Proverbs 5:18 Study Bible: Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

◄ Proverbs 5:18 ►

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:

May your fountain be blessed
The term "fountain" in this context is a metaphor for the source of life and vitality, often interpreted as one's family or progeny. In Hebrew, the word used is "maqor," which can refer to a spring or source of water, symbolizing life and sustenance. In ancient Israel, water was a precious resource, essential for survival and prosperity. Thus, a blessed fountain implies a life filled with divine favor, abundance, and continuity. The blessing of one's fountain suggests a prayer for prosperity and the flourishing of one's family line, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness and righteousness in ensuring God's blessings.

and may you rejoice
The Hebrew word for "rejoice" is "samach," which conveys a deep, heartfelt joy and satisfaction. This joy is not merely a fleeting emotion but a profound sense of contentment and delight. In the biblical context, rejoicing is often associated with God's blessings and the fulfillment of His promises. It is a call to find joy in the gifts God has provided, particularly in the context of marriage. This phrase encourages believers to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and joy in their relationships, recognizing them as divine gifts.

in the wife of your youth
This phrase highlights the enduring nature of marital love and commitment. The reference to "the wife of your youth" underscores the idea of a lifelong partnership, beginning in one's early years and continuing into maturity. In Hebrew culture, marriage was a covenantal relationship, reflecting God's covenant with His people. The phrase calls for a return to the initial love and passion that characterized the early days of marriage, urging husbands to cherish and honor their wives throughout their lives. It serves as a reminder of the sacredness of the marital bond and the joy that comes from a faithful, loving relationship. This exhortation aligns with the broader biblical theme of fidelity and the celebration of love within the bounds of marriage.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Solomon
Traditionally considered the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. He wrote Proverbs to impart wisdom and understanding.

2. The Wife of Your Youth
This phrase refers to the spouse one marries in their younger years, emphasizing the importance of cherishing and remaining faithful to one's lifelong partner.

3. The Fountain
Symbolically represents the source of life and vitality, often used in biblical literature to denote blessings and prosperity.

Teaching Points

The Sanctity of Marriage
Marriage is a sacred covenant designed by God. Proverbs 5:18 encourages us to honor and cherish this relationship, recognizing it as a source of blessing.

Faithfulness and Commitment
The verse calls for rejoicing in the wife of one's youth, highlighting the importance of lifelong commitment and fidelity in marriage.

Joy in Marriage
Finding joy in one's spouse is a biblical principle. This joy is not just emotional but a deliberate choice to appreciate and celebrate the partner God has given.

Blessings in Obedience
The "fountain" being blessed suggests that obedience to God's design for marriage brings about divine blessings and fulfillment.

Cultivating Love and Respect
Actively nurturing love and respect within marriage aligns with the biblical call to rejoice in one's spouse, fostering a healthy and thriving relationship.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the concept of "the fountain" being blessed relate to the overall health and vitality of a marriage?

2. In what ways can we practically "rejoice in the wife of our youth" in today's context?

3. How do the principles in Proverbs 5:18 align with the teachings on marriage found in Genesis 2:24 and Ecclesiastes 9:9?

4. What are some challenges to maintaining joy and commitment in marriage, and how can we overcome them biblically?

5. How does understanding the original Hebrew context of "rejoice" enhance our application of this verse in our marriages?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 2:24
This verse speaks of a man leaving his parents and being united with his wife, becoming one flesh. It underscores the sanctity and unity of marriage, which is echoed in Proverbs 5:18.

Ecclesiastes 9:9
This verse encourages enjoying life with one's wife, similar to the joy and blessing mentioned in Proverbs 5:18.

Malachi 2:14-15
These verses discuss the covenant of marriage and the importance of faithfulness, aligning with the call to rejoice in the wife of one's youth.

Sermons

Victims of Vice	W. Clarkson	Proverbs 5:1-20
Fidelity and Bliss in Marriage	E. Johnson	Proverbs 5:15-21

People

Solomon

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

Blessed, Blessing, Early, Fountain, Joy, Rejoice, Spring, Wife, Youth

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Proverbs 5:18

     5702   husband
     5746   youth
     5830   delight
     8287   joy, experience

Proverbs 5:1-23

5276 crime
5481 proverb

Proverbs 5:15-18

4236 fountain

Proverbs 5:15-19

4221 cistern
5709 marriage, purpose

Proverbs 5:18-19

5804 charm
8632 adoration

Proverbs 5:18-20

6237 sexual sin, nature of
8299 love, in relationships

Proverbs 5:18-23

5468 promises, human

Library

The Cords of Sin
'His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.'--PROVERBS v. 22. In Hosea's tender picture of the divine training of Israel which, alas! failed of its effect, we read, 'I drew them with cords of a man,' which is further explained as being 'with bands of love.' The metaphor in the prophet's mind is probably that of a child being 'taught to go' and upheld in its first tottering steps by leading-strings. God drew Israel, though Israel did not yield …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Last Things
A sermon (No. 667) delivered on Sunday morning, December 31, 1865 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "At the last."--Proverbs 5:11. The wise man saw the young and simple straying into the house of the strange woman. The house seemed so completely different from what he knew it to be that he desired to shed a light upon it, that the young man might not sin in the dark, but might understand the nature of his deeds. The wise man looked abroad and he saw but one lamp suitable …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

Sinners Bound with the Cords of Sin
A Sermon (No. 915) delivered on Sabbath morning, February 13th, 1870 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins." -- Proverbs 5:22. The first sentence has reference to a net in which birds or beasts are taken. The ungodly man first of all finds sin to be a bait, and charmed by its apparent pleasantness he indulges in it and then he becomes entangled in its meshes so that he cannot …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

Sinners Bound with the Cords of Sin
The first sentence of the text also may have reference to an arrest by an officer of law. The transgressor's own sins shall take him, shall seize him; they bear a warrant for arresting him, they shall judge him, they shall even execute him. Sin, which at the first bringeth to man a specious pleasure, ere long turneth into bitterness, remorse, and fear. Sin is a dragon, with eyes like stars, but it carrieth a deadly sting in its tail. The cup of sin, with rainbow bubbles on its brim, is black with …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 16: 1870

How the Silent and the Talkative are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 15.) Differently to be admonished are the over-silent, and those who spend time in much speaking. For it ought to be insinuated to the over-silent that while they shun some vices unadvisedly, they are, without its being perceived, implicated in worse. For often from bridling the tongue overmuch they suffer from more grievous loquacity in the heart; so that thoughts seethe the more in the mind from being straitened by the violent guard of indiscreet silence. And for the most part they …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

How the Rude in Sacred Learning, and those who are Learned but not Humble, are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 25.) Differently to be admonished are those who do not understand aright the words of the sacred Law, and those who understand them indeed aright, but speak them not humbly. For those who understand not aright the words of sacred Law are to be admonished to consider that they turn for themselves a most wholesome drought of wine into a cup of poison, and with a medicinal knife inflict on themselves a mortal wound, when they destroy in themselves what was sound by that whereby they ought, …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity Paul's Thanks and Prayers for Churches.
Text: Philippians 1, 3-11. 3 I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy, 5 for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now; 6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

"The Truth. " Some Generals Proposed.
That what we are to speak to for the clearing and improving this noble piece of truth, that Christ is the Truth, may be the more clearly understood and edifying, we shall first take notice of some generals, and then show particularly how or in what respects Christ is called the Truth; and finally speak to some cases wherein we are to make use of Christ as the Truth. As to the first. There are four general things here to be noticed. 1. This supposeth what our case by nature is, and what we are all …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Thirdly, for Thy Actions.
1. Do no evil, though thou mightest; for God will not suffer the least sin, without bitter repentance, to escape unpunished. Leave not undone any good that thou canst. But do nothing without a calling, nor anything in thy calling, till thou hast first taken counsel at God's word (1 Sam. xxx. 8) of its lawfulness, and pray for his blessings upon thy endeavour; and then do it in the name of God, with cheerfulness of heart, committing the success to him, in whose power it is to bless with his grace …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Right Understanding of the Law
Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.' Exod 20: 3. Before I come to the commandments, I shall answer questions, and lay down rules respecting the moral law. What is the difference between the moral laud and the gospel? (1) The law requires that we worship God as our Creator; the gospel, that we worship him in and through Christ. God in Christ is propitious; out of him we may see God's power, justice, and holiness: in him we see his mercy displayed. (2) The moral law requires obedience, but gives …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Second Great Group of Parables.
(Probably in Peræa.) Subdivision F. Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. ^C Luke XVI. 19-31. [The parable we are about to study is a direct advance upon the thoughts in the previous section. We may say generally that if the parable of the unjust steward teaches how riches are to be used, this parable sets forth the terrible consequences of a failure to so use them. Each point of the previous discourse is covered in detail, as will be shown by the references in the discussion of the parable.] …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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