Proverbs5

Proverbs 5 warns against the seductive and destructive path of the "strange woman," whose initial allure leads to bitter ruin, loss of honor, and eventual death. The father urges his son to embrace wisdom and find satisfaction and joy within the covenant of marriage with his own wife. The chapter concludes by reminding that God observes all human actions, and the wicked are ensnared by their own folly and sin.

Listen to Wisdom's Instruction

1
My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding: ​
2
that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

The Deceptive Danger of Adultery

3
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil, ​
4
But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword. ​
5
Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol. ​
6
She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.

Consequences of Following the Adulteress

7
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.
8
Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,
9
lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one; ​
10
lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man’s house.
11
You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed, ​
12
and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
13
neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!
14
I have come to the brink of utter ruin, in the midst of the gathered assembly.”

The Joy of Marital Fidelity

15
Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well. ​
16
Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares? ​
17
Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.
18
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. ​
19
A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
20
For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

God Sees All Ways

21
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD. He examines all his paths. ​
22
The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
23
He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray. ​

Study Notes for Proverbs 5

Verse 1

The chapter begins with a foundational call for the son to focus his mind and heart on the father’s wisdom, establishing the requirement of obedience necessary to receive the warning that follows.

Verse 3

The 'strange woman' (or 'foreigner') is the adulteress, who uses flattery and sensual appeal ('honeycomb,' 'oil') to disguise the destructive nature of her actions.

Verse 4

This verse presents a sharp contrast between the momentary pleasure of sin and its inevitable outcome. Wormwood symbolizes intense bitterness, while the two-edged sword represents swift and devastating judgment.

Verse 5

The path of the adulteress is defined as leading directly to death (Sheol/hell). This emphasizes that sexual immorality is not a minor transgression but a path that destroys life and vitality.

Verse 9

Giving 'honour' unto others refers to the loss of reputation, vitality, and high social standing. The ‘cruel’ are those who exploit the son, likely including the strange woman and her associates.

Verse 11

This describes the ultimate physical and financial ruin, perhaps referencing the effects of sexually transmitted diseases or the general self-destruction and poverty resulting from unbridled passion.

Verse 15

This verse shifts to the positive antidote: disciplined fidelity. The 'cistern' and 'well' are metaphors for one’s own legitimate wife, urging the husband to find all sexual and emotional satisfaction exclusively at home.

Verse 16

These verses (16-17) are best understood as rhetorical questions or a warning against letting the 'waters' (the source of fertility and intimacy) leak out or become public property, thereby violating the exclusivity demanded in verse 17.

Verse 18

The 'fountain' is blessed when it is enjoyed within the confines of a covenant marriage, emphasizing that marital intimacy is God-given and a source of joy.

Verse 21

This verse provides the theological justification for the moral instruction. All actions are performed under the sovereign scrutiny of Yahweh, ensuring that sin will not go unnoticed or unpunished.

Verse 23

The ultimate failure is spiritual death resulting from a refusal to accept instruction (wisdom). The fool is trapped by his own actions, which become the 'cords of his sins' (v. 22).

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options