The Meaning of Proverbs 5:16 Explained

Proverbs 5:16

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

YLT: Let thy fountains be scattered abroad, In broad places rivulets of waters.

Darby: Thy fountains shall be poured forth, as water-brooks in the broadways.

ASV: Should thy springs be dispersed abroad, And streams of water in the streets?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Proverbs 5:16 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 5

1  Solomon exhorts to wisdom
3  He shows the mischief of unfaithfulness and riot
15  He exhorts to contentedness, generosity, and chastity
22  The wicked are overtaken with their own sins

What do the individual words in Proverbs 5:16 mean?

Should be dispersed your fountains abroad in the streets Streams of water
יָפ֣וּצוּ מַעְיְנֹתֶ֣יךָ ח֑וּצָה בָּ֝רְחֹב֗וֹת פַּלְגֵי־ מָֽיִם

יָפ֣וּצוּ  Should  be  dispersed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: פּוּץ 
Sense: to scatter, be dispersed, be scattered.
מַעְיְנֹתֶ֣יךָ  your  fountains 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מַעְיָן  
Sense: spring.
ח֑וּצָה  abroad 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: חוּץ  
Sense: outside, outward, street, the outside.
בָּ֝רְחֹב֗וֹת  in  the  streets 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: רְחֹב  
Sense: broad or open place or plaza.
פַּלְגֵי־  Streams 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: פֶּלֶג  
Sense: channel, canal.
מָֽיִם  of  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.