What Does Proverbs 5:17 Mean in the King James?

Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.

Proverbs 5:17 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

What the KJV calls “thine own” is, in Hebrew, “to you alone”: the boundary is part of the intimacy itself.

THE MEANING

What is entrusted to you is held within a bond rather than made available to outsiders; its boundary is part of its shape. The verse names an intimacy whose belonging is exclusive in the present: it is yours alone, with no stranger alongside.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the idea that intimacy remains unchanged when shared indiscriminately; the verse treats the boundary as part of its meaning.

THE ROOT

לְבַדֶּךָ

levaddekha

GROWS FROM

בדד

⁨בדד⁩ (badad): to be alone, apart, or in isolation.

“only thine own” in this verse is levaddekha. The phrase ⁨לְבַדֶּךָ⁩ means “to you alone,” carrying the root’s sense of apartness into the bond. English “own” can sound like possession; the Hebrew also makes the boundary explicit.

ALSO GROWS

badad: Alone, apart, or in isolation.

בָּדָד

This is the root in a basic form, making explicit the apartness carried by ⁨לְבַדֶּךָ⁩.

mitboded: Withdrawing or isolating oneself.

מִתְבּוֹדֵד

This form shows the root describing a state of separation, not only something possessed as one’s own.

THE PATTERN

A covenant bond reserves intimacy within the union, and its boundary marks the bond’s integrity.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Genesis 2:24 · KJVThe two become one flesh, placing the joined bond at the center of their intimacy.

A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

Song of Solomon 4:12 · KJVThe garden and fountain images portray intimacy as a bounded and treasured source.

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Matthew 19:6 · KJVThe union is described as joined, with its integrity held within the bond.

THE THREAD

Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.

Deuteronomy 33:28 · KJV

⁨בָּדָד⁩ (badad), “alone” or “apart,” is the same root behind ⁨לְבַדֶּךָ⁩ in this verse. Deuteronomy joins that apartness to dwelling “in safety,” opening the boundary here as protection around intimacy.

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