Proverbs 2:17 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 2:17 mean?

Proverbs 2:17 describes a person who abandons the trusted guide from her younger years and forgets the solemn agreement she made with God. The verse warns about someone turning away from foundational relationships and commitments, especially those tied to faithfulness and promises before God.

In the context of Proverbs, a father is speaking to his son, urging him to seek wisdom and avoid the path of those who act unfaithfully. The verse uses the image of a woman who leaves her husband (“the guide of her youth”) and breaks her covenant with God, illustrating the danger of forsaking both personal and spiritual commitments.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 2:17

• "forsaketh" (עָזַב, ‘azav): This word means to leave, abandon, or desert. It highlights a deliberate turning away, not just a casual forgetting.
• "guide" (אַלּוּף, alluph): Often means a close companion or leader, here referring to a husband or trusted partner from youth.
• "youth" (נְעוּרִים, ne‘urim): Refers to the early, formative years, emphasizing the depth and length of the relationship being abandoned.
• "forgetteth" (שָׁכַח, shakach): Means to ignore or neglect, not just a lapse in memory, but a willful disregard.
• "covenant" (בְּרִית, berith): A binding agreement or promise, especially one made before God, showing the seriousness of what is being broken.
• "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): The standard Hebrew word for God, underscoring that the broken promise is not just between people, but involves God Himself.

Why Proverbs 2:17 matters

• Proverbs 2:17 clarifies that unfaithfulness is not just a personal issue but also a spiritual one, as it involves breaking a covenant with God.
• The verse emphasizes the seriousness of abandoning long-standing, trusted relationships, especially those formed in youth and before God.
• In the wider passage, this warning fits into the larger theme of Proverbs 2, which urges the reader to value wisdom and avoid the destructive paths of those who reject it.