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Steps That Lead to Immorality

Proverbs 7:13 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
¹³She seizes him and kisses him,
and with bold face she says to him,^[1]

She seizes him and kisses him: The Hebrew (חָזַק chazaq) for seizes is simply that she took hold of him, while the Hebrew for kissing (נָשַׁק nashaq) him is not as one does in greeting another in all other occurrences, but rather here and Song of Solomon 1:2 and 8:1, it has a sexual significance.

And with bold face she says to him: This literally says that She makes bold her face and says, while others say it is literally she makes her face strong and says. In essence, what is meant by her putting on a bold or strong face is that she has no shame, nor does she have any regret for her adulterous, temptress behavior.

We must understand that there are stages to every temptation. First, it enters the mind, meaning we can dismiss it and rationalize the repercussions of such thinking; this is not the difficult stage. Second, there is the entertaining and cultivating the thought(s), which has the ability to affect us emotionally, mentally, and physically. It can become very difficult to turn back when this goes on too long. Third, there is the initial commitment, like the young man choosing the street to go down where he knows the prostitute will be. He can turn back still, but the train of emotions is moving, and it is far more difficult to bring the sensations to a halt. Fourth, there is the entering the lion’s den, where he is actively involved, as the prey of his own sinful nature. At this point, she is touching him, kissing him with her smooth lips, the scent of her perfume, so every sensation has taken hold of him. The possibility of turning back is near impossible. Some stages make it even more difficult to turn back, regardless of the inappropriate desire.

[1] Lit She makes bold her face and says