Paragraph 7:10–12
The adulterous woman’s appearance is described in 7:10. In 7:11–12, there is a description of the woman’s character and her typical activities. This one woman’s character and activities may be common to immoral wives in general.
7:10
In this verse, the two phrases in 7:10b give more information about the woman that is mentioned in 7:10a.
7:10a
Then: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then is literally “And look.” This phrase introduces a new development in the story and makes the action seem more dramatic. Use a natural way in your language to accomplish this purpose.
a woman came out to meet him: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a woman came out to meet is literally “a woman to meet him.” In the context of 7:15, this phrase implies that the woman purposely came to meet him. The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the information that she came out (of her house) from 7:15. Other versions leave this information implied. For example:
the woman approached him (New Century Version)
-or-
a woman came to meet him (Revised English Bible)
The phrase a woman may be misleading to the reader, because this is not just any woman. You may need to specify “the/this/that woman” so your readers understand that this is the same woman referred to in 7:8.
7:10b
with the attire of a harlot: We do not know how prostitutes dressed in Old Testament times. All we know from this verse is that the woman was dressed in such a way that the young man realized she was offering him the chance to have sex with her.
and cunning of heart: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and cunning of heart is literally “guarded of heart.” This probably means that she keeps her real plans and motives to herself. This meaning may be expressed as:
planning to trick him (New Century Version)
-or-
with an ulterior motive (God’s Word)
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