One obvious truth about Harlot Folly in Proverbs is that she is a woman. She is an “evil woman” (Pr 6.24). She is the inverse of Lady Wisdom, who is also a woman. Harlot Folly is not “all women,” but she is a woman. Whatever secondary applications we make or whatever metaphors we explore (and there are many), Solomon is writing to his son, a man, about a certain type of woman to avoid.
I belabor this point because there are cultural mindsets that have become practically unquestioned assumptions that being a woman per se is original righteousness. As Feminism has grown and helped spawn intersectionality, anything a woman does, even if appearing to be wrong, is not her fault. She did not sin. She is always innocent. She is an all-powerful yet impotent moral agent whose actions are controlled by entrenched patriarchalism. She is not responsible. She is not to blame. #MeToo.
Solomon demurs. His son must know that there are good women out there and that there are evil women out there. He must discern between the two, choosing the good and rejecting the evil. However, both types of women are out there. The character of Harlot Folly must not be excused or explained away. The son must not allow himself to be guilted into being a white knight who will rescue this evil woman. This guilt may come from the woman or, in the case of modern Christians, from people in the church. “Real men step up and marry Harlot Folly.” No, real men don’t. Real men, men who are on a mission to build worlds as God has called them to do, avoid Harlot Folly. A real man finds and marries Lady Wisdom who will help him build his house and not tear it down.
In order to distinguish between the two women, Solomon gives characteristics of both. A great deal of attention is given to the character and actions of Harlot Folly and how she will try to entice the Prince into her grave that she calls a house (Pr 2.16-19). She is a “strange” and “foreign” woman. This doesn’t mean that she is the freaky Russian girl with blue hair, tattoos, and lots of piercings (even though these are not good signs). She is a stranger and foreigner to the covenant of marriage with the young man and, therefore, has no right to the privileges of the marriage relationship with him; namely, sex.
Her lack of marriage citizenship will not stop her from attempting to cross the border. She will use smooth words (Pr 2.16; 7.5). Her lips will drip with honey, her speech and tongue will be smoother than oil (Pr 5.3; 6:24). She will seduce by playing on the physical needs of the young man, offering him an outlet. Her words will feign respect, meeting his psychological needs.
Her looks are also enticing. Her body is magnetic and her eyes lock on yours capturing you, drawing you in, letting you know that she is there for you (Pr 6.25). The way she dresses–like a prostitute–says, “I am here for your viewing pleasure and maybe more” (Pr. 7.10).
All of these attractive attributes are a cover for her guarded or wily heart (Pr 7.10). Her intentions are not to build a house because she is unruly (“loud,” ESV; Pr 7.11). She doesn’t like the conventions of God’s place for her in the world. They are too restrictive. Her feet refuse to stay at home because she is not interested in building a household. She just wants to have fun. Fun for her involves being sexually over-aggressive (Pr 7.13). She is sexually impatient. But part of the cover-up of her wily heart is that she will try to convince you that because she is “spiritual” or a Christian that all of this is okay. She offers peace offerings (Pr 7.14); she participates in the Lord’s Supper. She’s a good church girl that you can find at a Christian youth group or dating site.
Many reasons may be given as to why Harlot Folly is the way that she is. Some may even be legitimate. She is psychologically damaged from some trauma. She doesn’t know any better. Those things may be the case. She needs help. But as long as she is acting like Harlot Folly, young man, you are not the one to help her through a romantic relationship. Solomon tells you to stay away.
You can’t play stupid now. He has given you situational awareness by laying out just how Harlot Folly presents herself. If you die in her arms, that’s on you.
