5:16

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

16a Why should your springs flow in the streets,

16b
your streams of water in the public squares ?

There is an ellipsis in 5:16b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 5:16a. For example:

16b
⌊and why should⌋ your streams of water ⌊flow⌋ in the public squares ?

5:16a–b

Why should your springs flow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?: There are at least four ways to interpret the parallel metaphors in this verse:

(1) The words springs and streams of water refer to the son’s sexual affections or the source of his sexual pleasure. The verse contains parallel rhetorical questions. These questions advise the man not to share his sexual affections or seek a source of sexual pleasure in the streets or public squares. In other words, he should not seek sexual pleasure outside his own home with women other than his wife. For example:

Don’t pour your water in the streets; don’t give your love to just any woman. (New Century Version)

Notice that the New Century Version translates the rhetorical questions as statements.

(2) The words springs and streams of water refer to the young man’s wife. The verse contains parallel rhetorical questions. These questions advise the man not to neglect his wife and thus cause her to be unfaithful. With this interpretation, the streets or public squares refer to other men with whom the unfaithful wife would become involved.

(3) The words springs and streams of water refer to the children that result from a marriage. The verse contains parallel positive statements. These statements promise that a faithful marriage will result in many children and other benefits to the community. With this interpretation, the streets or public squares refer to the community into which the children would be born.

(4) The words springs and streams of water refer to the children that are born outside the marriage relationship. This verse advises the young man not to produce children with an immoral woman, because such children will grow up in another man’s home and will not benefit him. With this interpretation, the streets or public squares refer to other families who would raise the illegitimate children that he fathered. For example:

Children that you have by other women will do you no good. (Good News Translation)

Most versions are ambiguous. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it best fits the context. The chapter as a whole is a warning to the man against sexual unfaithfulness. Verses 5:15 and 5:18–20 clearly advise the man to seek sexual pleasure in his wife alone. The context is not about the danger of a wife’s unfaithfulness or the benefits of children.

The metaphors occur in the form of rhetorical questions. The function of the rhetorical questions is to give advice. Other ways to translate the metaphors are:

• Keep the first metaphor, and translate the meaning of the second metaphor. For example:

Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Should your springs flow outside in the streets? Of course not! You should never sleep with a woman who is not your wife.

• Translate both metaphors as similes. Make the point of comparison explicit. For example:

You should not be like a river that flows through the marketplace. Do not be like a water source where any woman can drink.

springs…streams of water: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as springs refers to the headwaters or source of streams and rivers. It is the place where flowing water first comes out of the ground. The parallel term, streams of water, refers to channels or canals in which water is flowing. In this verse, these terms are used figuratively. Both terms refer to the son’s sexual affections.

streets…public squares: These parallel terms are used figuratively. They refer to women other than the young man’s wife.

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