Proverbs 5:15

Avoiding Immorality · Proverbs 5:1–23
Read Proverbs 5

Translations

Modern
Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.
Traditional
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
Literal
Drink water from your own cistern and flowing from the midst of your own well.
Latin
Bibe aquam de cisterna tua, et fluenta putei tui;

Interlinear

Hebrew
English
Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.

Notes

To 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).

These instructions on loving one's wife and avoiding immoral women were originally for young men starting their careers (see also Proverbs 2:16–22; 7:1–27). This topic is also common in ancient Egyptian wisdom writings.

Theme notes and profiles

Marriage and Sexuality

Parallels

Leviticus 20:10–21 1 Corinthians 5:1–8

Glossary

Discipline Proverbs, Book of

Topics

Adultery: General Scriptures Concerning Chastity: General Scriptures Concerning Cistern: Figurative Harlot (Prostitute): To be Shunned Husband: General Scriptures Concerning Temptation: General Scriptures Concerning Water: Domestic Love Wells: (Drinking from One's Own) of Enjoyment of Domestic Women: Wicked: Full of Deceit and Licentiousness Young Men: General Scriptures Concerning