New King James Version
Proverbs 2:17
17Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of 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 Living Translation (NLT)She has abandoned her husband and ignores the covenant she made before God.
Context of Proverbs 2:17
15Whose ways are crooked, And who are devious in their paths; 16To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words, Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God. 18For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead; 19None who go to her return, Nor do they regain 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 fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth.
- Jeremiah 3:4Will you not from this time cry to Me, ‘My Father, You are the guide of my youth?
- Ezekiel 16:8“When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord God.
- Malachi 2:14Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant.
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries