Proverbs 9:17
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Original Language Analysis
גְּנוּבִ֥ים
Stolen
H1589
גְּנוּבִ֥ים
Stolen
Strong's:
H1589
Word #:
2 of 6
to thieve (literally or figuratively); by implication, to deceive
יִמְתָּ֑קוּ
are sweet
H4985
יִמְתָּ֑קוּ
are sweet
Strong's:
H4985
Word #:
3 of 6
to suck, by implication, to relish, or (intransitively) be sweet
וְלֶ֖חֶם
and bread
H3899
וְלֶ֖חֶם
and bread
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
4 of 6
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
Cross References
Proverbs 20:17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.Proverbs 30:20Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.Ephesians 5:12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.Romans 7:8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.Genesis 3:6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Historical Context
Chapter 9 concludes the instructional section with a final dramatic contrast between Wisdom's feast (vv.1-6) and Folly's house (vv.13-18). Both invite the simple; both offer food. But Wisdom offers life while Folly leads to death. This mirrors the Two Ways tradition found in Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and throughout Jewish and early Christian teaching.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'stolen waters' or 'secret bread' are you tempted to believe will bring satisfaction despite God's prohibition?
- How can you cultivate long-term perspective to resist the immediate allure of forbidden pleasures?
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse gives voice to Folly, the rival of Wisdom personified in this chapter. 'Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant' expresses the seductive lie that forbidden things are more enjoyable. The allure of the forbidden, the thrill of secrecy, the excitement of transgression—Folly appeals to these sinful inclinations. But verse 18 reveals the truth: 'he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.' The pleasure is temporary; the consequences are eternal. This exposes sin's fundamental deception—promising satisfaction while delivering death.