Proverbs 5:15 kjv

Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

Proverbs 5:15 nkjv

Drink water from your own cistern, And running water from your own well.

Proverbs 5:15 niv

Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.

Proverbs 5:15 esv

Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.

Proverbs 5:15 nlt

Drink water from your own well ?
share your love only with your wife.

Proverbs 5 verses

Proverbs 5 15 Meaning

Proverbs 5:15 is a direct call for exclusive marital fidelity, using a metaphor of water. It advises a husband to seek all his intimacy, joy, and satisfaction exclusively within his own marriage. The "cistern" and "well" symbolize his lawful wife, from whom he should draw sustenance and delight, preventing his desires from wandering to forbidden relationships.

Proverbs 5 15 Context

Proverbs chapter 5 is part of a larger section (chapters 1-9) where wisdom, personified, teaches the youth, often a son, about moral choices and their consequences. The immediate context of chapter 5 is a stern warning against sexual immorality and the allure of the "immoral woman" or adulteress. The chapter vividly describes her seductive words, her deceit, and the ruinous path she leads her victims down. Verse 15 follows intense warnings about the bitter end of unfaithfulness (vv. 3-14), providing a crucial counter-prescription for proper conduct: seeking satisfaction and joy exclusively within one's marital covenant. This wisdom reflects the cultural value placed on lineage, purity, and family stability in ancient Israel, directly countering widespread pagan practices that involved cultic prostitution and loose sexual morals.

Proverbs 5 15 Word analysis

• Drink (שְׁתֵה, sh'teh): This is an imperative verb, a direct command. It signifies not just to taste or sample, but to fully imbibe and draw deeply, implying complete satisfaction and gratification from the source. In biblical context, "drinking" often represents absorbing, internalizing, or partaking deeply in something, whether it be wisdom, folly, or pleasure.
• Water (מַ֫יִם, mayim): Literally water, an essential life-giving element. In a metaphorical sense, especially in the context of Proverb 5, it universally symbolizes satisfaction, vitality, and fulfillment derived from sexual intimacy.
• From your own cistern (מִבּוֹרְךָ, mibbôrəḵā):
  • From your own (מִ-, mi- + ־ךָ, -ḵā): Emphasizes personal possession and exclusivity. It is your resource, not another's.
  • Cistern (בּוֹר, bor): A sealed, underground reservoir or pit designed to collect and store rainwater, typically for a household's exclusive use. It symbolizes a reserved, personal, and lawful source. The act of collecting and maintaining a cistern signifies personal investment and ownership, akin to the covenant commitment in marriage.
• And running water (וְנֹזְלִים, vənozlîm):
  • And (וְ, və): Connects this phrase to the previous one, strengthening the imagery and meaning.
  • Running water (נֹזְלִים, nozlîm): This refers to flowing water, often associated with a spring or an active well. Unlike the passive collection in a cistern, "running water" implies a fresh, continuous, and dynamic source. It suggests not merely adequate satisfaction but a vibrant, ever-renewing source of delight.
• From your own well (מִבְּאֵרֶךָ, mibbĕ’ēreḵā):
  • From your own (מִ-, mi- + ־ךָ, -ḵā): Reiterates personal ownership and exclusivity.
  • Well (בְּאֵר, b'er): A spring-fed source, dug deep to reach groundwater. A well provides naturally flowing, often purer water than a cistern, representing an even richer, deeper, and more reliable source of supply and satisfaction.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Drink water from your own cistern": This initial command establishes the principle of seeking satisfaction within one's designated, legitimate resource—one's own spouse. The "cistern" implies a source of nourishment and life kept within one's own domain, hinting at the sacred and protected space of marriage. It speaks of a covenant relationship that is the appropriate container for marital intimacy.
• "And running water from your own well": This parallel clause reinforces and elevates the preceding thought. The progression from "cistern" to "well" and from "water" to "running water" suggests not just sufficiency but abundance, vitality, and continuous refreshment. It speaks to a dynamic, thriving, and deeply satisfying intimate relationship available exclusively within one's marriage, as opposed to the "stagnant" or "stolen" waters of infidelity which lead to ultimate emptiness. The use of two different terms for water sources amplifies the instruction and stresses the comprehensiveness of the marital bond as the sole and complete source of intimate fulfillment.

Proverbs 5 15 Bonus section

The choice of two distinct water sources—cistern and well—is not merely poetic repetition but carries theological significance. A cistern often collects water from various external runoff sources, representing the bringing together of two individuals from different backgrounds to form one new family unit. A well, on the other hand, taps into an underground spring, a natural, deep, and continuous source. This imagery implies that a truly thriving marital relationship, beyond merely accumulating experiences together, should become a perpetual source of fresh and renewing life within itself, drawing from divine grace. It's an encouragement to actively cultivate and explore the depths of marital intimacy and commitment, suggesting that all legitimate satisfaction can and should be found there, precluding the need to seek it elsewhere. The exclusive ownership implied by "your own" speaks to the unique and personal bond formed in marriage, reflecting God's design for human relationship and covenant.

Proverbs 5 15 Commentary

Proverbs 5:15 stands as a profound biblical exhortation for sexual purity and exclusive intimacy within the sacred covenant of marriage. Far from being a prohibitive restriction, this verse is a protective wisdom instruction designed for life-giving flourishing. By advocating for deriving all physical and emotional gratification from "your own cistern" and "your own well," the text champions marital fidelity as the singular and sufficient source of genuine, enduring satisfaction. The progression from a "cistern" (collected water) to a "well" (naturally flowing, running water) symbolically portrays not just a dutiful obligation but a dynamic and abundantly refreshing wellspring of delight found uniquely with one's lawful spouse. This metaphor implicitly warns against the deceptive and ultimately destructive allure of "stolen waters" outside the marital bond, emphasizing that true and lasting fulfillment comes only from a God-ordained relationship, protecting individuals from the devastating consequences of infidelity seen throughout the chapter. It encourages cherishing and finding complete contentment in the marital partner, preventing the gaze and desires from wandering towards illicit sources.