Proverbs 5 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Avoid temptation to commit adultery (5:1–23)

• The dangers of adultery (5:1–14)
• The joys of marital fidelity (5:15–20)
• Yahweh’s ways are better (5:21–23)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

My son

Occasionally, Solomon addresses a series of proverbs to “my son” or “sons.” This does not mean that those proverbs only apply to males. Instead, these phrases are forms used to pass on advice from a father to his son, and the kind of advice in these proverbs is about common temptations of young men.

Adulterous women

This chapter repeatedly warns young men to avoid any adulterous woman, whom Solomon calls “strange” and “foreign.” (See: adultery)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Euphemism

In 5:15–20, Solomon uses several euphemisms to refer to sexual activity between a man and his wife or an adulterous woman. Although the UST expresses the meaning of these euphemisms plainly, only do so if sexual language would not be offensive in your culture. It is usually best to use a euphemism from your own language that means the same thing.