Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 5:4
But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
4. wormwood ] The reference is perhaps not merely to the bitterness, but to the noxiousness of this herb. See Deu 29:18, and Rev 8:10-11, where “many men died of the waters” into which the star named “wormwood” had fallen.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Wormwood – In Eastern medicine this herb, the absinthium of Greek and Latin botanists, was looked upon as poisonous rather than medicinal. Compare Rev 8:11.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Bitter as wormwood] Kelanah, like the detestable herb wormwood, or something analogous to it: something as excessive in its bitterness, as honey is in its sweetness.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Her design, and the effect of that lewdness to which she enticeth men, is the sinners destruction.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. her endliterally, “herfuture,” in sense of reward, what follows (compare Psa 37:37;Psa 73:17). Its nature is evincedby the use of figures, opposite those of Pr5:3. The physical and moral suffering of the deluded profligateare notoriously terrible.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But her end is bitter as wormwood,…. Which is opposed to the honeycomb her lips are said to drop; so that, as Juvenal says g, “plus aloes quam mellis habet”: the end which she brings persons to, or the issue of complying with her, is bitterness; such as loss of credit, substance, and health, remorse of conscience, and fear of death, corporeal and eternal; see Ec 7:26;
sharp as a twoedged sword; which cuts every way; as committing sin with an harlot hurts both soul and body; and the reflection upon it is very cutting and distressing, and destroys all comfort and happiness. This is the reverse of her soothing and softening speech, which is as oil. Such also will be the sad case of the worshippers of the beast, or whore of Rome; who will gnaw their tongues for pain, and be killed with the twoedged sword that proceedeth out of the mouth of Christ,
Re 16:10.
g Satyr. 6. v. 180. “Lingua dicta dulcia dabis, corde amara facilis”, Plauti Truculentus, Act. 1. Sc. 1. v. 77. Cistellaria, Act. 1. Sc. 1. v. 70, 71, 72.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(4) Bitter as wormwood.The absinthium of Rev. 8:11, where, apparently, it is considered as a poison. So Gods message to St. John (Rev. 10:10) was in his mouth sweet as honey (comp. Psa. 19:10), but made his belly bitter: that is, he met with much sorrow and trouble in making it known to men, but through this much tribulation (Act. 14:22) he entered into the kingdom of heaven.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Bitter as wormwood As the accursed or poisonous herb or root. The ancients regarded this herb, whatever it was, as poisonous. There are sundry passages referring to it as noxious. See Deu 29:18; Heb 12:15; Rev 8:10-11. “Wormwood,” says Zockler, “is a plant about two feet high, belonging to the genus artemesia, ( artemesia absinthium,) which produces a very firm stock with many branches, grayish leaves, and small, almost round, pendent blossoms. It has a bitter and saline taste, and seems to have been regarded as a poison.” It was a fitting popular emblem of the results of illicit love. Such love is full of poison, and in the end will be as destructive as a double-edged sword. This is more plainly stated in the following verse.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 5:4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
Ver. 4. But her end is bitter as wormwood. ] The pleasure passeth, the sting remaineth; for in the froth of this filthy pleasure is bred that hell worm of guilt that never dieth. a
“ Principium dulce est, sed finis amoris amarus:
Laeta venire Venus, tristis abire solet. ”
Diana of the Ephesians was so artificially portrayed, that she seemed to smile most pleasantly upon such as came into her temple, but to frown at those that went out. So doth sensual pleasure. Heus tu scholastiae, dulce et amarum gustulum carpis, &c.,
a In amore multum est amari.
b Dulcis acerbitas amarissima voluptas. – Tertul.
c Plutarch.
d Speed, Walsing.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
her: Pro 6:24-35, Pro 7:22, Pro 7:23, Pro 9:18, Pro 23:27, Pro 23:28, Ecc 7:26, Heb 12:15, Heb 12:16
sharp: Jdg 16:4-6, Jdg 16:15-21, Psa 55:21, Heb 4:12
Reciprocal: Num 5:18 – the bitter water Num 5:27 – if she be defiled Pro 2:18 – General Pro 14:13 – General Rev 8:11 – Wormwood