God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 5:17
17They should be yours alone, so do not share them with strangers.
Proverbs 5:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
- New International Version (NIV)Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let them be only your own, And not for strangers with you.
Context of Proverbs 5:17
15Drink water out of your own cistern and running water from your own well. 16Why should water flow out of your spring? Why should your streams flow into the streets? They should be yours alone, so do not share them with strangers. 18Let your own fountain be blessed, and enjoy the girl you married when you were young, 19a loving doe and a graceful deer. Always let her breasts satisfy you. Always be intoxicated with her love.
Read all of Proverbs 5Proverbs 5:17 word by word
יִֽהְיוּ־לְךָ֥ לְבַדֶּ֑ךָ וְאֵ֖ין לְזָרִ֣ים אִתָּֽךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Commentaries on Proverbs 5:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Let them be only thine own - The off-spring of a legitimate connection; a bastard brood, however numerous, is no credit to any man.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 Lawful marriage is a means God has appointed to keep from these destructive vices. But we are not properly united, except as we attend to God's word, seeking his direction and blessing, and acting with affection. Ever remember, that though secret sins may escape the eyes of our fellow-creatures, yet a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, who not only sees, but ponders all his goings. Those who are so foolish as to choose the way of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-18To drink from one's own well (see also Song 4:12, 15) means to enjoy sexual relations within marriage. Instead of spending sexual energy on immoral women, a man should build a healthy sexual relationship with his wife. Sex should not be shared with strangers. This honors marriage (Genesis 2:22–25) and follows the seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14 and Deuteronomy 5:18).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-2015-20. By figures, in which well, cistern, and fountain [Pr 5:15, 18] represent the wife, and rivers of waters [Pr 5:16] the children, men are exhorted to constancy and satisfaction in lawful conjugal enjoyments. In Pr 5:16, fountains (in the plural) rather denote the produce or waters of a spring, literally, "what is from a spring," and corresponds with "rivers of waters."Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 5:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 5
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries