Please Support the Bible Translation Work of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

$5.00

Immorality Leads to Momentary Joy, Not a Life of Happiness

Proverbs 2:17 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
¹⁷who forsakes the companion of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God;

The Hebrew verb forsake (עָזַב azab) has the sense of to leave behind, to abandon. This morally estranged sensual woman who is alienated from God forsakes the companion, whom she was committed to, taking a similar course to that of the wicked man who left the path of uprightness. (2:13) In other words, she abandons the guidance and intimate friendship of the husband of her youth (cf. 16:28; 17:9). The phrase forgets the covenant is said to refer to the marriage vows in Malachi 2:14 (Max Anders), where it is said that God “has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.” While it certainly fits, it is unlikely because the book of Proverbs was written about 715 B.C.E., while Malachi was penned about 440 B.C.E., some 275 years later. Instead, specifically, this refers to the marriage covenant of Genesis 2:24, with its commitment to faithfulness. However, it may also, in the broader sense, allude to the fact that God’s covenant of Sinai (Ex 20:14), with the nation of Israel, outlawed adultery.