Proverbs 5:15
Proverbs 5:15 in Multiple Translations
Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.
¶ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, And running waters out of thine own well.
Let water from your store and not that of others be your drink, and running water from your fountain.
Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.
Drinke the water of thy cisterne, and of the riuers out of the middes of thine owne well.
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, Even flowing ones out of thine own well.
Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.
Drink waters out of thy own cistern, and running waters out of thy own well.
Drink water out of thy own cistern, and the streams of thy own well:
Like a man is refreshed by drinking water from his own well [MET], enjoy having sex [EUP] only with your own wife.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 5:15
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 5:15 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
שְׁתֵה
מַ֥יִם
מִ/בּוֹרֶ֑/ךָ
וְ֝/נֹזְלִ֗ים
מִ/תּ֥וֹךְ
בְּאֵרֶֽ/ךָ
שְׁתֵה
shâthâh
H8354
to drink
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
מַ֥יִם
mayim
H4325
Water (Gate)
N-mp
מִ/בּוֹרֶ֑/ךָ
bôwr
H953
pit
Prep | N-ms | Suff
וְ֝/נֹזְלִ֗ים
nâzal
H5140
to flow
Conj | V-Qal
מִ/תּ֥וֹךְ
tâvek
H8432
midst
Prep | N-ms
בְּאֵרֶֽ/ךָ
bᵉʼêr
H875
well
N-fs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 5:15
שְׁתֵה
shâthâh
H8354
"to drink"
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to drink, and it's used in many ways, like drinking from a cup or feasting. It's also used to describe being drunk or taking part in a big celebration. We see it in stories like the Last Supper in Matthew 26:27.
Definition: 1) to drink 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to drink 1a1a) of drinking cup of God's wrath, of slaughter, of wicked deeds (fig) 1a2) to feast 1b) (Niphal) to be drunk Aramaic equivalent: she.tah (שְׁתָה "to drink" H8355)
Usage: Occurs in 193 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] assuredly, banquet, [idiom] certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk ([idiom] -ard), surely. (Prop. intensive of H8248 (שָׁקָה).) See also: Genesis 9:21; 2 Kings 19:24; Psalms 50:13.
מַ֥יִם
mayim
H4325
"Water (Gate)"
N-mp
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: This name means water, refreshment
Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.
מִ/בּוֹרֶ֑/ךָ
bôwr
H953
"pit"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
This word refers to a cistern or pit, often used to hold water or as a prison. In the Bible, it is used to describe a place of confinement, like a dungeon or well. It is a physical hole in the ground.
Definition: pit, well, cistern, dungeon, pit of the grave
Usage: Occurs in 62 OT verses. KJV: cistern, dungeon, fountain, pit, well. See also: Genesis 37:20; Proverbs 5:15; Psalms 7:16.
וְ֝/נֹזְלִ֗ים
nâzal
H5140
"to flow"
Conj | V-Qal
This Hebrew word means to flow or drip, like a stream or flood, and is used to describe the movement of water. It appears in descriptions of natural wonders, like rivers and waterfalls. In the Bible, it is used in Isaiah 44:3 to describe God's blessings flowing like a river.
Definition: 1) to flow, distil, flow forth or down, trickle, drop 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to flow 1a1a) streams, floods (participle) 1a2) to distil 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to flow
Usage: Occurs in 16 OT verses. KJV: distil, drop, flood, (cause to) flow(-ing), gush out, melt, pour (down), running water, stream. See also: Exodus 15:8; Proverbs 5:15; Psalms 78:16.
מִ/תּ֥וֹךְ
tâvek
H8432
"midst"
Prep | N-ms
This word refers to the middle or center of something, such as a group of people or a physical space. It can also mean among or between things, as seen in various Bible translations.
Definition: 1) midst, middle 1a) midst, middle 1b) into, through (after verbs of motion) 1c) among (of a number of persons) 1d) between (of things arranged by twos) 1e) from among (as to take or separate etc)
Usage: Occurs in 390 OT verses. KJV: among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:6; Numbers 35:5; 2 Chronicles 32:4.
בְּאֵרֶֽ/ךָ
bᵉʼêr
H875
"well"
N-fs | Suff
A well or pit, like a water source, is what this word refers to. It can also mean a spring, and is often translated as a well or pit in the Bible.
Definition: well, pit, spring
Usage: Occurs in 33 OT verses. KJV: pit, well. See also: Genesis 14:10; Genesis 29:3; Psalms 55:24.
Study Notes — Proverbs 5:15
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 5:15 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 5:15
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 5:15
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 5:15
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 5:15
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 5:15
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 5:15
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 5:15
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 5:15
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 5:15
- Sermons on Proverbs 5:15
Context — Avoiding Immorality
13I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my mentors.
14I am on the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly.”
15Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.
16Why should your springs flow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? 17Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Corinthians 7:2–5 | But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control. |
| 2 | Hebrews 13:4 | Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. |
| 3 | Proverbs 5:18–19 | May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth: A loving doe, a graceful fawn— may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever. |
Proverbs 5:15 Summary
Proverbs 5:15 is a reminder to be content with and faithful to our own relationships and blessings, rather than seeking fulfillment elsewhere. This means being satisfied with the 'water' that God has provided for us, rather than trying to drink from someone else's 'cistern' (as seen in Proverbs 5:16-17). By doing so, we can cultivate a deeper sense of intimacy and connection with those closest to us, and avoid the pitfalls of emotional or spiritual adultery (as warned against in James 4:4). This principle can be applied to all areas of our lives, including our relationship with God, and is supported by scriptures such as Ephesians 5:25, which teaches husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'drink water from your own cistern' in Proverbs 5:15?
This phrase is a metaphor for being content with and faithful to one's own spouse, as seen in the context of the surrounding verses, and is supported by other scriptures such as Ephesians 5:25, which teaches husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church.
Is Proverbs 5:15 only speaking to married people?
While the context of Proverbs 5:15 is addressing the importance of marital faithfulness, the principle of being content with and faithful to one's own relationships and blessings can be applied to all believers, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 4:4, which encourages believers to control their own bodies in holiness and honor.
Why is it important to 'drink running water from your own well'?
Drinking from your own well signifies the joy and satisfaction that comes from a healthy and fulfilling relationship, as opposed to seeking fulfillment elsewhere, which is warned against in Proverbs 5:16-17, and is also supported by scriptures such as Song of Solomon 4:12, which describes the beauty of a faithful and exclusive relationship.
How does Proverbs 5:15 relate to the concept of emotional or spiritual adultery?
Proverbs 5:15 can be seen as a warning against emotional or spiritual adultery, where one seeks fulfillment or comfort outside of their own relationships, as warned against in scriptures such as James 4:4, which teaches that friendship with the world is enmity with God.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I can 'drink from my own cistern' in my relationships, and cultivate a deeper sense of satisfaction and fulfillment?
- How can I guard my heart and mind against the temptation to seek fulfillment or comfort outside of my own relationships, and instead seek to cultivate a deeper sense of intimacy and connection with those closest to me?
- In what ways can I apply the principle of Proverbs 5:15 to other areas of my life, such as my relationship with God, or my friendships and community?
- What are some potential consequences of not 'drinking from my own well', and how can I avoid these pitfalls in my own life?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 5:15
Drink waters out of thine own cistern,.... Arguments being used to dissuade from conversation with an adulterous woman, taken from the disgrace, diseases, poverty, and distress of mind on reflection,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 5:15
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 5:15
This metaphor contained here, and , is to be understood either, 1. Of the free and lawful use of a man’ s estate, both for his own comfort, and for the good of others. Or rather, 2. Of the honest use of matrimony, as the proper remedy against these filthy practices. This best suits with the whole context, both foregoing and following; and thus it is explained in the end of . So the sense is, Content thyself with those delights which God alloweth thee, with the sober use of the marriage bed. Why shouldst thou ramble hither and thither, trespassing against God and men, to steal their waters, which thou mightest freely take out of thine own cistern or well. The ground of the metaphor is this, that waters were scarce and precious in those countries, and therefore men used to make cisterns and wells for their own private use. And the same metaphor of waters, and of a pit, or well, is applied to things of this nature elsewhere, as 51:1.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 5:15
Proverbs 5:15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.Ver. 15. Drink waters out of thine own cistern.] After other preservatives from fornication, as not to think of or speak with the harlot, not to come near the doors of her house, &c., but to consider the many mischiefs that follow upon it - a diseased body, a damned soul, a poor purse, &c. - here the wise man prescribeth wedlock as a remedy properly ordained by God for that end. And because not the having of a wife, but the loving of her keeps a man honest; therefore it follows, "Let her be as the loving hind," &c. And running waters.] Heathen writers also set forth a wife by waters: as Hesiod bids men not to pass over a running water without prayers to the gods - that is, not to render unto their wives due benevolence till they have sought God, as Johannes Grammaticus interprets it. A pious precept: marriage, as well as food, must be sanctified by the word and prayer, and God be called in to bless this physic to the soul. Lust makes the heart hot and thirsty: God therefore sends men to this well, to this cistern. Compare Isaiah 65:1. The Hebrews call a woman ð÷áä, i.e., perforata Hesiod. in Ergis.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 5:15
(15-20) Drink waters out of thine own cistern . . .—In these verses Solomon urges his disciples to follow after purity in the married life; he pictures in vivid terms the delights which it affords as compared with the pleasures of sin. Out of thine own cistern.—The “strange woman,” on the other hand, says, “Stolen waters are sweet” (Proverbs 9:17). The same figure is employed in Son 4:15, where a wife is compared to “a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.” In Jeremiah 2:13 God compares Himself to a “fountain of living waters,” and complains that Israel had deserted Him, and hewed out for themselves “broken cisterns that can hold no water.” This passage in Proverbs has in like manner often been interpreted as an exhortation to drink deeply from the living waters of the Holy Spirit given in the Word and Sacraments (John 7:37).—For ref. see Bishop Wordsworth.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 5:15
Verse 15. Drink waters out of thine own cistern] Be satisfied with thy own wife; and let the wife see that she reverence her husband; and not tempt him by inattention or unkindness to seek elsewhere what he has a right to expect, but cannot find, at home.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 5:15
15–19. The remedy against sin is to be found in the holy estate which God has ordained. “The resemblance between the two Books (the Song of Solomon and the Book of Proverbs) in their treatment of this subject is singularly striking.” Speaker’s Comm., ad loc.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 5:15
The teacher seeks to counteract the evils of mere sensual passion chiefly by setting forth the true blessedness of which it is the counterfeit.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 5:15
TO AND PROPER DUTIES, Proverbs 5:15-23. 15-17. Drink waters — Waters often stand for posterity. Numbers 24:7. Fountains, wells, and cisterns, in the East were regarded as of great importance.
Sermons on Proverbs 5:15
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Rejoice With the Wife of Thy Youth by Denny Kenaston | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of renewing one's commitment to building a strong marriage. He acknowledges that over time, distractions and other responsibi |
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Contentment - Ii Kings 5 by Phil Beach Jr. | Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the importance of contentment through the story of Gehazi in II Kings 5, illustrating how discontentment can lead to spiritual ruin. He highlights that tr |
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Heart to Heart Talk on Marriage by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker starts by sharing a personal anecdote about watching a nature channel and being disturbed by the aggressive behavior of wild dogs in South Africa. He th |
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Freedom From Masterbation and Sensuality by Tim Conway | This sermon emphasizes the need to flee from sin, particularly addressing the issue of justifying masturbation as not a sin. It highlights the importance of seeking biblical guidan |
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Fiery Darts of Immorality by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of using sex to communicate the gospel. He mentions a group that taught girls how to use sex to evangelize and shares examples of gi |
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Church Live Re-Visited: Session Seven - Part 2 by Ron Bailey | This sermon delves into the significance of the phrase 'bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh' in Genesis chapter 2, highlighting how it symbolizes family and belonging rather than o |
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(Through the Bible) 1 Corinthians - Part 2 by Zac Poonen | This sermon delves into the importance of understanding and applying the teachings from 1 Corinthians, emphasizing the need to overcome temptations, maintain purity in relationship |