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For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
– Proverbs 5:3

[T]he strange woman was referred to previously (Proverbs 2:16-19) and much of chapters 5-7 is spent warning against her and her ways. The term refers to a foreign woman and is mostly used in these chapters to refer to a married woman. This chapter opens exhorting the ear and lips to be employed in attending wisdom and keeping knowledge. These are a defense against the enticements of the strange woman.

We must never discount the danger of flattering speech, for that is one of her tools (Proverbs 2:16; 6:24; 7:21). Her lips and mouth are here put for her speech. Dropping honey is sweet to the taste and enjoyable. Her words are suited to appeal to the taste in similar manner. Smoother than oil is an expression that refers to treachery. It is an intentional deception that is wholly designed to ensnare to the flatterer’s purpose. It is no wonder Solomon advised the best course of action was to avoid her altogether (Proverbs 4:14; 5:8).

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