Proverbs 5:16

Proverbs 5:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
• New International Version (NIV)Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets?

Context of Proverbs 5:16

14I was well nigh in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. 15Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Should thy springs be dispersed abroad, and rivers of water in the streets? 17Let them be for thyself alone, and not for strangers with thee. 18Let thy fountain be blessed; and rejoice in the wife of thy youth.

Proverbs 5:16 word by word

יָפ֣וּצוּ מַעְיְנֹתֶ֣יךָ ח֑וּצָה בָּ֝רְחֹב֗וֹת פַּלְגֵי־מָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear

• springsמַעְיָןma‛yân ma‛yenô ma‛yânâh · springH4599
• dispersedפּוּץpûts · to flowH6327
• abroadחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
• waterמַיmayim · waterH4325

Cross-references for Proverbs 5:16

• Deuteronomy 33:28And Israel dwelleth in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of corn and wine; Yea, his heavens drop down dew.
• Psalms 68:26Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, ye that are of the fountain of Israel.
• Isaiah 48:21And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
• Genesis 24:60And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
• Judges 12:9And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.
• Psalms 127:3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
• Psalms 128:3Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, in the innermost parts of thine house: thy children like olive plants, round about thy table.

Commentaries on Proverbs 5:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad - Let thy children lawfully begotten be numerous.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Wedded love streams forth in blessing on all around, on children and on neighbors and ill the streets, precisely because the wife‘s true love is given to the husband only.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 5:16

• Adultery
• Chastity
• Harlot (Prostitute)
• Husband
• Temptation
• Women
• Young Men

In the dictionaries

• Cord
• Mouth
• River
• Education
• Fountain
• Hezekiah (2)
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Purity
• Sealed, Fountain
• Song of Songs

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