Proverbs 5 Commentary
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.
Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;
And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
Proverbs 5 focuses on the critical importance of sexual purity and the dangers of adultery. It's a father's loving, yet firm, warning to his son, applicable to all who seek wisdom and a life pleasing to God. This chapter serves as both a cautionary tale and a celebration of the joys of a faithful, monogamous marriage.
The Call to Attention (Proverbs 5:1-2)
The chapter opens with a familiar plea: "My son, pay attention to my wisdom; turn your ear to my words of understanding" (Proverbs 5:1). This isn't just casual advice; it's a vital instruction for a successful and fulfilling life. The wisdom offered here is not mere intellectual knowledge, but the practical ability to apply godly principles to everyday situations. This wisdom leads to "discretion," the ability to discern between right and wrong, good and evil. Solomon urges his son to listen carefully, recognizing the profound impact these words can have on his future.
The Allure and Deception of Adultery (Proverbs 5:3-6)
Solomon vividly portrays the temptation of adultery, not with physical descriptions, but with an emphasis on verbal and emotional allure. The "forbidden woman" (Proverbs 5:3) promises sweetness and smoothness, but her words are deceptive. "For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword" (Proverbs 5:3-4). This highlights the temporary pleasure that sin offers, masking the long-term pain and destruction it inevitably brings. The path to adultery leads to death, both spiritually and potentially physically, and her paths are unsteady; she does not know it (Proverbs 5:5-6).
Avoiding Temptation and Its Consequences (Proverbs 5:7-14)
A key principle in avoiding sin is avoiding temptation itself. Solomon urges, "Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say. Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house" (Proverbs 5:7-8). This proactive approach emphasizes the need to create distance between oneself and potential sources of temptation. It's a reminder not to "walk near the edge of the cliff."
The consequences of adultery are severe and far-reaching. Solomon lists a litany of potential losses: wealth, health, reputation, and ultimately, a life filled with regret. "Lest you give your strength to others and your years to the merciless, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your labors enrich another man’s house, lest at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are spent" (Proverbs 5:10-11). The adulterer will ultimately lament his choices, recognizing the foolishness of rejecting discipline and embracing fleeting pleasure. He inevitably admits that he hated discipline, and it led to his complete ruin (Proverbs 5:12, 14). Even in a modern culture where promiscuity is rampant, the stigma associated with marital infidelity remains, a testament to the destructive nature of this sin. Sexual indiscretion will affect your wealth (e.g., alimony payments), your health (e.g., sexually transmitted diseases), and your reputation (Proverbs 5:10, 14).
The Joys of Faithful Marriage (Proverbs 5:15-19)
In stark contrast to the dangers of adultery, Solomon extols the joys and blessings of a faithful, monogamous marriage. "Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well" (Proverbs 5:15). This imagery emphasizes the security, purity, and satisfaction found within the marital bond. God designed sex, and he designed it to take place between one man and one woman in the context of the marriage covenant.
The passage celebrates the beauty and pleasure of marital intimacy, free from guilt, shame, or fear. "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love" (Proverbs 5:18-19). This passage challenges the misconception that the Bible is negative about sex. God commands, "Take pleasure in the wife of your youth" (Proverbs 5:18). Under the covering of God’s covenant, in the environment of a lifelong commitment between a husband and wife, sex is a good gift of God intended to be enjoyed (Proverbs 5:19).
God's Omniscience and the Consequences of Sin (Proverbs 5:20-23)
Solomon concludes with a sobering reminder of God's omnipresence and the inescapable consequences of sin. "For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths" (Proverbs 5:21). The illusion of secrecy that often accompanies adultery is shattered by the truth that God sees everything.
The chapter ends with a warning: "The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sin hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly" (Proverbs 5:22-23). Those who reject wisdom and embrace sexual sin will ultimately be trapped by their own desires, facing the inevitable consequences of their choices. If you prefer stupidity to discipline on the matter of purity (Proverbs 5:23), you’ll find yourself ensnared by your own sexual sin (Proverbs 5:22). Dads, be like Paul and warn your sons to “flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18).
Proverbs 5 is a timeless reminder of the importance of sexual purity, the dangers of adultery, and the blessings of a faithful marriage. It's a call to choose wisdom over folly, long-term joy over fleeting pleasure, and a life pleasing to God over the fleeting allure of sin.
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.
Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;
And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
Proverbs 5 focuses on the critical importance of sexual purity and the dangers of adultery. It's a father's loving, yet firm, warning to his son, applicable to all who seek wisdom and a life pleasing to God. This chapter serves as both a cautionary tale and a celebration of the joys of a faithful, monogamous marriage.
The Call to Attention (Proverbs 5:1-2)
The chapter opens with a familiar plea: "My son, pay attention to my wisdom; turn your ear to my words of understanding" (Proverbs 5:1). This isn't just casual advice; it's a vital instruction for a successful and fulfilling life. The wisdom offered here is not mere intellectual knowledge, but the practical ability to apply godly principles to everyday situations. This wisdom leads to "discretion," the ability to discern between right and wrong, good and evil. Solomon urges his son to listen carefully, recognizing the profound impact these words can have on his future.
The Allure and Deception of Adultery (Proverbs 5:3-6)
Solomon vividly portrays the temptation of adultery, not with physical descriptions, but with an emphasis on verbal and emotional allure. The "forbidden woman" (Proverbs 5:3) promises sweetness and smoothness, but her words are deceptive. "For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword" (Proverbs 5:3-4). This highlights the temporary pleasure that sin offers, masking the long-term pain and destruction it inevitably brings. The path to adultery leads to death, both spiritually and potentially physically, and her paths are unsteady; she does not know it (Proverbs 5:5-6).
Avoiding Temptation and Its Consequences (Proverbs 5:7-14)
A key principle in avoiding sin is avoiding temptation itself. Solomon urges, "Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say. Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house" (Proverbs 5:7-8). This proactive approach emphasizes the need to create distance between oneself and potential sources of temptation. It's a reminder not to "walk near the edge of the cliff."
The consequences of adultery are severe and far-reaching. Solomon lists a litany of potential losses: wealth, health, reputation, and ultimately, a life filled with regret. "Lest you give your strength to others and your years to the merciless, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your labors enrich another man’s house, lest at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are spent" (Proverbs 5:10-11). The adulterer will ultimately lament his choices, recognizing the foolishness of rejecting discipline and embracing fleeting pleasure. He inevitably admits that he hated discipline, and it led to his complete ruin (Proverbs 5:12, 14). Even in a modern culture where promiscuity is rampant, the stigma associated with marital infidelity remains, a testament to the destructive nature of this sin. Sexual indiscretion will affect your wealth (e.g., alimony payments), your health (e.g., sexually transmitted diseases), and your reputation (Proverbs 5:10, 14).
The Joys of Faithful Marriage (Proverbs 5:15-19)
In stark contrast to the dangers of adultery, Solomon extols the joys and blessings of a faithful, monogamous marriage. "Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well" (Proverbs 5:15). This imagery emphasizes the security, purity, and satisfaction found within the marital bond. God designed sex, and he designed it to take place between one man and one woman in the context of the marriage covenant.
The passage celebrates the beauty and pleasure of marital intimacy, free from guilt, shame, or fear. "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love" (Proverbs 5:18-19). This passage challenges the misconception that the Bible is negative about sex. God commands, "Take pleasure in the wife of your youth" (Proverbs 5:18). Under the covering of God’s covenant, in the environment of a lifelong commitment between a husband and wife, sex is a good gift of God intended to be enjoyed (Proverbs 5:19).
God's Omniscience and the Consequences of Sin (Proverbs 5:20-23)
Solomon concludes with a sobering reminder of God's omnipresence and the inescapable consequences of sin. "For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths" (Proverbs 5:21). The illusion of secrecy that often accompanies adultery is shattered by the truth that God sees everything.
The chapter ends with a warning: "The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sin hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly" (Proverbs 5:22-23). Those who reject wisdom and embrace sexual sin will ultimately be trapped by their own desires, facing the inevitable consequences of their choices. If you prefer stupidity to discipline on the matter of purity (Proverbs 5:23), you’ll find yourself ensnared by your own sexual sin (Proverbs 5:22). Dads, be like Paul and warn your sons to “flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18).
Proverbs 5 is a timeless reminder of the importance of sexual purity, the dangers of adultery, and the blessings of a faithful marriage. It's a call to choose wisdom over folly, long-term joy over fleeting pleasure, and a life pleasing to God over the fleeting allure of sin.