Proverbs 9:17
Proverbs 9:17 in Multiple Translations
“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Stolen waters are sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Drink taken without right is sweet, and food in secret is pleasing.
“Stolen water is sweet, and food eaten in secret tastes good!”
Stollen waters are sweete, and hid bread is pleasant.
'Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.'
“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Stolen waters are sweeter, and hid den bread is more pleasant.
“Just as water which you have stolen tastes very good and food that you eat by yourself tastes the best, if you have sex secretly with someone to whom you are not married, you will enjoy it very much.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 9:17
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 9:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
מַֽיִם
גְּנוּבִ֥ים
יִמְתָּ֑קוּ
וְ/לֶ֖חֶם
סְתָרִ֣ים
יִנְעָֽם
מַֽיִם
mayim
H4325
Water (Gate)
N-mp
גְּנוּבִ֥ים
gânab
H1589
to steal
V-Qal-Inf-c
יִמְתָּ֑קוּ
mâthaq
H4985
be sweet
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
וְ/לֶ֖חֶם
lechem
H3899
food
Conj | N-cs
סְתָרִ֣ים
çêther
H5643
secrecy
N-mp
יִנְעָֽם
nâʻêm
H5276
be pleasant
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 9:17
מַֽיִם
mayim
H4325
"Water (Gate)"
N-mp
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: This name means water, refreshment
Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.
גְּנוּבִ֥ים
gânab
H1589
"to steal"
V-Qal-Inf-c
To steal means to take something secretly, whether physically or by deceiving someone. This can happen in various ways, as described in different Bible stories.
Definition: 1) to steal, steal away, carry away 1a) (Qal) to steal 1b) (Niphal) to be stolen 1c) (Piel) to steal away 1d)(Pual) to be stolen away, be brought by stealth 1e) (Hithpael) to go by stealth, steal away
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: carry away, [idiom] indeed, secretly bring, steal (away), get by stealth. See also: Genesis 30:33; Joshua 7:11; Proverbs 6:30.
יִמְתָּ֑קוּ
mâthaq
H4985
"be sweet"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To be sweet means to be pleasing or enjoyable, like a sweet taste or a pleasant conversation. It can also mean to suck, like a baby nursing, and is used in Psalm 119:103 to describe the sweetness of God's words.
Definition: 1) to be or become sweet or pleasing 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be or become sweet 1a2) to be or become pleasant 1a3) to suck 1b) (Hiphil) to give sweet taste Also means: ma.taq (מָתָק "to sweeten" H4988)
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: be (made, [idiom] take) sweet. See also: Exodus 15:25; Job 21:33; Psalms 55:15.
וְ/לֶ֖חֶם
lechem
H3899
"food"
Conj | N-cs
This Hebrew word refers to food, especially bread or grain. It's used throughout the Bible to describe meals, sacrifices, and daily life, highlighting the importance of food in ancient Israelite culture.
Definition: : food(eating) 1) bread, food, grain 1a) bread 1a1) bread 1a2) bread-corn 1b) food (in general)
Usage: Occurs in 277 OT verses. KJV: (shew-) bread, [idiom] eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals. See also: Genesis 3:19; 1 Samuel 20:34; Psalms 14:4.
סְתָרִ֣ים
çêther
H5643
"secrecy"
N-mp
This word refers to a shelter or covering, like a place to hide. It can also mean protection, as in Psalm 18:11 where God is a shelter from danger.
Definition: 1) covering, shelter, hiding place, secrecy 1a) covering, cover 1b) hiding place, shelter, secret place 1c) secrecy 1c1) secrecy (of tongue being slanderous)
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: backbiting, covering, covert, [idiom] disguise(-th), hiding place, privily, protection, secret(-ly, place). See also: Deuteronomy 13:7; Psalms 61:5; Psalms 18:12.
יִנְעָֽם
nâʻêm
H5276
"be pleasant"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to be pleasant or agreeable, describing something or someone as beautiful, sweet, or delightful, as seen in the Bible's descriptions of beautiful music or lovely landscapes. It is used to describe things that bring joy. In the Bible, it appears in descriptions of pleasant things.
Definition: (Qal) to be pleasant, be beautiful, be sweet, be delightful, be lovely
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: pass in beauty, be delight, be pleasant, be sweet. See also: Genesis 49:15; Proverbs 9:17; Psalms 141:6.
Study Notes — Proverbs 9:17
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 9:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 9:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 9:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 9:17
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 9:17
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 9:17
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 9:17
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 9:17
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 9:17
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 9:17
- Sermons on Proverbs 9:17
Context — The Way of Folly
15calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight.
16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
17“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”
18But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 20:17 | Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel. |
| 2 | Proverbs 23:31–32 | Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. |
| 3 | James 1:14–15 | But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. |
| 4 | Proverbs 30:20 | This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’ |
| 5 | Romans 7:8 | But sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead. |
| 6 | Proverbs 7:18–20 | Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses! For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.” |
| 7 | Genesis 3:6 | When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. |
| 8 | Ephesians 5:12 | For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. |
| 9 | 2 Kings 5:24–27 | When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the gifts from the servants and stored them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they departed. When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Gehazi, where have you been?” “Your servant did not go anywhere,” he replied. But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants? Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow. |
Proverbs 9:17 Summary
This verse is warning us about the dangers of sin and the temptation to do things that are wrong. It's saying that even though sin might seem exciting or pleasurable at first, it will ultimately lead to trouble and heartache, as seen in the story of Esau in Genesis 25:29-34. We need to be careful not to give in to temptations that seem sweet or appealing, but instead, seek to follow God's path and obey His commands, as encouraged in Psalm 37:3-7. By doing so, we can find true satisfaction and joy in our relationship with Him, as promised in Jeremiah 31:33-34.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the phrase 'stolen water is sweet' mean in Proverbs 9:17?
This phrase is a metaphor for the temporary pleasure and excitement that can come from sin, as seen in the temptation of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:6, but it ultimately leads to destruction and death, as warned in Proverbs 9:18.
Why is the woman in Proverbs 9:17 offering 'bread eaten in secret'?
The woman, who represents foolishness, is offering this bread as a temptation, promising that it will be pleasurable and satisfying, but in reality, it is a trap that leads to spiritual death, as seen in the consequences of sin in Deuteronomy 30:19-20.
How does this verse relate to the concept of sin and temptation?
Proverbs 9:17 highlights the allure of sin and the temptation to indulge in secret pleasures, but it also warns of the deadly consequences of giving in to these temptations, as seen in Romans 6:23, which states that the wages of sin is death.
What can we learn from this verse about making wise choices?
This verse teaches us to be cautious of the temptation to indulge in sinful pleasures, and instead, to seek wisdom and follow the path of righteousness, as encouraged in Proverbs 8:32-36 and Psalm 119:105.
Reflection Questions
- What are some 'stolen waters' or 'secret breads' that I may be tempted by in my own life, and how can I resist them?
- How can I distinguish between true pleasure and temporary, sinful pleasure, and what role does God's Word play in helping me make this distinction?
- In what ways can I seek to satisfy my desires and longings in a way that honors God, rather than seeking secret and sinful pleasures?
- What are some biblical examples of people who gave in to temptation, and what can I learn from their experiences, such as the story of David in 2 Samuel 11:1-27?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 9:17
Stolen waters are sweet,.... Wells and fountains of waters in those hot countries were very valuable, and were the property of particular persons; about which there were sometimes great strife and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 9:17
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. Stolen waters are sweet, and bread (eaten) in secret is pleasant - (cf.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 9:17
Stolen waters; by which he understandeth, either, 1. Idolatry, or other wickednesses, which in Solomon’ s time before his fall were publicly forbidden and punished, but privately practised; or rather, 2. Adultery. Are sweet; partly, from the difficulty of obtaining them; partly, from the art which men use in contriving such secret sins; and partly, because the very prohibition renders it more grateful to corrupt nature.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 9:17
Proverbs 9:17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.Ver. 17. Stolen waters are sweet.] Forbidden pleasures are most pleasing to sensualists, who count no mirth but madness; no pleasure, unless they may have the devil to their playfellow. Venison is nothing so sweet, they say, as when it is stolen. “ Quod licet ingratum est; quod non licet, acrius urit: Sic interdictis imminet aeger aquis. ” - Ovid. Men long to be meddling with the murdering morsels of sin, which nourish not, but rent and consume the belly that receives them. Many eat on earth that which they digest in hell. In terris manducant quod apud inferos digerant. - Augustine.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 9:17
(17) Stolen waters are sweet.—See above, on Proverbs 5:15. Bread eaten in secret.—The same figure is used in Proverbs 30:20.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 9:17
Verse 17. Stolen waters are sweet] I suppose this to be a proverbial mode of expression, importing that illicit pleasures are sweeter than those which are legal. The meaning is easy to be discerned; and the conduct of multitudes shows that they are ruled by this adage. On it are built all the adulterous intercourses in the land.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 9:17
17. stolen waters] Maurer compares what he calls “tristissimum illud Ovidii,” “Nitimur in vetitum semper, cupimusque negata.”
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 9:17
The besetting sin of all times and countries, the one great proof of the inherent corruption of man’s nature. Pleasures are attractive because they are forbidden (compare Romans 7:7).
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 9:17
17. Stolen waters — This verse, expressive of the above idea, was, probably, a proverb which the woman of vice turns to her own purposes. Bread eaten in secret — Literally, bread of secrecies. Both allude to unlawful pleasures.
Sermons on Proverbs 9:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Celebrating Christ and Transforming Lives - Part 2 by K.P. Yohannan | In this sermon, Dr. K. P. Ohannon discusses the importance of caring for the poor and the lost world, just as Jesus did when he was on earth. He highlights the harsh reality of mil |
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Lessons From the Temptation of Jesus by Timothy Tow | Timothy Tow preaches on the temptations faced by Jesus in the wilderness, highlighting the importance of using God's Word as a weapon against the Devil's schemes. He emphasizes the |
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(Pdf Book) the Spirit of Truth by Art Katz | Art Katz emphasizes the critical importance of truth in the Church, arguing that the institution has become inauthentic and predictable due to a lack of genuine commitment to truth |
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The Hidden Secrets of Kabbalah-a Messianic Approach by Michael L. Brown | In this sermon, the speaker discusses a mystical encounter in the garden of paradise involving four men: Ben-Azai, Ben-Zoma, An-Akhair, and Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Akiva warns the other |
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Chin-Chin Turns Gravel by E.A. Adeboye | E.A. Adeboye delivers a powerful sermon on the consequences of acquiring wealth through fraudulent or deceitful means, emphasizing that the end result of ill-gotten gains is not bl |
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Prohibition by Billy Sunday | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the negative effects of alcohol consumption on society. He highlights the new law passed by Congress, which imposes a two-dollar tax on whisk |
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From Babylon to Jerusalem - (Daniel) ch.1:8-2:35 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of obeying God's commandments, even the seemingly minor ones. He references four passages of scripture that forbid certain act |