God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 2:17
17who leaves ⌞her husband,⌟ the closest friend of her youth, and forgets her marriage vows to her God.
Proverbs 2:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
- New International Version (NIV)who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God.
Context of Proverbs 2:17
15Their paths are crooked. Their ways are devious. 16⌞Wisdom will⌟ also save you from an adulterous woman, from a loose woman with her smooth talk, who leaves ⌞her husband,⌟ the closest friend of her youth, and forgets her marriage vows to her God. 18Her house sinks down to death. Her ways lead to the souls of the dead. 19None who have sex with her come back. Nor do they ever reach the paths of life.
Read all of Proverbs 2Proverbs 2:17 word by word
הַ֭עֹזֶבֶת אַלּ֣וּף נְעוּרֶ֑יהָ וְאֶת־בְּרִ֖ית אֱלֹהֶ֣יהָ שָׁכֵֽחָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 2:17
- Proverbs 5:18Let your own fountain be blessed, and enjoy the girl you married when you were young,
- Jeremiah 3:4But now you are calling to me. You say, ‘Father! You have been my companion ever since I was young.
- Ezekiel 16:8“ ‘I went by you again and looked at you. You were old enough to make love to. So I spread my robe over you, and covered your naked body. I promised to love you, and I exchanged marriage vows with you. You became mine, declares the Almighty Lord.
- Malachi 2:14But you ask, “Why ⌞aren’t our offerings accepted⌟?” It is because the Lord is a witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been unfaithful. Yet, she is your companion, the wife of your marriage vows.
Commentaries on Proverbs 2:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Which 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 themselves to be faithful to each other.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17The guide of her youth - Better, the familiar friend (compare Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 17:9). The “friend” is, of course, the husband, or the man to whom the strange woman first belonged as a recognized concubine. Compare Jeremiah 3:4 The covenant of her God - The sin of the adulteress is not against man only but against the Law of God, against His covenant. The words point to some religious formula of espousals. Compare Malachi 2:14.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-22Verses 10-22 If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, lightsome paths of uprightness, to walk in such ways! They take pleasure…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17An immoral woman has left her husband to pursue another man. Her marriage vows before God included promises of faithfulness (see Malachi 2:14–16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1916-19. Deliverance from another danger. the strange woman--This term is often used for harlot, or loose woman (Jud 11:1, 2), married (Pr 7:5, 19) or not (1Ki 11:1), so called, because such were, perhaps at first, foreigners, though "strange" may also denote whatever is opposed to right or proper, as "strange fire" (Nu 3:4); "strange incense" (Ex 30:9). flattereth--literally, "smooths." her words--(Psa 5:9).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 2:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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