The Meaning of Proverbs 7:12 Explained

Proverbs 7:12

KJV: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

YLT: Now in an out-place, now in broad places, And near every corner she lieth in wait) --

Darby: now without, now in the broadways, and she lieth in wait at every corner.

ASV: Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  [is she] without,  now  in the streets,  and lieth in wait  at  every corner.  ) 

What does Proverbs 7:12 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 7

1  Solomon persuades to a sincere and kind familiarity with wisdom
6  In an example of his own experience he shows
10  the cunning of a harlot
22  and the desperate simplicity of a young wanton
24  He detests such wickedness

What do the individual words in Proverbs 7:12 mean?

At times [she was] outside at times in the open square and at every corner Lurking
פַּ֤עַם ׀ בַּח֗וּץ פַּ֥עַם בָּרְחֹב֑וֹת וְאֵ֖צֶל כָּל־ פִּנָּ֣ה תֶאֱרֹֽב

פַּ֤עַם ׀  At  times 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: פַּעַם  
Sense: stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence.
בַּח֗וּץ  [she  was]  outside 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חוּץ  
Sense: outside, outward, street, the outside.
פַּ֥עַם  at  times 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: פַּעַם  
Sense: stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence.
בָּרְחֹב֑וֹת  in  the  open  square 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: רְחֹב  
Sense: broad or open place or plaza.
וְאֵ֖צֶל  and  at 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֵצֶל  
Sense: beside, by, near, nearness, joining, proximity subst.
כָּל־  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
פִּנָּ֣ה  corner 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: פִּנָּה  
Sense: corner.
תֶאֱרֹֽב  Lurking 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָרַב  
Sense: to lie in wait, ambush, lurk.