Meaning of Proverbs 5:15

Proverbs 5:15 is a metaphorical exhortation to marital fidelity and contentment within one's own lawful relationship. The imagery of drinking water from one's "own cistern" and "own well" signifies drawing sustenance, satisfaction, and pleasure from one's spouse. A cistern and a well represent a private, established source of essential resources, implying exclusivity and personal ownership within the marital covenant. The contrast with "running water" from one's own well suggests the refreshing and life-giving quality of a faithful marital relationship, which should be perpetually renewed and enjoyed within its designated boundaries. This verse, therefore, is a practical piece of wisdom advising against seeking sexual gratification or emotional fulfillment outside the marriage, as such actions are depicted as a transgression against the sacred bond and ultimately detrimental to the individual.

Context and Background

This verse is situated within a larger section of Proverbs (chapters 5-7) that specifically addresses the dangers of adultery and the allure of the "loose woman" (often translated as "adulteress" or "foreign woman"). The author, traditionally attributed to Solomon, employs vivid and often stark imagery to warn against the destructive consequences of sexual immorality. The advice given is practical and grounded in the realities of ancient Near Eastern society, where maintaining family honor, lineage, and property was paramount. Water, in this arid region, was a precious and vital resource, making the imagery of a well or cistern particularly potent for representing something valuable, private, and essential for life.

Key Themes and Messages

• Marital Fidelity: The primary message is a strong endorsement of faithfulness within marriage. The verse encourages individuals to find their satisfaction and security in their spouse.
• Contentment and Satisfaction: It promotes finding fulfillment within the established boundaries of one's marriage, rather than seeking it elsewhere.
• Exclusivity of the Marital Bond: The use of "own cistern" and "own well" emphasizes the unique and exclusive nature of the marital relationship.
• Wisdom vs. Folly: The verse is presented as an act of wisdom, contrasting with the foolishness of pursuing illicit relationships.
• The Value of One's Spouse: The imagery elevates the spouse and the marital union to the status of a life-sustaining resource.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this verse can be understood as a metaphor for the believer's relationship with God, or within the context of the church. Just as a husband and wife are to find their exclusive fulfillment in each other, so too is the believer called to find their ultimate satisfaction and spiritual sustenance in God alone. Seeking fulfillment in worldly pleasures, idols, or other relationships outside of God is akin to drinking from "foreign" or impure sources, which ultimately leaves one spiritually parched and corrupted. Within the New Testament, the church is often referred to as the Bride of Christ, and the marital analogy is used to describe the intimate and exclusive relationship believers are to have with Him.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

The principle of exclusivity and faithfulness established in Proverbs 5:15 resonates throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, the covenant relationship between God and Israel is frequently described using marital imagery, where Israel's unfaithfulness (idolatry) is condemned as adultery against God. The Ten Commandments, particularly the prohibition against adultery, underscore this theme. In the New Testament, Jesus reaffirms the sanctity of marriage and its indissolubility (Matthew 19:3-9), and the Apostle Paul extensively uses the marriage of a man and woman as an analogy for the union between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33). This verse, therefore, is a foundational ethical teaching that underpins the biblical understanding of covenant, commitment, and the sacredness of intimate relationships.

Analogies

• A Farmer and His Land: A wise farmer cultivates and draws sustenance from his own fertile land, which he has invested in and owns. He does not waste resources by trying to farm barren or someone else's land.
• A Thirsty Traveler and a Spring: A wise traveler seeks out a known, clean, and reliable spring for their water, rather than drinking from stagnant or potentially contaminated sources encountered along the way.
• A King and His Royal Treasury: A king draws upon his own treasury for his needs and expenditures, rather than pilfering from other kingdoms or relying on unreliable sources.

Relation to Other Verses

• Proverbs 5:18-19: "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love." This directly follows and expands on the theme, emphasizing the joy and satisfaction to be found in one's spouse.
• Proverbs 2:16-19: This passage warns against the "adulterous woman" whose ways lead to destruction, highlighting the negative consequences of straying.
• Malachi 2:14-16: The prophet Malachi condemns those who are unfaithful in marriage, stating that God hates divorce and the betrayal of one's spouse.
• 1 Corinthians 6:18: "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body." This New Testament verse echoes the inherent harm and transgression associated with sexual sin.
• Ephesians 5:25-27: Paul's instruction for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, sacrificing for her, further elevates the sanctity and importance of the marital union.