May your fountain be blessedThis phrase uses the metaphor of a "fountain" to symbolize the source of life and vitality, often interpreted as one's family or offspring. In biblical times, a fountain was a vital source of water, essential for survival and prosperity, symbolizing abundance and blessing. The blessing of a fountain implies a divine favor upon one's family life and lineage. This imagery is consistent with other biblical references to water as a symbol of life and blessing, such as in
Psalm 1:3, where a righteous person is likened to a tree planted by streams of water. The idea of blessing here also connects to the Abrahamic covenant, where God promises to bless Abraham's descendants (
Genesis 12:2-3).
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:
This phrase emphasizes the importance of marital fidelity and joy within the covenant of marriage. The reference to "the wife of your youth" suggests a lifelong commitment, encouraging the husband to find joy and satisfaction in the spouse of his early years. This reflects the biblical ideal of marriage as a permanent and exclusive union, as seen inGenesis 2:24, where a man is to leave his parents and be united to his wife. The call to "rejoice" in one's spouse aligns with the broader biblical theme of joy as a fruit of a godly life (Galatians 5:22). Culturally, this underscores the value placed on marriage in ancient Israelite society, where family was central to social and religious life. The joy found in a faithful marriage can also be seen as a type of the relationship between Christ and the Church, as described inEphesians 5:25-33, where the love and commitment between husband and wife reflect Christ's love for His people.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
SolomonTraditionally 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 YouthThis 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 FountainSymbolically represents the source of life and vitality, often used in biblical literature to denote blessings and prosperity.
Teaching Points
The Sanctity of MarriageMarriage 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 CommitmentThe verse calls for rejoicing in the wife of one's youth, highlighting the importance of lifelong commitment and fidelity in marriage.
Joy in MarriageFinding 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 ObedienceThe "fountain" being blessed suggests that obedience to God's design for marriage brings about divine blessings and fulfillment.
Cultivating Love and RespectActively 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 and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Proverbs 5:18?
2.How can you "rejoice in the wife of your youth" daily?
3.What steps ensure faithfulness in marriage as Proverbs 5:18 advises?
4.How does Proverbs 5:18 connect with Ephesians 5:25 on marital love?
5.Why is delighting in your spouse important for a godly marriage?
6.How can Proverbs 5:18 guide your prayers for your marriage?
7.How does Proverbs 5:18 define the concept of marital joy and fidelity?
8.What historical context influenced the writing of Proverbs 5:18?
9.How does Proverbs 5:18 relate to the broader theme of wisdom in Proverbs?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 5?
11.What does "Rejoice in the Wife of Your Youth" mean?
12.What does 'Rejoice in the Wife of Your Youth' mean?
13.What does the Bible say about sex in marriage?
14.What does the Bible say about sex in marriage?What Does Proverbs 5:18 Mean
May your fountain be blessed• The “fountain” pictures the source and flow of a man’s life, especially his sexual life within marriage.Proverbs 5:15–17 urges, “Drink water from your own cistern… let them be yours alone”; the fountain is to be kept pure and devoted to one spouse.
• Blessing comes from God (Psalm 128:1–4;James 1:17) and is experienced when marital intimacy remains exclusive.
• A blessed fountain implies:
– Physical health and vitality (Proverbs 3:7–8).
– Spiritual prosperity, for obedience to God’s design brings favor (Deuteronomy 28:1–6).
– Protection from moral ruin: the whole context ofProverbs 5 warns against the adulteress whose “end is bitter as wormwood” (v. 4).
• Marriage, therefore, is not a mere human contract but a God-given covenant that channels His blessing to husband, wife, children, and community (Malachi 2:14-15).
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth• “Rejoice” commands delight, not mere endurance.Ecclesiastes 9:9 says, “Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of your fleeting life.” Joyful fidelity honors both spouse and Lord.
• “Wife of your youth” reminds husbands to cherish the one they first vowed to love, even as years pass.Proverbs 18:22 notes, “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD,” favor meant to be celebrated lifelong.
• Practical expressions of rejoicing:
– Words of affirmation and affection (Songs 4:1-7).
– Faithful provision and protection (Ephesians 5:25-29).
– Shared spiritual growth (1 Peter 3:7).
– Ongoing physical intimacy celebrated as holy (1 Corinthians 7:3-5).
• Such rejoicing guards the marriage bed and fortifies against temptation (Proverbs 5:19-20), reflecting Christ’s steadfast love for His church (Ephesians 5:32).
summaryProverbs 5:18 calls husbands to guard and enjoy the God-given spring of marital intimacy. When that fountain is kept within the covenant boundaries, God blesses it; when the husband continually delights in the wife he married in his youth, both partners taste lasting joy and protection. Fidelity, affection, and shared faith turn marriage into a channel of divine favor that refreshes the couple and honors the Lord.
(18)
Let thy fountain. . .--As a reward for purity of life, the blessing of a numerous offspring is invoked. (Comp.
Psalm 128:3, where the wife is a "fruitful vine," and the children numerous and flourishing like olive-branches.)
Verse 18. -
Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. The employment of the ordinary term "wife" in the second hemistich shows in what sense the figure which is used has to be understood. The terms "fountain" and "wife" denote the same person. The wife is here called "thy fountain" (Hebrew,
m'kor'ka), just as she has been previously "thine own cistern" (
b'or) and "thine own well" (
b'er) in ver. 15. The Hebrew
makor, "fountain," is derived from the root
kur, "to dig." The figure seems to determine that the blessing here spoken of consists in the with being a fruitful mother of children; and hence the phrase means, "Let thy with be blessed,"
i.e. rendered happy in being the mother of thy children. This is quite consistent with the Hebrew mode of thought. Every Israelitish wife regarded herself, and was regarded by ethers as "blessed," if she bore children, and unhappy if the reverse were the case.
Blessed; Hebrew,
baruk (Vulgate,
benedicta), is the kal participle passive of
barak, "to bless." Instead of this, the LXX. reads
ἴδια, "Let thy fountain be thine own" - a variation which in no sense conveys the meaning of the original.
And rejoice with; rather,
rejoice in, the wife being regarded as the sphere within which the husband is to find his pleasure and joy. Umbreit explains, "Let thy wife be extolled." The same construction of the imperative
s'makh, from
samakh," to be glad, or joyful," with
min, occurs in
Judges 9:19;
Zephaniah 3:14, etc. The Authorized rendering is, however, favoured by the Vulgate,
laetare cum, and the LXX.,
συνευφραίνω μετὰ Compare the exhortation in
Ecclesiastes 9:9, "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest."
The wife of thy youth (Hebrew,
ishshah n'ureyka) may mean either
(1) the wife to whom thou hast given the fair bloom of thy youth (Umbreit);
(2) the wife chosen in thy youth (Delitzsch); or
(3) thy youthful wife. The former seems the more probable meaning. Compare the expression, "companion of thy youth," inProverbs 2:17.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
May your fountainמְקוֹרְךָ֥(mə·qō·wr·ḵā)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4726:Something dug, a, source, of happiness, wisdom, progeny)beיְהִֽי־(yə·hî-)Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, beblessed,בָר֑וּךְ(ḇā·rūḵ)Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 1288:To kneel, to bless God, man, to curseand may you rejoiceוּ֝שְׂמַ֗ח(ū·śə·maḥ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 8055:To brighten up, be, blithe, gleesomein the wifeמֵאֵ֥שֶׁת(mê·’ê·šeṯ)Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 802:Woman, wife, femaleof your youth:נְעוּרֶֽךָ׃(nə·‘ū·re·ḵā)Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5271:Youth, the state, the persons
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OT Poetry: Proverbs 5:18 Let your spring be blessed (Prov. Pro Pr) 
