An Expository Study of Proverbs 5:15–23
Introduction: Wisdom That Protects Life
Proverbs 5 is part of Solomon’s fatherly instruction warning against sexual immorality, particularly adultery. Verses 15–23 shift from warning to positive instruction—not just what to avoid, but what to embrace. God does not merely forbid sin; He provides a satisfying, righteous alternative.
This passage teaches that faithfulness is not restriction but protection, and that intimacy within God’s design leads to joy, security, and honour.
1. God’s Design for Intimacy (Proverbs 5:15–18)
“Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.” (Proverbs 5:15, ESV)
Key Word Insight (Concordance)
“Cistern” (Hebrew: bor) – a private, enclosed reservoir “Well” (Hebrew: be’er) – a deep, living source of water
In Hebrew poetry, water represents life, refreshment, and satisfaction. The imagery is deliberate:
👉 Intimacy is meant to be exclusive, protected, and personal.
The Bible Dictionary highlights that wells in the ancient world were:
Privately owned Carefully guarded Essential for survival
Solomon’s wisdom is clear: Do not seek life, pleasure, or affirmation outside the covenant God has given you.
“Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets?” (v.16, ESV)
Here, “scattered springs” symbolise uncontrolled intimacy—a life where sacred things are made common.
“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth.” (v.18, ESV)
God’s will is not endurance but rejoicing. Marriage is not merely lawful—it is celebratory and blessed.
2. Holy Passion, Not Cold Obligation (Proverbs 5:19)
“Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant doe; let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and be ravished always with her love.” (Proverbs 5:19, KJV)
This verse often surprises readers because of its frank celebration of marital intimacy.
Bible Dictionary Insight
“Ravished” (Hebrew: shagah) means to be intoxicated, carried away, passionately absorbed.
God is not uncomfortable with passion—He created it. What He opposes is misdirected passion.
The problem is not desire; the problem is disorder.
“Let her affection fill you at all times with delight.” (Proverbs 5:19, AMPC)
Healthy marriages require:
Emotional investment Exclusive affection Continual renewal
Faithfulness thrives where delight is cultivated, not neglected.
3. The Folly of Forbidden Paths (Proverbs 5:20)
“Why should you, my son, be intoxicated with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?” (v.20, ESV)
Solomon contrasts holy intoxication with forbidden intoxication.
Concordance Contrast
Shagah (ravished by lawful love) Versus being “led astray” by illicit desire
Sin always pretends to offer what covenant already provides, but at a devastating cost.
Adultery is not just a moral failure—it is a wisdom failure.
4. Life Lived Before God’s Eyes (Proverbs 5:21)
“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths.” (NKJV)
This verse reintroduces the fear of the Lord, a central theme of Proverbs.
Bible Dictionary Theme: Omniscience
God does not merely see actions; He weighs paths—their direction, intent, and end.
Private sin is a myth.
Hidden compromise is visible to God.
This is not meant to terrify but to stabilise—God watches to correct, preserve, and redeem.
5. The Tragic End of Unrestrained Living (Proverbs 5:22–23)
“His own iniquities entrap him; he is caught in the cords of his sin.” (v.22, ESV)
Sin promises freedom but produces bondage.
Concordance Insight
“Cords” imply gradual entanglement, not sudden collapse.
No one plans to be enslaved by sin; it happens through small, repeated compromises.
“He will die for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he will go astray.” (v.23, ESV)
Folly in Proverbs is not lack of intelligence—it is rejection of correction.
Conclusion: Wisdom Chooses Faithfulness
Proverbs 5:15–23 teaches us that:
God’s boundaries are life-giving Covenant faithfulness leads to joy, not deprivation Passion is holy when it is rightly placed Sin entraps, but wisdom preserves
The call of this passage is simple yet demanding:
👉 Guard what God calls sacred.
👉 Rejoice in what God has given.
👉 Choose wisdom before desire chooses for you.
“Drink from your own well.”
Because God’s way is not only right—it is deeply satisfying.
Practical Applications of Proverbs 5:15–23
Wisdom is proven not by what we know, but by how we live. Solomon’s counsel presses every generation to respond deliberately, according to their season of life and responsibility.
For Singles: Guard Your Future by Honouring God Today
Proverbs 5 is often read as a warning after marriage, but it is actually a pre-marital protection manual.
1. Learn Discipline Before Desire Demands It
“He will die for lack of discipline…” (Proverbs 5:23, ESV)
Discipline is not developed in marriage—it is revealed there.
What you permit in secret today shapes the covenant you will struggle with tomorrow.
Ask yourself:
What boundaries govern my media consumption? Am I training my desires, or letting them train me?
2. Don’t Borrow from a Future Covenant
Sexual intimacy outside marriage is using tomorrow’s blessing today, without tomorrow’s protection.
“Should your springs be scattered abroad…?” (v.16)
Waiting is not loss; it is wisdom in investment form.
3. Build Emotional Fidelity Early
Unfaithfulness begins in the heart long before it shows in actions.
Learn to:
Say no without resentment Walk away without regret Honour God when no one is watching
Singles who fear God now will not need fear later.
For Married Couples: Protect What God Calls a Fountain
“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth.” (v.18)
Marriage is sustained not by vows alone but by deliberate cultivation.
1. Faithfulness Requires Maintenance, Not Assumption
You do not “drift” into intimacy—you drift away from it.
Ask:
When last did we intentionally enjoy each other? Are we replenishing the well or merely drawing from it?
Neglect does not excuse sin, but it invites temptation.
2. Rekindle Delight, Not Just Duty
“Be ravished always with her love.” (v.19)
God commands delight, not tolerance.
This means:
Communicating affection Protecting private time Choosing intimacy over distraction
A joyful marriage is one of God’s strongest defenses against immorality.
3. Guard Your Marriage from Subtle Intrusions
Adultery rarely begins with intention; it often begins with:
Emotional closeness Private conversations Comparison and dissatisfaction
Wisdom shuts doors early, not dramatically.
For Leaders: Private Integrity Is Public Ministry
Leaders are not exempt from Proverbs 5; they are especially accountable to it.
“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD…” (v.21)
1. Character Is Your First Ministry
Anointing may open doors, but integrity keeps them open.
Spiritual authority collapses when private discipline collapses.
Leadership failure in this area:
Injures families Discredits the gospel Wounds congregations
2. Set Stronger Boundaries Than Others Need
Because of visibility and access, leaders must:
Avoid emotional exclusivity outside their marriage Maintain transparent accountability Refuse secrecy under the guise of “ministry”
What you allow privately, you teach publicly—whether intentionally or not.
3. Model Wisdom, Not Just Preach It
People follow patterns more than principles.
A leader who:
Honours marriage Walks in purity Respects boundaries
…preaches a sermon every day, even without words.
Final Charge: Choose Wisdom While You Still Can
Proverbs 5 does not end with condemnation—it ends with a choice.
Wisdom says:
Protect what is sacred Celebrate what is lawful Refuse what destroys slowly
Whether single, married, or leading others—
👉 drink from your own well
👉 walk in the fear of the Lord
👉 choose life deliberately
Because wisdom is not restrictive—
wisdom is preserving.
The Message Bearer (SmilingPreacher), Cornelius Bella
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