Proverbs 5:16

Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, [and] rivers of waters in the streets.

Let thy fountains {H4599} be dispersed {H6327} abroad {H2351}, and rivers {H6388} of waters {H4325} in the streets {H7339}.

Let what your springs produce be dispersed outside, streams of water flowing in the streets;

Why should your springs flow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?

Should thy springs be dispersed abroad, And streams of water in the streets?

Context

Proverbs 5 is a powerful warning from a father to his son against the dangers of sexual immorality, particularly adultery, personified as the "strange woman" or "adulteress." The chapter urges the son to cling to wisdom and to find satisfaction and joy within the bounds of a faithful marriage. Verses 15-20 use vivid metaphors of water, wells, and fountains to emphasize the importance of marital fidelity and exclusivity. Within this context, Proverbs 5:16 should be understood not as a command to share one's intimacy broadly, but rather as a rhetorical question or a stark warning about the inevitable and destructive consequences of failing to heed the counsel of Proverbs 5:15 ("Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well").

Key Themes

  • Marital Exclusivity and Fidelity: The verse, read in conjunction with its surrounding context, underscores the sacred and exclusive nature of the marital bond. It warns against sharing what should be private and consecrated to one's spouse.
  • Consequences of Immorality: The "dispersal" of one's "fountains" and "rivers of waters in the streets" vividly illustrates the public shame, defilement, and loss of legitimate legacy that result from sexual promiscuity and adultery. It signifies losing control over one's intimate life and family reputation.
  • Protection of Legacy and Reputation: The father's instruction is ultimately about safeguarding the son's future, his family, and his good name from the destructive path of unfaithfulness.

Linguistic Insights

The imagery in this verse is highly metaphorical. "Fountains" (Hebrew: ma'yan) and "rivers of waters" (Hebrew: nahar mayim) are rich symbols. In the immediate context of Proverbs 5, these terms are widely interpreted to represent one's wife, the source of intimate satisfaction, life, and legitimate offspring. This aligns with Proverbs 5:18, which says, "Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth." The idea of a "sealed fountain" or "spring shut up" is also used in Song of Solomon 4:12 to emphasize the exclusivity of marital love.

The phrases "dispersed abroad" (Hebrew: chuts - outside, in the street) and "in the streets" (Hebrew: rehovoth - public squares) imply bringing what is private into the public sphere. This signifies shame, dishonor, and the loss of control over one's intimate life and family lineage, directly contrasting with the privacy and sanctity intended for marriage.

Practical Application

Proverbs 5:16 serves as a timeless caution against the dangers of sexual immorality. In a world that often trivializes or even promotes promiscuity, this verse reminds us of the profound and often public consequences of unfaithfulness:

  • Value Marital Purity: It calls believers to uphold the sanctity and exclusivity of marriage, treating the marital relationship as a unique and precious covenant.
  • Guard Your Reputation and Legacy: The proverb highlights how sexual sin can publicly tarnish not only an individual's reputation but also impact their family and future generations. It encourages a life lived with integrity and sexual purity.
  • Seek Satisfaction Within Marriage: By warning against the "dispersal" of one's intimacy, the verse implicitly encourages finding complete satisfaction and joy within the committed relationship of marriage, as admonished in Hebrews 13:4: "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled."

Ultimately, this verse is a powerful appeal to wisdom, urging individuals to make choices that preserve their integrity, protect their relationships, and ensure a blessed legacy.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 128:3

    Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

  • Psalms 127:3

    Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.

  • Genesis 24:60

    And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou [art] our sister, be thou [the mother] of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.

  • Psalms 68:26

    Bless ye God in the congregations, [even] the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

  • Isaiah 48:21

    And they thirsted not [when] he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.

  • Judges 12:9

    And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, [whom] he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

  • Deuteronomy 33:28

    Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob [shall be] upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back