Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;

PROVERBS 5:10KJV
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Proverbs 5:10 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 5:10 mean?

Proverbs 5:10 warns that if someone makes unwise choices, especially in the area of sexual immorality, their hard-earned wealth and efforts could end up benefiting strangers instead of themselves or their family. The verse pictures a situation where all a person’s work and resources are lost to people outside their own household.

In the context of Proverbs, this is a father warning his son about the dangers of being seduced by someone outside his marriage. The verse uses vivid language to show the real-life consequences: not just personal regret, but the loss of everything a person has worked for, which ends up in the hands of others who have no connection or loyalty to him.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 5:10

  • "strangers" (זָרִים, zarim): This word often refers to outsiders or foreigners, but in Proverbs it can also mean people who are outside the bonds of family or covenant, highlighting the loss to those with no rightful claim.
  • "wealth" (כֹּחַ, koach): While usually meaning "strength" or "power," here it refers to the results of one’s labor—everything a person has built up through effort.
  • "labours" (עָצֵב, atsev): This word points to painful toil or hard work, emphasizing that what is lost is not just money, but the fruit of real struggle.
  • "house" (בַּיִת, bayit): In ancient Israel, "house" meant more than a building; it referred to one’s household or family line, so losing your labors to another’s house means losing your legacy.

Why Proverbs 5:10 matters

  • Proverbs 5:10 makes clear that the consequences of foolish or immoral choices are not just emotional or spiritual, but can be very practical and material—affecting wealth, work, and family.
  • The verse connects personal choices to wider social and family impact, showing that actions can have ripple effects far beyond the individual.
  • This warning fits into the larger theme of Proverbs 5, where the father urges his son to consider the long-term results of his decisions, especially regarding faithfulness and integrity.

Where else these words appear

“labours” Hebrew H6089 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
  • Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
  • Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

“stranger” Hebrew H5237 · used in 45 verses

  • Genesis 31:15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
  • 1 Kings 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
  • Proverbs 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

“strangers” Hebrew H2114 · used in 76 verses

  • Exodus 29:33 And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.
  • Psalms 54:3 For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
  • Isaiah 29:5 Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.

“filled” Hebrew H7646 · used in 92 verses

  • Exodus 16:8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
  • Psalms 88:3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
  • Ecclesiastes 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.