For the manager is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
the good man
Matthew 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Luke 12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
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Matthew 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mark 13:34-36 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch…
Luke 12:45,46 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; …
he has gone on a long journey.
The mention of a long journey suggests a significant period during which the husband will be away, providing the wife with ample opportunity to engage in her plans without fear of immediate discovery. In the historical context, long journeys were common due to trade, military service, or other obligations, and they often involved extended periods of travel due to the limitations of ancient transportation. This phrase underscores the theme of delayed accountability, a common motif in wisdom literature, where the consequences of one's actions may not be immediate but are inevitable. It also serves as a warning against presuming upon the grace period before judgment, as seen in parables like the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, where preparedness and vigilance are emphasized.
• These words reveal the adulteress’s first line of persuasion: “No one is here to notice.”
– Proverbs 7:6-13 shows her spotting a “simple” young man and drawing him in; secrecy is her bait.
– Proverbs 9:17 echoes the lure: “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant”.
– Cross-references warn of the danger that flourishes when accountability is absent: 2 Samuel 11:1-4 (David saw Bathsheba when her husband, Uriah, was away); Matthew 24:48-49 (the servant misbehaves when he thinks the master delays).
• Temptation often begins with the lie that circumstances make sin safe or excusable.
• Yet no one is ever truly unsupervised: “For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step” (Job 34:21).
• Practical takeaway:
– Keep relationships transparent; invite counsel (Proverbs 11:14).
– Flee the first hint of secrecy (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
• The adulteress strengthens the illusion by promising extended opportunity.
– She implies there will be no consequences because there is “plenty of time.”
– Compare Ecclesiastes 8:11: when punishment is delayed, people feel safe to do evil.
• God’s Word dismantles that false confidence:
– Hebrews 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.”
– Numbers 32:23: “Be sure your sin will find you out.”
• The phrase also hints at dissatisfaction and impatience in human hearts. Instead of waiting for righteous intimacy in marriage (Proverbs 5:18-19), the sinner grabs forbidden pleasure now.
• Practical safeguards:
– Remember the short-lived nature of sin’s promises (James 1:14-15).
– Rely on God’s faithful escape route in every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Proverbs 7:19 captures the subtle logic of temptation: secrecy plus opportunity equals supposed safety. The adulteress claims her husband’s absence (“not at home”) and the length of his trip (“long journey”) to silence the young man’s conscience. Scripture exposes the lie—God always sees, consequences remain certain, and momentary pleasure conceals lasting ruin. Wisdom therefore calls us to flee secrecy, cherish marital faithfulness, and trust that God’s watchful presence is the surest guard against hidden sin.
(19) The goodman.--Literally, the man; she does not even call him "my husband."At the day appointed.--Rather, at the full moon, a fortnight later, as now it would seem to have been new moon, when the nights are dark.
Verse 19. - The temptress proceeds to encourage the youth by showing that there is no fear of interruption or detection. The goodman is not at home. "Goodman" is an old word meaning "master of the house," or husband (Matthew 20:11, etc.); but the Hebrew is simply "the man," which is probably a contemptuous way of speaking of the husband whom she was outraging. He is gone a long journey; he has gone to a place at a great distance hence. This fact might assure her lover that he was safe from her husband's jealousy (Proverbs 6:34); but she has further encouragement to offer.