Proverbs 5:15

THE CALL TO CHERISH HOLY LOVE IN MARRIAGE

"Drink waters out of thine own cistern,

And running waters out of thine own well.

Should thy springs be dispersed abroad,

And streams of waters in the streets?

Let them be for thyself alone,

And not for strangers with thee.

Let thy fountain be blessed;

And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.

As a loving hind and a pleasant doe,

Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times;

And be thou ravished always with her love."

"Here the teacher passes to positive instructions on the sacred joy of a pure and happy marriage in terminology similar to the Song of Solomon."[24] "These verses are the heart of the chapter. They exalt the marriage relationship."[25] This emphasizes the God-given purpose of sexual powers and God's containment of this blessing within the context of the family and his absolute prohibition of its promiscuous and sinful use otherwise. "Thou shalt not commit adultery" is God's commandment in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

"Thine own cistern ... thine own well ... thy fountain" (Proverbs 5:15,18). All of these metaphors are for one's wife; and the "springs" and "streams" of Proverbs 5:16 are metaphors for one's children. The adulterer's children are "dispersed abroad" and found in the streets (Proverbs 5:16). He never knows where or how many they may be. "Promiscuous and unlawful sex relations throw doubt upon the paternity of children."[26]

"The language here is frankly erotic, a rare emphasis in Scripture, but it is highly important to see sexual delight in marriage as a God-given blessing; and history confirms that when marriage is viewed merely as a business arrangement, not only is God's bounty misunderstood, but human passion seeks other outlets."[27]

"As a loving hind and a pleasant doe" (Proverbs 5:19). Here we have other figurative references to a loving wife. "In the whole cycle of Arabian and Persian poetry the antelope (deer) and the gazelle are the chosen images of beauty."[28]; Acts 9:36 tells us of a Christian woman named Dorcas, which means `gazelle'; and Tabitha is the Aramaic version of the same name.[29]