Proverbs 6:27 Meaning and Explanation
“Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Committing adultery inevitably brings harm and ruin upon the one who does it.
The Context of Proverbs 6:27
A series of rhetorical questions about the inevitability of consequences for adultery.
What Does Proverbs 6:27 Mean?
This rhetorical question expects the answer: no, a man cannot hold fire in his bosom without being burned. The imagery is vivid and physical. Fire represents the heat of adulterous passion; the bosom represents the heart and innermost being. To embrace adultery is to embrace something that will consume and destroy you.
The burning is not a separate punishment inflicted from outside but an inevitable consequence of the action itself. Just as fire naturally burns whatever it touches, so adultery naturally brings harm. The proverb is not describing an external judgment but the built-in destructiveness of the act.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 6:27
What does Proverbs 6:27 mean?
Committing adultery inevitably brings harm and ruin upon the one who does it.
What is the context of Proverbs 6:27?
A series of rhetorical questions about the inevitability of consequences for adultery.