.htm">Why does 2 Corinthians 9:7 emphasize cheerful giving if Old Testament laws (e.g., tithing in Malachi 3:10) demand mandatory giving?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_the_bible_comfort_grief.htm">How does God provide deliverance from troubles?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/proverbs/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) <span class= "bld">For her house inclineth </span>. . .--Rather, <span class= "ital">she sinks down with her house: </span>house and all, like Dathan and Abiram.<p><span class= "bld">Unto the dead.--</span>In Hebrew <span class= "ital">the Reph?im. </span>The word may signify those "at rest" (comp. <a href="/job/3-17.htm" title="There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.">Job 3:17</a> : "There the weary are at rest"); or the "weak." (Comp. <a href="/isaiah/14-10.htm" title="All they shall speak and say to you, Are you also become weak as we? are you become like to us?">Isaiah 14:10</a> : "Art thou also become weak as we?")<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For her house inclineth unto death;</span> rather, <span class="accented">she sinks down to death together with her house</span> (Bottcher, Delitzsch). The objection to the Authorized Version is that it does not tbllow the construction of the original, the verb "sinks down" (<span class="hebrew">שָׁחָה</span>, <span class="accented">shakhah</span>) being feminine, while "house" (<span class="hebrew">בָיִת</span>, <span class="accented">bayith</span>) is invariably masculine. Aben Ezra translates, "She sinks down to death, (which is to be) her house;" but it seems better to regard "her house" as an adjunct of the strange woman. Her house includes all who belong to her. She and they are involved in the same fate. The Authorized Version is evidently influenced by the Vulgate, <span class="accented">Inclinata est enim ad mortem domus ejus</span>, "For her house is inclined to death." The LXX. gives a different rendering, <span class="greek">Ἕθετο γὰρ παρὰ τῷ</span> <span class="greek">θανάτῳ τὸν οϊκον αὐτῆς</span>, "For she hath placed her house beside death." So the Arabic. The "for" (<span class="hebrew">כִּי</span>, <span class="accented">ki</span>) refers back to ver. 16, and indicates how great is the deliverance effected by wisdom. The meaning of the passage is aptly illustrated by <a href="/proverbs/7-27.htm">Proverbs 7:27</a>, "Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death." <span class="cmt_word">And her paths unto the dead.</span> <span class="accented">The dead</span> (<span class="hebrew">רְפָאִים</span>, <span class="accented">r'phaim</span>) are properly the quiet, or the feeble. They are the shadowy inhabitants or shades of Hades, the <span class="accented">inferi</span> of the Vulgate, and are here put for Sheol itself. Compare the <span class="greek">ἔδωλα καμνόντων</span> of Homer, and the <span class="accented">umbrae</span>, "shades," of Virgil. The word occurs again in <a href="/proverbs/9-18.htm">Proverbs 9:18</a>; <a href="/proverbs/21-16.htm">Proverbs 21:16</a>; and in <a href="/psalms/88-11.htm">Psalm 88:11</a>; <a href="/isaiah/26-14.htm">Isaiah 26:14, 19</a>; <a href="/job/26-5.htm">Job 26:5</a>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/2-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">For</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">her house</span><br /><span class="heb">בֵּיתָ֑הּ</span> <span class="translit">(bê·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1004.htm">Strong's 1004: </a> </span><span class="str2">A house</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sinks down</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁ֣חָה</span> <span class="translit">(šā·ḥāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7743.htm">Strong's 7743: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sink down</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">death,</span><br /><span class="heb">מָ֣וֶת</span> <span class="translit">(mā·weṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4194.htm">Strong's 4194: </a> </span><span class="str2">Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and her tracks</span><br /><span class="heb">מַעְגְּלֹתֶֽיהָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(ma‘·gə·lō·ṯe·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4570.htm">Strong's 4570: </a> </span><span class="str2">An entrenchment, track</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the departed spirits.</span><br /><span class="heb">רְ֝פָאִ֗ים</span> <span class="translit">(rə·p̄ā·’îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7496.htm">Strong's 7496: </a> </span><span class="str2">Shades, ghosts</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/2-18.htm">Proverbs 2:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/2-18.htm">Proverbs 2:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/2-18.htm">Proverbs 2:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/2-18.htm">Proverbs 2:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/2-18.htm">Proverbs 2:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/2-18.htm">Proverbs 2:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/2-18.htm">Proverbs 2:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/2-18.htm">Proverbs 2:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/2-18.htm">Proverbs 2:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/2-18.htm">Proverbs 2:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/2-18.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 2:18 For her house leads down to death (Prov. Pro Pr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/proverbs/2-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 2:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 2:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/proverbs/2-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Proverbs 2:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Proverbs 2:19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>