Breakdown of Proverbs 5:15-20

"Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your…" — The imagery here isn't just about contentment; it highlights the unique, life-giving value of what belongs to you within the covenant of marriage. The "cistern" is a constructed reservoir, suggesting…

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Proverbs 5:15-20

What does Proverbs 5:15-20 mean?

The imagery here isn't just about contentment; it highlights the unique, life-giving value of what belongs to you within the covenant of marriage. The "cistern" is a constructed reservoir, suggesting a deliberate provision, while the "well" is a natural, flowing spring—both representing pure, sustaining sources meant for you alone, contrasted with the fleeting, deceptive "stolen waters" outside.

Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?

English Standard Version (ESV)

What Proverbs 5:15-20 means

The teacher has just finished warning his listener about the seductive allure and destructive consequences of the "forbidden woman." Now, he pivots to highlight the pure delights and enduring satisfaction found within the boundaries of marriage, contrasting it with the fleeting, dangerous pleasures of illicit affairs. This section uses the imagery of water, precious and life-sustaining in the ancient world, to celebrate the value and beauty of conjugal fidelity.

Marriage: The Divine Design for Satisfaction

Why does God compare our marital spouse to a source of life-giving water? It’s a picture of deep refreshment and a stark contrast to the deceptive allure of forbidden desires.

In Proverbs 5:15, the imagery of drinking from your 'own cistern' and 'own well' is a powerful metaphor for marital satisfaction. This isn't just about physical needs; it's about the deep contentment, joy, and refreshment found within the covenant of marriage.

A Source of Pure Refreshment: Just as a well or cistern provided essential, pure water in an arid land, a spouse is meant to be a source of life and sustenance. The 'running waters' from a well suggest a continuous, abundant supply of joy and intimacy.
Exclusive and Precious: These 'own' waters were valuable possessions in ancient cultures, carefully maintained. The verse calls us to find our satisfaction in what is rightfully ours within marriage, highlighting its preciousness and exclusivity.
Contrast to Deception: This imagery stands in direct opposition to the 'stolen waters' of illicit encounters mentioned elsewhere in Proverbs. Those may seem sweet for a moment, but they ultimately leave you empty and spiritually parched.

The Value of Belonging: Fidelity's Deep Reward

The 'strange woman' offers stolen pleasures, but Proverbs uses a compelling metaphor to show why true satisfaction lies in faithfulness to your spouse.

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What Proverbs 5:15-20 means

What does Proverbs 5:15-20 mean?

What Proverbs 5:15-20 means

Marriage: The Divine Design for Satisfaction

The Value of Belonging: Fidelity's Deep Reward

Ask Sola about this verse

What Proverbs 5:15-20 means

Marriage: The Divine Design for Satisfaction

The Value of Belonging: Fidelity's Deep Reward

Ask Sola about this verse

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