Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.

PROVERBS 5:16KJV
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Proverbs 5:16 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 5:16 mean?

Proverbs 5:16 uses the image of fountains and rivers spreading out into the streets to describe something precious being allowed to flow freely and publicly. In the context of the chapter, this is often understood as a warning not to let what is meant to be private and valuable become common or exposed.

The speaker is a father giving advice to his son about faithfulness and wise living, especially regarding relationships and sexuality. The verse uses poetic language to urge the son to keep what is meant for his own household from being scattered or shared carelessly with others, fitting into a larger warning against adultery and unfaithfulness.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 5:16

  • fountains (מָקוֹר, maqor): This word refers to a spring or source of water, often used as a symbol for life, vitality, or offspring. Here, it highlights something life-giving and personal.
  • dispersed (פָּרַץ, parats): This verb means to break out, spread, or scatter. It emphasizes the idea of something being let loose or made common.
  • rivers (פֶּלֶג, peleg): This word means streams or channels of water, suggesting a flow that can be directed or uncontrolled.
  • streets (רְחוֹב, rekhov): This means open spaces or public streets, reinforcing the idea of something private becoming public.

Why Proverbs 5:16 matters

  • Proverbs 5:16 helps clarify that the imagery of water sources is not just about literal water, but about personal boundaries and the value of keeping certain things private.
  • The verse connects to the broader message of Proverbs 5, which warns against adultery and urges faithfulness in marriage, using vivid metaphors to make the lesson memorable.
  • Understanding the poetic language and original Hebrew words helps readers see the depth of the warning, showing that what is precious should not be given away or exposed to everyone.

Where else these words appear

“rivers” Hebrew H6388 · used in 10 verses

  • Job 29:6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
  • Psalms 65:9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
  • Isaiah 30:25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

“fountains” Hebrew H4599 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
  • 2 Kings 3:25 And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.
  • Proverbs 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

“streets” Hebrew H7339 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
  • Esther 6:9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
  • Jeremiah 9:21 For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.

“dispersed” Hebrew H6327 · used in 66 verses

  • Genesis 10:18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
  • Job 18:11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
  • Ezekiel 12:15 And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.