Paragraph 5:15–20
5:15
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
15a Drink water from your own cistern,
15b and running water from your own well.
5:15a–b
Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well: These are parallel metaphors. The implied topic of both metaphors is that a man should satisfy his sexual desires with his own wife rather than seeking sexual pleasure elsewhere. The illustration is that a person should satisfy his thirst by drinking from his own source of water. In some languages, it may be helpful to make the implied topic of the metaphor explicit. For example:
Be faithful to your own wife, just as you drink water from your own well. (New Century Version)
Notice that the New Century Version has used a euphemism, “be faithful to your own wife,” to translate the more literal meaning “satisfy your sexual thirst with your own wife.” In this verse and the following verses, you should use expressions that your readers consider appropriate.
In some cultures, wells or other water sources are considered to be public property rather than private property. In those cultures, the metaphor of a person who drinks only from his own well may be meaningless. If that is true in your culture, it may be better to state the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:
Be faithful to your own wife, and be satisfied with her love alone.
your own cistern…from your own well: A cistern is a reservoir or container for water. It is usually privately owned. A well is a water source that is supplied by underground springs. No distinction is intended between these two terms in the present verse. Both terms refer figuratively to a man’s own wife as the source of his sexual satisfaction.
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