Proverbs 5:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If you focus on these words and seek to grasp their significance without straying from the literal meanings, you will recognize how unkind it would be to deny even a sip of water to another. In this context, we discuss the wife, who should be regarded with purity; she is referred to as “the spring” and “the doe” because of the sanctity in the marital bond. While this holds true here, in different contexts, it is sometimes necessary to interpret the words themselves to uncover a deeper significance they convey.

By naming the Source, it illustrates the richness of possessions. Others derive understanding from the interpretations of Solomon’s Proverbs.

Those who do not love God are outsiders and are often referred to as antichrists. While they may be found within the church buildings, they cannot truly be recognized as children of God, and the essence of life does not pertain to them. One may undergo baptism or possess the gift of prophecy, yet still be a person of wickedness. For instance, King Saul was empowered to prophesy yet persecuted Saint David, despite being filled with the spirit of prophecy, as noted in 1 Samuel 19:20-24. A corrupt individual may also partake in the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, but scripture warns, "Whoever eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks condemnation to himself," as stated in 1 Corinthians 11:29.

In other words, rely not on the wellsprings of others, but seek out your own sources to gather the comforts that life offers.

Gather for yourself the fruit of joy and happiness. The goodness of your grace exists within you, emanating from you, dwelling in you; it is in you that you should seek the delight of your clear conscience. As it is written, Drink water from your own cistern, and flowing from your own well.

The individual who, akin to the patriarchs, has discovered the depths of understanding through spiritual labor and reflection encounters Christ within those depths, the wellspring of Life. Wisdom beckons us to partake from this source: "Drink of the waters of your vessels, and of your wells of the spring"—those who heed this call will uncover Her treasures within us.

From their sources, namely the Holy Fathers, let us partake of the living water that leads to everlasting life as stated in Scripture (John 4:14). This is what the Savior proclaimed regarding the Spirit, whom those who have faith in Him seek to receive (John 7:39).

Draw sustenance from your own well and the waters that flow from it. As the prophet Isaiah foretold, you will become like a well-watered garden and a spring whose waters never cease to flow. The desolate places of past ages will be restored by your offspring; you will lay the foundations for generations to come, earning the title of restorer of the broken and the renewer of pathways for the people (Isaiah 58:11-12). Thus, not only will every thought and intention of your heart be directed toward holy and ceaseless reflection on God's commandments, but also all your wandering and scattered thoughts shall be gathered into that same divine understanding.

The teacher reiterates to his young students the wise counsel of his parents, cautioning them against the allure of foreign women, while encouraging them to seek joy and love within their own families. He urges them to do so with confidence, for before God, all paths of humanity are open, and any departure from His precepts comes with severe consequences.

Son, draw refreshment from your own cisterns and wells. In admonishing against promiscuity, Solomon encourages his student to find satisfaction in a righteous spouse, likening her to a source of living water. For every household, particularly in regions where water is limited, it brings great joy to have personal reservoirs and springs for everyday needs rather than relying on neighbors or public sources. Solomon equates this joy to having a lawful wife, emphasizing a relationship of purity and exclusive companionship.