(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

PROVERBS 7:11KJV
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Proverbs 7:11 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 7:11 mean?

Proverbs 7:11 describes a woman who is loud and stubborn, whose feet do not stay at home. The verse paints a picture of someone who is outspoken, resistant to restraint, and always out and about rather than tending to her household.

In the setting of Proverbs 7, a father is warning his son about the dangers of being enticed by an adulterous woman. The verse uses vivid language to highlight her disruptive and restless nature, contrasting her behavior with the wisdom and discretion the father urges his son to seek. This description sets the stage for the warning that follows in the chapter.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 7:11

  • loud (הָמָה, hāmāh): This word often means to be boisterous, noisy, or tumultuous. Here, it emphasizes that the woman is not quiet or reserved, but rather draws attention to herself in a disruptive way.
  • stubborn (סָרָר, sārār): This term carries the sense of being rebellious or defiant. It suggests she resists guidance or correction, reinforcing her unwillingness to be restrained.
  • feet (רֶגֶל, regel): Mentioning her "feet" not abiding at home is a Hebrew way of saying she is constantly on the move, not settled or content in her own household.
  • abide (שָׁכַן, shākan): This word means to dwell or stay. The verse uses it to stress that her presence is rarely found at home, highlighting her restlessness.
  • house (בַּיִת, bayit): The reference to "her house" underscores the expectation in ancient culture that home was a place of responsibility and stability, which she neglects.

Why Proverbs 7:11 matters

  • Proverbs 7:11 helps clarify that the warning is not just about sexual temptation, but also about a pattern of disruptive, undisciplined living that leads to trouble.
  • The verse emphasizes the contrast between wisdom (which is often pictured as stable and attentive) and folly (which is restless and unruly), sharpening the lesson for the reader.
  • Understanding the cultural context of "her feet abide not in her house" reveals the deeper meaning: the issue is not just physical location, but a restless spirit that resists boundaries and responsibility.

Where else these words appear

“stubborn” Hebrew H5637 · used in 16 verses

  • Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
  • Psalms 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
  • Jeremiah 5:23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

“loud” Hebrew H1993 · used in 32 verses

  • 1 Kings 1:41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?
  • Psalms 77:3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
  • Isaiah 59:11 We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.

“abide” Hebrew H7931 · used in 123 verses

  • Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
  • 1 Chronicles 17:9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,
  • Proverbs 10:30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.