Proverbs 2:17
who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that abandoning a spouse isn't just a personal betrayal, but a profound spiritual one. It's called forgetting "the covenant of her God," emphasizing that marriage vows are made before God, making fidelity a sacred, divinely sanctioned obligation.
This verse describes the unfaithful woman, contrasting her actions with wisdom. She abandons the close relationship with her husband, whom she married in her youth, and breaks the solemn marriage vows made before God. This betrayal is presented as a deliberate turning away from sacred commitments, highlighting the gravity of her choices.
The "guide of her youth" sounds like a formal title, but what does this intimate phrase really mean? It speaks volumes about the early bond of marriage.
This verse vividly describes a woman abandoning her husband, her "guide of her youth." This isn't just any friend; it's the one she married in her younger days, likely when emotions were strongest and commitment felt purest. The commentaries highlight that this phrase emphasizes the deep intimacy and shared history established early in the marriage. It’s the husband who was meant to lead and be her constant companion through life's journey, a role she now tragically forsakes.
The text mentions forgetting "the covenant of her God." What makes a marriage vow a covenant with God Himself?
Forgetting "the covenant of her God" is the core of this transgression. This isn't just a social contract; it's a sacred agreement made before God. The commentaries explain that marriage, as instituted by God, is a covenant where both partners pledge faithfulness, with God as the witness and guarantor. When this covenant is broken, it’s not just a personal betrayal but a violation of a divine ordinance. This underscores the gravity of marital infidelity – it’s an offense against God's design for relationship and commitment.
Understand the original words
beriyth · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the sacred, binding relationship established by God between a husband and wife, which is intended to be lifelong and exclusive. Breaking this covenant is a betrayal of both the spouse and the Lord.
This passage directly calls the wife 'the wife of your covenant,' highlighting the sacred, God-witnessed nature of the marriage commitment that Proverbs 2:17 implies is being broken.
Jeremiah 3:4Here, Israel is accused of forsaking God, whom she called 'my Father, the guide of my youth,' mirroring the personal betrayal described in Proverbs when one abandons their 'guide of youth.'
Proverbs 5:18This verse speaks of rejoicing in 'the wife of your youth,' presenting the positive side of the committed relationship that Proverbs 2:17 warns against abandoning.
Genesis 2:24This foundational text describes the origin of marriage as 'a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife,' underscoring the covenantal bond that Proverbs 2:17 implies is being forsaken.
clarkeProverbs 2:17: "Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God."
Which forsaketh the guide of her youth - Leaves her father's house and instructions, and abandons herself to the public. The covenant of her God - Renounces the true religion, and mixes with idolaters; for among them prostitution was enormous. Or by the covenant may be meant the matrimonial contract, which is a covenant made in the presence of God between the contracting parties, in which they bind…
pooleProverbs 2:17: "Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God."
The guide of her youth, to wit, her husband, whom she took to be her guide and governor, and that in her youth: which circumstance is added to aggravate her sin and shame, because love is commonly most sincere and fervent between a husband and wife of youth, as they are for that reason emphatically called, Proverbs 5:18 Isaiah 54:6 Joel 1:8 Malachi 2:14,15 . Forgetteth, i.e. violateth or breaketh, a…
This verse highlights that abandoning a spouse isn't just a personal betrayal, but a profound spiritual one. It's called forgetting "the covenant of her God," emphasizing that marriage vows are made before God, making fidelity a sacred, divinely sanctioned obligation.
This verse describes the unfaithful woman, contrasting her actions with wisdom. She abandons the close relationship with her husband, whom she married in her youth, and breaks the solemn marriage vows made before God. This betrayal is presented as a deliberate turning away from sacred commitments, highlighting the gravity of her choices.
This verse describes the unfaithful woman, contrasting her actions with wisdom. She abandons the close relationship with her husband, whom she married in her youth, and breaks the solemn marriage vows made before God. This betrayal is presented as a deliberate turning away from sacred commitments, highlighting the gravity of her choices.
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"who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;" — This verse highlights that abandoning a spouse isn't just a personal betrayal, but a profound spiritual one. It's called forgetting "the covenant of her God," emphasizing that marriage vows are made…
