Proverbs 5:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

Let thy fountains be conveyed abroad, and in the streets divide thy waters.
Douay-Rheims

יָפ֣וּצוּ מַעְיְנֹתֶ֣יךָ ח֑וּצָה בָּ֝רְחֹב֗וֹת פַּלְגֵי־מָֽיִם׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

5 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 6 commentaries

Augustine of Hippo
Ambrose of Milan
John Cassian
Ireneus (Orda)
Vissarion (Nechaev)

Augustine of Hippo

5th centuryChurch Father

Those who do not love God are outsiders; they embody the spirit of antichrist. Even though they may be present within the places of worship, they cannot be regarded as children of God, and the wellspring of life does not pertain to them. Having received baptism or the ability to prophesy does not necessarily indicate righteousness. For instance, King Saul, despite being a prophet, pursued Saint David, even after being overtaken by the spirit of prophecy as noted in 1 Samuel 19:20-24. Similarly, an unrighteous individual may partake in the sacrament of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ; concerning such individuals, it is written: Whoever eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks condemnation to himself (1 Corinthians 11:29).

Ambrose of Milan

4th centuryChurch Father

Collect for yourself the fruit of joy and happiness. The delight of your grace resides within you; it originates from you, remains in you, and can be discovered deep within. It is there that you ought to search for the joy of your untainted conscience. Hence, it is written, "Drink water from thy reservoir, and flowing from thy well."

The Stream of Redemption and Life When I assert that the water is pure, I am speaking of the grace bestowed by the Spirit. Who will grant my soul this wellspring? Let it flourish within me, overflowing with the stream of eternal existence! Wisdom instructs: Draw from your own cistern and let the waters flow from your well. Allow not your sources to overflow into the streets, nor let the waters run through the squares (Proverbs 5:15-16). But how shall I safeguard my water, ensuring it is not wasted? How do I maintain my cistern, so that no breach of sin permits the water of eternal life to escape and be lost?

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Guide us, O Lord Jesus Christ, as you taught your apostles, admonishing them not to store treasures for themselves on earth, where rust and decay destroy and where thieves can infiltrate and steal (Matthew 6:19).... Our transgressions manifest as our immorality, our passions as our depravity, casting us into shame and dulling our minds. The corruption of our day is like Arius, the corruption of our time is Photinus, who rends the sacred garments of the Church with their malice. In their attempts to fracture the inseparable power of Divine authority, they sacrilegiously rip apart the delicate fabric of faith. The precious water spills when the barriers of the cistern are gnawed away by Arius, and sinks into the desert sands when Photinus thrusts his venom into one’s reservoir of faith. If you seek Christ, abandon the barren containers. For Christ Himself did not pause at a mere pond, but at a spring. There, at the well, He was discovered by the Samaritan woman, who came to fetch water (Jn 4:7) and believed. And though you may have arrived late, even at the sixth hour, you will find Jesus weary from His journey (Jn 4:6). Indeed, He is fatigued from the road. You are the reason, for He has long sought you. Your lack of faith has demanded much of Him. Yet He harbors no resentment, even if you arrived tardily. He who offers water seeks a drink. He does not consume the waters of the brook flowing by, but the waters of your salvation. He drinks of your joy. Simultaneously, He partakes of the cup—suffering the Passion as reparation for your sins—so that you too may satiate your thirst through the communion with the holy Blood of Christ.

John Cassian

5th centuryChurch Father

If this teaching is earnestly embraced and deeply ingrained in the soul, and kept in quietude, then much like a delightful wine that uplifts the spirit when enriched by sincere feelings and the wisdom of endurance, it will emanate a profound aroma from the depths of your heart. This will pour forth like an everlasting fountain, flowing through the veins of your experiences and the channels of your virtues, continuously streaming as if from a boundless wellspring within you. For it will be fulfilled in you what is expressed in Proverbs to those who act upon it: ‘Drink water from your own cistern and running water from your own well. Let your fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of water in the streets’ (Proverbs 5:15-16).

Ireneus (Orda)

19th centuryCommentator

The teacher conveys to his young followers the valuable wisdom of his predecessors, cautioning them against the allure of unfamiliar women, while encouraging them to seek joy and affection within their own families. He emphasizes the importance of pursuing this path without hesitation, for God observes all of humanity's actions, and any transgressions against His commandments face strict consequences.

Vissarion (Nechaev)

19th centuryCommentator

Let the streams of your spring flow towards you, and may your waters extend into your pathways. This verse aligns with the previous discussion on the importance of marital fidelity, highlighting its fruits—legitimate offspring, represented here as waters that flow from one's own source rather than that of another. In Scripture, children and descendants are frequently depicted using this imagery (Num. 24:7; Is. 48:1; Is. 51:1-2). A multitude signifies the blessings of the Lord.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.