prostitute

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The Greek, Latin, and Hebrew that is typically translated as “prostitute” in English (in some, mostly earlier translation also as “harlot” or “whore”) is translated in the 2024 revision of the inter-confessional Latvian Jauna Pārstrādāta latviešu Bībele as netikle or “hussy.” This replaced the previous translation mauka or “whore.” Nikita Andrejevs, editor of the Bible explains the previous and current translations: “The translators at the time felt that this strong word best described the thought contained in the main text. Many had objections, as it seemed that this word would not be the most appropriate for public reading in church.” (Source: Updated Bible published in Latvia ).

Other translations include:

  • Bariai: “a woman of the road” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “a woman who sells her body” (source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Uma: “a woman whose behavior is not appropriate” or “a loose woman” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “a bad woman” (source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “a woman who make money through their reputation” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “a woman who makes money with her body” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “a woman whose womanhood is repeatedly-bought” (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

See also Translation commentary on Genesis 34:31, Rahab, and prostitute oneself / play the prostitute.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Prostitution in the Bible .

complete verse (Proverbs 7:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 7:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “And not long after, the woman of the house came to meet with that man/fellow. She had dressed herself like a prostitute and (she) was amazingly shrewd.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “That woman [came out] to meet him.
    She was wearing indecent clothing.
    She had been looking for an opportunity.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then he was-met by a woman whose dress is like a dress of a woman who sells her body. She already had-planned what she is going-to-do to that man.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Whereupon that-aforementioned woman whose behavior was crafty/tricky and whose body had many decorations like the appearance of a prostitute went to meet (him).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 7:10

Verses 10-12 describe the mannerisms of the prostitute.

“And lo, a woman meets him”: “Lo” translates a Hebrew word that draws attention to what is about to be said as a new action or point of drama in the narrative. “Woman” is the general word and does not have any other sense than an adult female human. Translators should make it clear that this is the woman already mentioned in verse 8; Good News Translation does this by the pronoun “she.” The New Living Translation says “the woman.” “Meets him” means that she and the youth come together at the same place, either by chance or by arrangement, and probably the latter according to verse 8.

“Dressed as a harlot, wily of heart”: The Old Testament nowhere describes how prostitutes dressed. We know, for example, that Tamar wore a veil to catch Judah in Gen 38.14-19, but her veil was partly to prevent Judah from recognizing her. Contemporary English Version says “She was dressed fancy like a woman of the street.” New Living Translation says “dressed seductively.” Some others have “Her clothes showed that she was a prostitute.” Most modern versions, including Good News Translation, do not assume to know more than Revised Standard Version states.

“Wily of heart” is literally “guarded in heart,” an expression that may mean that she acts secretly in regard to her husband. Certainly she makes no secret of her intentions to the young man. New International Version says “with crafty intent.” Other translations say, “She followed her plan.” Some languages express such deceit as having “a double heart” or “a black liver.”

Some translations restructure this verse so that the actions of the woman are described in their proper sequence in time; for example, “This woman was dressed up like a prostitute and thinking of seducing the young man. So she went out to meet him.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 7:10

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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