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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] at sacred-texts.com


Proverbs Chapter 5

Proverbs 5:1

pro 5:1

A warning against the seductive arts of wicked women, enforced by considering the advantages of chastity, and the miserable end of the wicked. (Pro. 5:1-23)

This connection of wisdom and understanding is frequent (Pro 2:2; Pro 3:7); the first denotes the use of wise means for wise ends; the other, the exercise of a proper discrimination in their discovery.

Proverbs 5:2

pro 5:2

regard--or, "observe."

keep--preserve constantly.

Proverbs 5:3

pro 5:3

(Compare Pro 2:16). Her enticing promises are deceitful.

Proverbs 5:4

pro 5:4

her end--literally, "her future," in sense of reward, what follows (compare Psa 37:37; Psa 73:17). Its nature is evinced by the use of figures, opposite those of Pro 5:3. The physical and moral suffering of the deluded profligate are notoriously terrible.

Proverbs 5:5

pro 5:5

feet . . . , steps--that is, course of life ends in death.

Proverbs 5:6

pro 5:6

her ways . . . know--Some prefer, "that she may not ponder the path of life," &c.; but perhaps a better sense is, "her ways are varied, so as to prevent your knowledge of her true character, and so of true happiness."

Proverbs 5:8

pro 5:8

Avoid the slightest temptation.

Proverbs 5:9

pro 5:9

thine honour--in whatever consisting, strength (Pro 3:13) or wealth.

thy years--by cutting them off in dissipation.

unto the cruel--for such the sensual are apt to become.

Proverbs 5:10

pro 5:10

wealth--literally, "strength," or the result of it.

labours--the fruit of thy painful exertions (Psa 127:2). There may be a reference to slavery, a commuted punishment for death due the adulterer (Deu 22:22).

Proverbs 5:11

pro 5:11

at the last--the end, or reward (compare Pro 5:4).

mourn--roar in pain.

flesh and . . . body--the whole person under incurable disease.

Proverbs 5:12

pro 5:12

The ruined sinner vainly laments his neglect of warning and his sad fate in being brought to public disgrace.

Proverbs 5:14

pro 5:14

evil--for affliction, as in Gen 19:20; Gen 49:15.

Proverbs 5:15

pro 5:15

By figures, in which well, cistern, and fountain [Pro 5:15, Pro 5:18] represent the wife, and rivers of waters [Pro 5:16] the children, men are exhorted to constancy and satisfaction in lawful conjugal enjoyments. In Pro 5:16, fountains (in the plural) rather denote the produce or waters of a spring, literally, "what is from a spring," and corresponds with "rivers of waters."

Proverbs 5:17

pro 5:17

only thine own--harlots' children have no known father.

Proverbs 5:18

pro 5:18

wife . . . youth--married in youth.

Proverbs 5:19

pro 5:19

loving . . . roe--other figures for a wife from the well-known beauty of these animals.

breasts--(Compare Sol 1:13; Eze 23:3, Eze 23:8).

ravished--literally, "intoxicated," that is, fully satisfied.

Proverbs 5:21

pro 5:21

The reason, God's eye is on you,

Proverbs 5:22

pro 5:22

and He will cause sin to bring its punishment.

Proverbs 5:23

pro 5:23

without instruction--literally, "in want of instruction," having refused it (compare Job 13:18; Heb 11:24).

go astray--literally, "be drunken." The word "ravished" (Pro 5:19) here denotes fulness of punishment.


Next: Proverbs Chapter 6