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Do Not Be Enticed into Sexual Intimacy Outside of Marriage

Proverbs 5:20 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
²⁰Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a strange woman
and embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a strange woman: Strangers (זָרִים zarim) generally refers to an outsider, a foreigner, persons who are unfamiliar or unknown, previously unencountered. It can also be used as a simple reference to “another person.” (Prov. 14:10) Also, it was applied to those who forsook what was in harmony with the Mosaic Law and so were estranged from God. Thus, in Proverbs 2:16, the one morally estranged harlot or prostitute is referred to as a “strange (Heb. zār) woman.” The point being made here is simple, do not share your sexual affections with another. (Prov. 2:16; 5:17; 7:5) Strange woman (אִשָּׁה זָרָה ishah zara) (2:16; 5:3) refers to those who set aside what was in harmony with the Mosaic Law and thus distanced and estrange themselves from God. Therefore, the immoral sensual woman (prostitute) was not necessarily a foreigner. “The strange woman,” the prostitute, is described as one “who forsakes the companion of her youth” (2:17), which is referring to the husband of her young womanhood. She has ignored and disregarded the prohibition on adultery that was a part of the covenant of her God, the Mosaic Law covenant. – Ex. 20:14; Jeremiah 2:25; 3:13.

And embrace the bosom of a foreigner: While a foreign (נָכְרִי nokri) woman was initially, in the Israelite history, a reference to an immoral woman, who were morally alienated from God and came from outside of Israel; however, in time the term foreign woman came to include any prostitute or adulteress. Her smooth words were flattering and seductive. God created man so that he should be exhilarated with his own wife not the breasts of a foreigner, the wife of another mam.

How do we close out this section, by looking at the implications of our day? Why would there be a need for any man or woman for that matter to place themselves in innocent appearing situations by flirting in the workplace because the spouse is not there, by a teenager living a different lifestyle while at school, or by spending time alone with someone of the opposite sex? Why be enticed into sexual affection outside of the marriage? The Christian loves to exaggerate their abilities by saying, ‘my faith would never allow me to be unfaithful,’ or ‘the Holy Spirit will protect me from advancements of the stranger,’ or simply, ‘I would never cheat on my spouse.’ These are all innocent appearing mindsets of fools. The Bible is full of warnings to all Christians, even those who believe that they are so spiritually strong that they would never stumble. In fact, these warnings are most appropriate for these latter ones, as they are willfully blind and ignorant of their own sinful nature. James writes, “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own desire [or own lust]. Then the desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” – James 1:14-15.