Ecclesiastes 7:26

Authorized King James Version

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And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Original Language Analysis

וּמוֹצֶ֨א And I find H4672
וּמוֹצֶ֨א And I find
Strong's: H4672
Word #: 1 of 21
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
אֲנִ֜י H589
אֲנִ֜י
Strong's: H589
Word #: 2 of 21
i
מַ֣ר more bitter H4751
מַ֣ר more bitter
Strong's: H4751
Word #: 3 of 21
bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly
מִמָּ֗וֶת than death H4194
מִמָּ֗וֶת than death
Strong's: H4194
Word #: 4 of 21
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 5 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ the woman H802
הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ the woman
Strong's: H802
Word #: 6 of 21
a woman
אֲשֶׁר H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 7 of 21
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הִ֨יא H1931
הִ֨יא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 8 of 21
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
מְצוֹדִ֧ים is snares H4685
מְצוֹדִ֧ים is snares
Strong's: H4685
Word #: 9 of 21
a fastness or (beseiging) tower
וַחֲרָמִ֛ים and nets H2764
וַחֲרָמִ֛ים and nets
Strong's: H2764
Word #: 10 of 21
physical (as shutting in) a net (either literally or figuratively); usually a doomed object; abstractly extermination
לִבָּ֖הּ whose heart H3820
לִבָּ֖הּ whose heart
Strong's: H3820
Word #: 11 of 21
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
אֲסוּרִ֣ים as bands H612
אֲסוּרִ֣ים as bands
Strong's: H612
Word #: 12 of 21
a bond (especially manacles of a prisoner)
יָדֶ֑יהָ and her hands H3027
יָדֶ֑יהָ and her hands
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 13 of 21
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
ט֞וֹב whoso pleaseth H2896
ט֞וֹב whoso pleaseth
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 14 of 21
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
לִפְנֵ֤י H6440
לִפְנֵ֤י
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 15 of 21
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
הָאֱלֹהִים֙ God H430
הָאֱלֹהִים֙ God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 16 of 21
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
יִמָּלֵ֣ט shall escape H4422
יִמָּלֵ֣ט shall escape
Strong's: H4422
Word #: 17 of 21
properly, to be smooth, i.e., (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth youn
מִמֶּ֔נָּה H4480
מִמֶּ֔נָּה
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 18 of 21
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
וְחוֹטֵ֖א from her but the sinner H2398
וְחוֹטֵ֖א from her but the sinner
Strong's: H2398
Word #: 19 of 21
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
יִלָּ֥כֶד shall be taken H3920
יִלָּ֥כֶד shall be taken
Strong's: H3920
Word #: 20 of 21
to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere
בָּֽהּ׃ H0
בָּֽהּ׃
Strong's: H0
Word #: 21 of 21

Analysis & Commentary

And I find more bitter than death the woman (וּמוֹצֶא אֲנִי מַר מִמָּוֶת אֶת־הָאִשָּׁה, umotse ani mar mimmavet et-ha'ishah)—'and I find bitter beyond death the woman.' Whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands (אֲשֶׁר־הִיא מְצוֹדִים וַחֲרָמִים לִבָּהּ אֲסוּרִים יָדֶיהָ, asher-hi metsodim vacharamim libbah asurim yadeha)—whose heart is traps and nets, whose hands are fetters. Whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her (טוֹב לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים יִמָּלֵט מִמֶּנָּה וְחוֹטֵא יִלָּכֶד בָּהּ, tov lifnei ha'elohim yimmalet mimmenah vechote yillakhed bah).

This controversial verse requires careful interpretation. The definite article 'the woman' (ha'ishah) suggests a specific type, not womankind generally—likely the adulteress/seductress of Proverbs 2:16-19, 5:3-14, 7:10-27. The hunting imagery (metsodim—traps, charamim—nets, asurim—fetters) depicts calculated ensnaring. The conclusion is key: the righteous man (tov lifnei ha'elohim, 'good before God') escapes through divine protection, while chote (the sinner) falls prey. This isn't misogyny but warning against sexual temptation, echoing Joseph fleeing Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39:12). Proverbs 31 celebrates the excellent wife—Ecclesiastes warns against her opposite.

Historical Context

Ancient Israelite wisdom literature frequently personified both Wisdom and Folly as women (Proverbs 1-9), using feminine imagery pedagogically. Temple prostitution in surrounding cultures made sexual temptation a pervasive danger requiring explicit warning.

Questions for Reflection