What does “My son, give me thine heart” mean in this passage?

“Give me thine heart” is a call for a person to give their inner self, desires, and love, not just outward actions. It is like a loving but serious request: “Do not just listen on the outside, let your whole inner life belong to wisdom and to God.” The heart in the Bible is the center of choices and love. So this line is saying that real obedience starts inside. It is not enough to avoid certain sins outwardly if the heart is still chasing them inwardly.

What does it mean to let your eyes observe my ways?

Letting your eyes observe “my ways” means paying close attention to the path God sets out and to the pattern of wise living. It is about more than a quick glance. It means watching how God works, how his commands lead to life, and how a wise person walks. As the heart is given to God, the eyes are to be fixed on the way he leads, so that thoughts, desires, and daily choices line up with his ways instead of drifting toward temptation.

Why is a whore called a deep ditch and a strange woman a narrow pit?

The picture of a deep ditch and a narrow pit shows how sexual sin is like a trap that is hard to escape. A deep ditch is filthy and hard to climb out of. A narrow pit bruises and confines a person. The point is that someone who gives in to this kind of woman does not just make a small mistake; he falls into something that pulls him lower and lower. It is warning that this path harms the body, the soul, and often a person’s whole life situation.

How does she lie in wait as for a prey in this passage?

The passage says she lies in wait like prey is hunted. That means she is not passive. She looks for chances, sets herself in places and ways that draw people in, and uses words and looks to catch them. The picture is like an animal of prey or a robber hiding and waiting for a victim. This shows that temptation can feel sudden and strong, and that those who are careless with their eyes and hearts can quickly be pulled into sin they did not plan to commit.

What does it mean that she increaseth the transgressors among men?

When it says she “increaseth the transgressors among men,” it means that this kind of woman does not just sin herself; she leads many others into sin. Being with her draws men into adultery or fornication, but often also into lying, stealing, drinking, and other sins that go along with that life. So the warning is not only about personal danger but also about how this sin spreads. It multiplies broken promises, betrayal, and rebellion against God in a community.

Why is this warning about sexual sin placed after the call to give the heart?

The order shows that the way to resist this kind of temptation starts with the heart. First comes, “Give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways,” then comes the warning about the deep ditch and narrow pit. If the heart is already given to God and the eyes are fixed on his ways, a person is less likely to follow wandering eyes and desires. The passage is teaching that you do not fight these sins only with rules, but mainly by having a devoted heart.

How can this passage about the strange woman apply to life today?

Today, the same danger appears in many forms: sexual relationships outside marriage, pornography, flirting that plays with sin, or any situation that feeds lust. The pictures of a deep ditch and narrow pit still fit, because people often find themselves trapped in habits they never meant to start. This passage calls you to guard your heart first, watch what you look at, stay far from situations that stir up temptation, and seek God’s ways instead of secret or thrilling sin.

What does this passage teach about God’s character and care?

This passage shows God as a caring Father who speaks plainly about danger. He does not stay silent while his children walk toward a trap. He calls for the heart, invites us to watch his ways, then clearly points out a path that leads to ruin. His warnings are not meant to spoil joy but to keep people from harm. By warning about the deep ditch of sexual sin, God shows that he sees its power, hates what it does to people, and wants to protect them.

Prov.23.26

Proverbs 23:26

KJV

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

Saying 18

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.