TRV
Study This Verse
Commentary on Proverbs 5 verses 15–23
Solomon, having shown the great evil that there is in adultery and fornication, and all such lewd and filthy courses, here prescribes remedies against them.
I. Enjoy with satisfaction the comforts of lawful marriage, which was ordained for the prevention of uncleanness, and therefore ought to be made use of in time, lest it should not prove effectual for the cure of that which it might have prevented. Let none complain that God has dealt unkindly with them in forbidding them those pleasures which they have a natural desire of, for he has graciously provided for the regular gratification of them. "Thou mayest not indeed eat of every tree of the garden, but choose thee out one, which thou pleasest, and of that thou mayest freely eat; nature will be content with that, but lust with nothing." God, in thus confining men to one, has been so far from putting any hardship upon them that he has really consulted their true interest; for, as Mr. Herbert observes, "If God had laid all common, certainly man would have been the encloser." - Church-porch. Solomon here enlarges much upon this, not only prescribing it as an antidote, but urging it as an argument against fornication, that the allowed pleasures of marriage (however wicked wits may ridicule them, who are factors for the unclean spirit) far transcend all the false forbidden pleasures of whoredom.
1.Let young men marry, marry and not burn. Have a cistern, a well of thy own (Pro 5:15), even the wife of thy youth, Pro 5:18. Wholly abstain, or wed. - Herbert. "The world is wide, and there are varieties of accomplishments, among which thou mayest please thyself."
2.Let him that is married take delight in his wife, and let him be very fond of her, not only because she is the wife that he himself has chosen and he ought to be pleased with his own choice, but because she is the wife that God in his providence appointed for him and he ought much more to be pleased with the divine appointment, pleased with her because she is his own. Let thy fountain be blessed (Pro 5:18); think thyself very happy in her, look upon her as a blessed wife, let her have thy blessing, pray daily for her, and then rejoice with her. Those comforts we are likely to have joy of that are sanctified to us by prayer and the blessing of God. It is not only allowed us, but commanded us, to be pleasant with our relations; and it particularly becomes yoke-fellows to rejoice together and in each other. Mutual delight is the bond of mutual fidelity. It is not only taken for granted that the bridegroom rejoices over his bride (Isa 62:5), but given for law. Ecc 9:9, Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy life. Those take not their comforts where God has appointed who are jovial and merry with their companions abroad, but sour and morose with their families at home.
3.Let him be fond of his wife and love her dearly (Pro 5:19): Let her be as the loving hind and the pleasant roe, such as great men sometimes kept tame in their houses and played with. Desire no better diversion from severe study and business than the innocent and pleasant conversation of thy own wife; let her lie in thy bosom, as the poor man's ewe-lamb did in his (Sa2 12:3), and do thou repose thy head in hers, and let that satisfy thee at all times; and seek not for pleasure in any other. "Err thou always in her love. If thou wilt suffer thy love to run into an excess, and wilt be dotingly fond of any body, let it be only of thy own wife, where there is least danger of exceeding." This is drinking waters, to quench the thirst of thy appetite, out of thy own cistern, and running waters, which are clear, and sweet, and wholesome, out of thy own well, Pro 5:15. Co1 7:2, Co1 7:3.
4.Let him take delight in his children and look upon them with pleasure (Pro 5:16, Pro 5:17): "Look upon them as streams from thy own pure fountains" (the Jews are said to come forth out of the waters of Judah, Isa 48:1), "so that they are parts of thyself, as the streams are of the fountain. Keep to thy own wife, and thou shalt have," (1.) "A numerous offspring, like rivers of water, which run in abundance, and they shall be dispersed abroad, matched into other families, whereas those that commit whoredom shall not increase," Hos 4:10. (2.) "A peculiar offspring, which shall be only thy own, whereas the children of whoredom, that are fathered upon thee, are, probably, not so, but, for aught thou knowest, are the offspring of strangers, and yet thou must keep them." (3.) "A creditable offspring, which are an honour to thee, and which thou mayest send abroad, and appear with, in the streets, whereas a spurious brood is thy disgrace, and that which thou art ashamed to own." In this matter, virtue has all the pleasure and honour in it; justly therefore it is called wisdom.
5.Let him then scorn the offer of forbidden pleasures when he is always ravished with the love of a faithful virtuous wife; let him consider what an absurdity it will be for him to be ravished with a strange woman (Pro 5:20), to be in love with a filthy harlot, and embrace the bosom of a stranger, which, if he had any sense of honour or virtue, he would loathe the thoughts of. "Why wilt thou be so sottish, such an enemy to thyself, as to prefer puddle-water, and that poisoned too and stolen, before pure living waters out of thy own well?" Note, If the dictates of reason may be heard, the laws of virtue will be obeyed.
II. "See the eye of God always upon thee and let his fear rule in thy heart," Pro 5:21. Those that live in this sin promise themselves secresy (the eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Job 24:15); but to what purpose, when it cannot be hidden from God? For, 1. He sees it. The ways of man, all his motions, all his actions, are before the eyes of the Lord, all the workings of the heart and all the outgoings of the life, that which is done ever so secretly and disguised ever so artfully. God sees it in a true light, and knows it with all its causes, circumstances, and consequences. He does not cast an eye upon men's ways now and then, but they are always actually in his view and under his inspection; and darest thou sin against God in his sight, and do that wickedness under his eye which thou durst not do in the presence of a man like thyself? 2. He will call the sinner to an account for it; for he not only sees, but ponders all his goings, judges concerning them, as one that will shortly judge the sinner for them. Every action is weighed, and shall be brought into judgment (Ecc 12:14), which is a good reason why we should ponder the path of our feet (Pro 4:26), and so judge ourselves that we may not be judged.
III. "Foresee the certain ruin of those that go on still in their trespasses." Those that live in this sin promise themselves impunity, but they deceive themselves; their sin will find them out, Pro 5:22, Pro 5:23. The apostle gives the sense of these verses in a few words. Heb 13:4, Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 1. It is a sin which men with great difficulty shake off the power of. When the sinner is old and weak his lusts are strong and active, in calling to remembrance the days of his youth, Eze 23:19. Thus his own iniquities having seized the wicked himself by his own consent, and he having voluntarily surrendered himself a captive to them, he is held in the cords of his own sins, and such full possession they have gained of him that he cannot extricate himself, but in the greatness of his folly (and what greater folly could there be than to yield himself a servant to such cruel task-masters?) he shall go astray, and wander endlessly. Uncleanness is a sin from which, when once men have plunged themselves into it, they very hardly and very rarely recover themselves. 2. It is a sin which, if it be not forsaken, men cannot possibly escape the punishment of; it will unavoidably be their ruin. As their own iniquities do arrest them in the reproaches of conscience and present rebukes (Jer 7:19), so their own iniquities shall arrest them and bind them over to the judgments of God. There needs no prison, no chains; they shall be holden in the cords of their own sins, as the fallen angels, being incurably wicked, are thereby reserved in chains of darkness. The sinner, who, having been often reproved, hardens his neck, shall die at length without instruction. Having had general warnings sufficient given him already, he shall have no particular warnings, but he shall die without seeing his danger beforehand, shall die because he would not receive instruction, but in the greatness of his folly would go astray; and so shall his doom be, he shall never find the way home again. Those that are so foolish as to choose the way of sin are justly left of God to themselves to go in it till they come to that destruction which it leads to, which is a good reason why we should guard with watchfulness and resolution against the allurements of the sensual appetite.
“Drink water out of your own cistern,” that is, examine your own resources, do not go to the springs belonging to others, but from your own streams gather for yourself the consolations of life. Do you have metal plates, clothing, beasts of burden, utensils of every kind? Sell them; permit all things to go except your [soul’s] liberty.
Let us return to the sacred Scriptures and “drink water from our own cisterns and running water from our own wells.” Let us drink of the living water, “springing up unto life everlasting.” … Not visible rivers merely watering the earth with its thorns and trees, but enlightening souls.
And I hope, O man, that you imitate the example of this kind, so that you yourself may bear fruit of joy and delight! The sweetness of your grace is within yourself, it sprouts from you, it remains in you, it is within you, that is, the joy of your conscience is to be sought within yourself. Therefore, it says: Drink water from your own vessels, and from the fountains of your own wells (Prov., V, 15).
“Let the fountain of your water be your own and let no stranger share with you.” For all who do not love God are strangers, are antichrists. And although they enter the basilicas, they cannot be numbered among the sons of God. That fountain of life does not belong to them. Even an evil person can have baptism; even an evil person can have prophecy. We find that king Saul had prophecy; he was persecuting the holy David and was filled with the Spirit of prophecy and began to prophesy. Even an evil person can receive the sacrament of the body and blood of the Lord, for about such it has been said, “He who eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks judgment to himself.” Even an evil person can have the name of Christ, that is, even an evil person can be called Christian; and about these it has been said, “They profaned the name of their God.” Therefore, even an evil man can have all these mysteries. But he cannot have love and be evil. This, then, is the peculiar gift; it is the unique fountain. For drinking of this the Spirit of God encourages you; for drinking of himself the Spirit of God encourages you.
“Drink the waters from your own wells, fresh water from your own source.” … As the prophet Isaiah declares, “You will be like a well-watered garden, like a flowing spring whose waters will never fail. And places emptied for ages will be built up in you. You will lift up the foundations laid by generation after generation. You will be called the builder of fences, the one who turns the pathways toward peace.” … And so it will happen that not only the whole thrust and thought of your heart but even all the wanderings and the straying of your thoughts will turn into a holy and unending meditation on the law of God.
"Let them be yours alone," etc. Retain in your own power alone with whom you join your children in marriage, and let neither fornicators nor prostitutes be partakers with your offspring.
"Let your fountains be dispersed abroad," etc. Give your son and daughter in marriage to others, and do this openly with many witnesses.
Continue studying Proverbs 5:16 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Proverbs 5:16, situated within a father's urgent warning against sexual immorality, employs vivid hydraulic metaphors to underscore the destructive consequences of infidelity. Far from an endorsement of promiscuity, this verse is best interpreted as a rhetorical question or a stark warning: if one's intimate life, symbolized by "fountains" and "rivers of waters," is "dispersed abroad" and "in the streets," it signifies the public shame, loss of control, and defilement that inevitably follow the abandonment of marital fidelity. It highlights the public exposure and spiritual barrenness resulting from a life lived outside the bounds of God-ordained intimacy, serving as a powerful deterrent.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Proverbs 5:16 is rich in Metaphor and Imagery, using the familiar concept of water sources to represent deeply personal and sacred aspects of life. "Fountains" and "rivers of waters" serve as powerful metaphors for one's spouse, the marital relationship, and the legitimate offspring produced within that union. The imagery of these vital sources being "dispersed abroad" and "in the streets" creates a vivid picture of public shame, defilement, and the loss of control over one's intimate life and family legacy. The verse also employs Parallelism, where the second clause ("and rivers of waters in the streets") echoes and intensifies the meaning of the first ("Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad"), reinforcing the destructive consequences of infidelity through synonymous yet distinct imagery. While presented as a statement, its placement within a strong warning often implies a Rhetorical Question, challenging the listener to consider the absurdity and devastation of such an outcome, thereby driving home the urgent need for fidelity.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Proverbs 5:16 stands as a stark theological warning against the desecration of God's design for human sexuality and marriage. It underscores the divine mandate for marital exclusivity, viewing the marital bed as a sacred space where intimacy is to be exclusively shared and preserved. The "dispersal" of one's "fountains" into the "streets" is a powerful image of the public consequences of private sin—not merely social embarrassment, but a spiritual defilement that impacts one's legacy and relationship with God. This aligns with a broader biblical theology that views sexual purity as integral to covenant faithfulness and personal holiness, recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that sexual sin is uniquely a sin against one's own body and against God's design, ultimately dishonoring the Creator.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Proverbs 5:16 serves as a timeless and urgent call to guard the sanctity of marriage and personal sexual purity in a world that often trivializes or distorts God's design for intimacy. It compels us to recognize that our choices regarding sexuality have profound, far-reaching consequences, not only for ourselves but also for our families, our reputation, and our spiritual well-being. The "dispersal" of our "fountains" into the "streets" vividly illustrates how private sin can lead to public shame, loss of control, and the defilement of what God intended to be a source of life and blessing. Therefore, we are called to cultivate deep satisfaction and joy within the covenant of marriage, cherishing our spouse as the exclusive source of intimate fulfillment, and to flee from all forms of sexual immorality. This verse reminds us that true wisdom involves making choices that honor God, preserve our integrity, and protect the sacred boundaries He has established for our good, ensuring a legacy of honor rather than shame.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is Proverbs 5:16 advocating for sharing one's intimate life broadly?
Answer: Absolutely not. Interpreted in its immediate literary context, Proverbs 5:16 is a rhetorical question or a dire warning, not a command or endorsement. It follows directly after Proverbs 5:15, which explicitly instructs the son to "Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well," a clear call for marital exclusivity and fidelity. Therefore, Proverbs 5:16 describes the negative outcome—the public shame and loss of control—that results from failing to heed the call to fidelity, rather than encouraging promiscuity. The vivid imagery of "fountains dispersed abroad" and "rivers of waters in the streets" powerfully portrays the public disgrace, defilement, and loss of life-giving potential that accompany sexual immorality.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Proverbs 5:16, with its stark warning against the "dispersal" of one's life-giving "fountains" into the "streets," finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in several ways. First, Jesus Himself is the ultimate "fountain of living waters" (John 4:10-14; John 7:37-38), offering spiritual satisfaction that contrasts sharply with the fleeting and ultimately destructive pleasures of illicit intimacy. Unlike the defiled "rivers in the streets" that bring shame, the water Christ offers leads to eternal life and purity, a wellspring that never runs dry. Second, the New Testament elevates marriage to a sacred institution, a profound mystery reflecting Christ's relationship with the Church (Ephesians 5:25-32). Just as Christ gave Himself exclusively for His bride, the Church, believers are called to exclusive fidelity within marriage, guarding their intimacy as a sacred trust that mirrors divine love. The warning against "dispersed fountains" foreshadows the New Covenant's call to purity, where believers are exhorted to flee sexual immorality because their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, purchased by Christ's blood (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). Ultimately, the shame and defilement depicted in Proverbs 5:16 are overcome by Christ's atoning sacrifice, which cleanses us from all sin and offers a new life of purity and honor, transforming our defiled "streets" into paths of righteousness and communion with God (Romans 6:4).