7:22–23

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. The three similes all illustrate the unexpected disaster that will happen to the young man. The point of similarity of all three similes is found in 7:23c. The animals do not know that they are about to be killed. Similarly, the young man does not know that his affair with the married woman will result in his death.

22a He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter,

22b
like a deer bounding into a trap

23a until an arrow pierces his liver,

23b
like a bird darting into a snare —

23c not knowing it will cost him his life.

7:22a

He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as on impulse means “suddenly” or “thoughtlessly.” The young man immediately decided to follow the woman.

It is implied from 7:19–20 that he followed her to her house. In some languages, it may be helpful to make this implied information explicit. For example:

he followed her ⌊home⌋

He did not think of the consequences, just like an ox does not think about what will happen to him when he is about to be killed and butchered for meat.

The word translated as ox refers to “an adult castrated bull” that is used mainly as a work animal.

In languages that do not have terms for ox, bull, or cow, other ways to translate this word are:

• Use a more general word. For example:

like an animal that people take to be butchered

• Use the word for a local animal that is killed for people to eat. If you use this solution, try to choose an animal that would have lived in Israel at that time.

7:22b

like a deer bounding into a trap: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some scholars think that the original Hebrew text was “like a stag prancing into captivity.” For example:

bounds like a stag towards the trap (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) The Masoretic Text has “like an anklet to the chastening of a fool.” For example:

as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool (New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The Masoretic Text is unclear. Most versions and scholars understand this phrase as another animal simile. An animal simile makes a better parallel to 7:22a and 7:23b.

Other ways to translate this simile are:

like an antelope bounding into the noose (Revised English Bible)
-or-
like a deer prancing into a trap (Good News Translation)

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