Proverbs 5:18

Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

Let thy fountain {H4726} be blessed {H1288}: and rejoice {H8055} with the wife {H802} of thy youth {H5271}.

Let your fountain, the wife of your youth, be blessed; find joy in her

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:

Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.

Proverbs 5:18 delivers a powerful and poetic exhortation regarding marital fidelity and the blessings found within a committed, God-honoring marriage. It stands as a vital piece of wisdom literature, particularly within a chapter that starkly warns against the dangers of sexual immorality.

Context

This verse is part of a larger discourse (Proverbs 5:1-23) where a father instructs his son about the perils of succumbing to the allure of the adulteress. The chapter begins with a plea to heed wisdom and understanding, highlighting that the smooth words of the immoral woman lead to bitterness and death (Proverbs 5:3-5). Against this backdrop of severe warnings about the destructive consequences of infidelity, verse 18 offers the positive alternative: the joy and blessing of faithfulness within one's own marriage. It follows directly after the imagery of drinking water from one's own cistern and springs, metaphorically urging sexual exclusivity.

Key Themes

  • Marital Fidelity and Purity: The primary message is an emphatic call to remain sexually faithful to one's spouse. It promotes the sanctity of the marriage covenant as the exclusive sphere for sexual intimacy and procreation.
  • Joy and Contentment in Marriage: The phrase "rejoice with the wife of thy youth" encourages a deep, lasting joy and satisfaction found in the companionship and intimacy of one's lifelong partner. It counters the fleeting pleasures of illicit relationships with the enduring happiness of a blessed union.
  • The Blessing of Legitimate Progeny and Intimacy: "Let thy fountain be blessed" metaphorically refers to the wife as the source of offspring and the wellspring of marital intimacy. A "blessed fountain" implies fruitfulness, purity, and divine approval on the legitimate family unit. It underscores the idea that children born within a faithful marriage are a blessing from God.

Linguistic Insights

The term "fountain" translates the Hebrew word maqor (מָקוֹר), which literally means a spring, well, or source. In this context, it is a rich metaphor for one's spouse, particularly the wife, as the exclusive source of sexual pleasure and the origin of one's descendants. This imagery powerfully contrasts with the forbidden "strange waters" mentioned elsewhere in the chapter, reinforcing the call for exclusivity. The phrase "wife of thy youth" emphasizes the deep, foundational, and enduring nature of the marriage covenant established early in life, highlighting the value of commitment over time.

Practical Application

Proverbs 5:18 remains profoundly relevant today, serving as a timeless guide for healthy relationships. It calls believers to:

  • Cherish and Prioritize Your Spouse: Actively cultivate joy, intimacy, and contentment within your marriage. This involves consistent effort, communication, and mutual respect, as seen in passages like Ephesians 5:25.
  • Guard Against Temptation: Recognize and resist the many forms of sexual temptation prevalent in society, understanding that true fulfillment is found in fidelity, not fleeting illicit encounters. The warnings in Proverbs 5 are as pertinent now as ever.
  • Uphold the Sanctity of Marriage: Embrace God's design for marriage as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman, where intimacy is a blessed gift. This aligns with the New Testament teaching that marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled. The verse encourages a lifelong commitment, echoing the principle of the wife of one's youth, whom one should not deal treacherously with (Malachi 2:15).
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.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:9

    Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that [is] thy portion in [this] life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

  • Malachi 2:14

    Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet [is] she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

  • Malachi 2:15

    And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

  • Song Of Solomon 4:15

    ¶ A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

  • Song Of Solomon 4:12

    A garden inclosed [is] my sister, [my] spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

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