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Seductive Words

Proverbs 7:21 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
²¹She persuades him with much seductive words;
with her smooth lips she compels him.

She persuades him with much seductive words: The Hebrew word for persuade (נָטָה natah) means to bend or turn aside, namely, to cause someone to wander from a proper belief or behavior, conduct, course of action. The wayward woman is persuading this young man to turn aside from his values through her seductive words to engage in adulterous, immoral behavior. Here the Hebrew word (לֶקַח leqach) for seductive words refers to persuasive words, communication intended to induce belief or action, words that hold power to persuade and change behavior. Words have the ability to change one’s mind through persuasion, which in turn can change one’s feelings and behavior as well. Leqach, the art of persuasion, can be used for good or bad. In Proverbs 1:5, it is used for learning, and in 4:2, it is used for good teaching. Here in 7:21, it is used for an alluring, tempting, seducing, enticing, encouraging adulterous immoral behavior.

With her smooth lips she compels him: Her smooth (חֵלֶק cheleq) words of 7:5, as you will also recall from 5:3, are smoother than oil, they are flattering and seductive, excessive or insincere, as well as deceitful, are now being referred to as smooth lips (cheleq), which is a figure of speech used to stand for what she is saying. This is excessive, insincere flattery. This manner of speaking contains content designed to persuade, which in this context, it is sexually suggestive or rather seductive words. The Hebrew word (נָדַח nadach) means that she is compelling him, using forceful pressure to entice him so as to turn the young man away from what is right.

How gifted she is at enticing, charming, and mesmerizing this young man. He has been caught in her seductive words; her smooth words have finally gotten her the desired results. The idea of being loved no doubt sounded very good to him. Yet, in reality, the prostitute has misled him by the abundance of her persuasive, seductive words. No, she had no actual love for this young man; but rather, he was purely a customer. She exploited him for her own selfish desires.

She promises the young man everything that was enjoyable and pleasing, and exemption or immunity in the satisfaction, she has compelled him with her seductive words and smooth lips. Ironically, this young man was very childlike and naïve, whose ill intent was simply lustful thinking. The prostitute could have pushed over the edge into action with a few simple words, a smile, and a wink, no real need for this overkill in persuading him. His immoral thinking, in the end, overcame his beliefs and values, and his determination was not strong enough to withstand her skillful persuasion. His ears were putty to her words and charm. She controlled him very easily. He was eager to do whatever she wanted. He surrendered himself to her and his desires. Such is the power of sin in the treacherous hearts of men that temptations soon conquer by deception and sweet talk. Solomon views this foolish young man with pity as he falls victim to the adulterous woman!