What is the meaning of Proverbs 5:10? setting the scene Solomon has been urging his son to “keep your way far from her” (Proverbs 5:8), warning against the seductive pull of adultery. Verses 9–11 list cascading consequences if the warning is ignored. Verse 10 forms the middle, painting a vivid picture of material loss: “lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich the house of a foreigner.” The language is straightforward—sin costs something tangible. Compare Proverbs 6:26, where the same sin can reduce a man to “a loaf of bread.” the imagery of loss • “Strangers feast on your wealth” suggests resources you worked for being devoured by people who have no rightful claim (Ecclesiastes 5:10-11). • “Your labors enrich the house of a foreigner” depicts earnings redirected to someone outside your covenant community (Deuteronomy 28:30-33). Together the phrases show that immorality doesn’t merely threaten feelings; it drains bank accounts, reputations, and legacies. the moral and financial stakes Scripture never separates moral failure from real-world fallout. In later verses the wounded man laments, “I have come to the brink of utter ruin” (Proverbs 5:14). Likewise, 1 Corinthians 6:18 warns that sexual sin is against one’s own body, and Hebrews 13:4 says God will judge the adulterer. The point is clear: there is no such thing as a private sin with no public cost. broader biblical echoes • Genesis 39 contrasts Joseph, who fled temptation and was later honored with authority and prosperity. • Judges 16 shows Samson, who yielded to Delilah, losing strength, freedom, and eventually his life. These narratives confirm the principle: obedience preserves blessings; disobedience squanders them. application today • Guard boundaries—digital, emotional, and physical—so your earnings support your household, not court fees or secret expenses. • Cultivate contentment with your spouse (Proverbs 5:18-19; 1 Timothy 6:6). • Remember stewardship: every paycheck is God’s provision (James 1:17). Immorality mismanages His gifts. summary Proverbs 5:10 warns that sexual sin siphons hard-earned wealth into the hands of outsiders. The verse stands as a sober reminder that unfaithfulness bankrupts more than the soul—it empties wallets, erodes influence, and enriches those who neither labored nor loved. Choosing purity protects both spiritual and material treasure. |
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