Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse uses "fountain" as a beautiful metaphor for the wife, not just as a source of children, but as the wellspring of the husband's joy and blessing. It encourages him to find his deepest delight and contentment within the committed relationship he established early in life, rather than seeking fleeting pleasures elsewhere.
Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
English Standard Version (ESV)
After vividly describing the ruinous path of adultery, the Proverbist shifts to advocating for faithfulness within marriage. He urges the reader to find satisfaction and joy in their own wife, particularly the one they married in their youth, emphasizing her unique and sacred place. This direct instruction stands in stark contrast to the alluring, yet destructive, temptations detailed just before.
The Bible uses some striking imagery to describe marriage. What does calling your wife your 'fountain' really mean, and why is it so significant?
In Proverbs 5:18, the wife is called your 'fountain' (Hebrew: m'kor). This isn't just a poetic flourish; it points to the profound and life-giving role she plays in your life.
A Source of Life and Blessing
Think about a fountain – it's a source of fresh, flowing water, essential for life and sustenance. In the context of ancient Israel, a wife was often seen as blessed when she was fruitful, bringing children into the world. So, 'let your fountain be blessed' is an invocation for God to bless your wife, particularly in her ability to bear children, which was a sign of God's favor and a source of joy and continuity for the family.
More Than Just Procreation
While the idea of offspring is present, the metaphor extends further. Your wife is the source of your intimacy, your companionship, and the unique blessing of marital love. The 'blessing' isn't just about fertility, but about the overall well-being and joy that flows from a faithful marital relationship. It's about recognizing her as a gift from God, meant to sustain and enrich your life.
In a world filled with distractions, where should your deepest joys be found? This verse offers a clear direction.
The second half of Proverbs 5:18 urges, 'rejoice in the wife of your youth.' This is a powerful call to find your primary delight and satisfaction within the covenant of marriage.
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Faithfulness Through the Years
The phrase 'wife of your youth' points to the partner you chose when you were young. It's a reminder to remain faithful and find joy with the person God gave you, even as years pass and circumstances change. It challenges the idea of seeking novelty or fulfillment outside the marital bond.
A Divine Permission Slip
This isn't just a command; it's a gracious permission from God. While the preceding verses warn against the destructive path of adultery, this verse shows the positive alternative: find your pleasure, your comfort, and your joy in the one you have vowed to cherish. It's about investing your affections and your delight in the person God has joined you with.
Understand the original words
barak · Hebrew Verb
To be declared favored by God or to experience the prosperity and protection that comes from walking in obedience to His design for life and relationships.
ishah · Hebrew Noun
The woman taken in marriage during one's early adult years; she represents the divinely ordained partner with whom one is to share a life of exclusive intimacy and joy.
This passage beautifully echoes the sentiment of Proverbs 5:18, describing the blessings of a righteous life which include a fruitful wife and flourishing children, painting a picture of domestic joy and divine favor.
Ecclesiastes 9:9This verse offers a similar encouragement to find joy and satisfaction in one's spouse, emphasizing the importance of cherishing the relationship within the bounds of marriage.
Malachi 2:14-16This prophetic passage speaks against unfaithfulness in marriage and the betrayal of one's spouse, reinforcing the idea that marriage is a sacred covenant meant to be honored and cherished.
Song of Solomon 4:12This verse uses the beautiful imagery of a locked garden and a sealed fountain to represent the exclusivity and preciousness of a wife's love, aligning with the metaphorical language in Proverbs.
pulpitProverbs 5:18: "Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth."
Verse 18. - Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. The employment of the ordinary term "wife" in the second hemistich shows in what sense the figure which is used has to be understood. The terms "fountain" and "wife" denote the same person. The wife is here called "thy fountain" (Hebrew, m'kor'ka), just as she has been previously "thine own cistern" (b'or) and "thine own well" (b…
clarkeProverbs 5:18: "Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth."
Let thy fountain be blessed - יהי מקורך ברוך yehi mekorecha baruch. Sit vena tua benedicta. Thy vein; that which carries off streams from the fountain of animal life, in order to disperse them abroad, and through the streets. How delicate and correct is the allusion here! But anatomical allusions must not be pressed into detail in a commentary on Scripture.
The verse uses "fountain" as a beautiful metaphor for the wife, not just as a source of children, but as the wellspring of the husband's joy and blessing. It encourages him to find his deepest delight and contentment within the committed relationship he established early in life, rather than seeking fleeting pleasures elsewhere.
After vividly describing the ruinous path of adultery, the Proverbist shifts to advocating for faithfulness within marriage. He urges the reader to find satisfaction and joy in their own wife, particularly the one they married in their youth, emphasizing her unique and sacred place. This direct instruction stands in stark contrast to the alluring, yet destructive, temptations detailed just before.
After vividly describing the ruinous path of adultery, the Proverbist shifts to advocating for faithfulness within marriage. He urges the reader to find satisfaction and joy in their own wife, particularly the one they married in their youth, emphasizing her unique and sacred place. This direct instruction stands in stark contrast to the alluring, yet destructive, temptations detailed just before.
"Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth," — The verse uses "fountain" as a beautiful metaphor for the wife, not just as a source of children, but as the wellspring of the husband's joy and blessing. It encourages him to find his deepest deligh…
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Last reviewed October 2026