Proverbs 2 · Verse 17

Proverbs 2:17

Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
Proverbs 2:17, King James Version

Proverbs 2:17 in other translations

BSBwho abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.
WEBwho forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God;
ASVThat forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God:
YLTWho is forsaking the guide of her youth, And the covenant of her God hath forgotten.
DARBYwho forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God;
BBEWho is false to the husband of her early years, and does not keep the agreement of her God in mind:
WebsterWho forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

What does Proverbs 2:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 2:16-19

16-19. Deliverance from another danger. the strange woman--This term is often used for harlot, or loose woman (Jud 11:1, 2), married (Pr 7:5, 19) or not (1Ki 11:1), so called, because such were, perhaps at first, foreigners, though "strange" may also denote whatever is opposed to right or proper, as "strange fire" (Nu 3:4); "strange incense" (Ex 30:9). flattereth--literally, "smooths." her words--(Psa 5:9).

Read the full comment on Proverbs 2:16-19 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth - Leaves her father's house and instructions, and abandons herself to the public. The covenant of her God - Renounces the true religion, and mixes with idolaters; for among them prostitution was enormous. Or by the covenant may be meant the matrimonial contract, which is a covenant made in the presence of God between the contracting parties, in which they bind themselves to be faithful to each other.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 2:10-22

If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, lightsome paths of uprightness, to walk in…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 2:10-22 →

Proverbs 2:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הַ֭עֹזֶבֶתHa.'o.ze.vetwho leavesH5800
אַלּ֣וּף'a.Luf[the] close friend ofH441
נְעוּרֶ֑יהָne.'u.Rei.hayouth<s> herH5271
וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
בְּרִ֖יתbe.Rit[the] covenant ofH1285
אֱלֹהֶ֣יהָ'e.lo.Hei.haGod herH430
שָׁכֵֽחָה\׃sha.Khe.chahshe forgetsH7911

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 2:17

  • Ezekiel 16:59-60

    For thus saith the Lord God; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant. Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.

  • Jeremiah 3:4

    Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?

  • Ezekiel 16:8

    Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine.

  • Malachi 2:14-16

    Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

  • Proverbs 5:18

    Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the guide.
5:18; Jer 3:4
forgetteth.
Eze 16:8,59,60; Mal 2:14-16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 2:16

    To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

  • Proverbs 2:17

    Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

  • Proverbs 2:18

    For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

Read all of Proverbs 2

Proverbs 2:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que desampara el príncipe de su mocedad, y se olvida del pacto de su Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		qui abandonne le guide de sa jeunesse, et qui a oublié l’alliance de son Dieu;
German
Elberfelder 1871		welche den Vertrauten ihrer Jugend verläßt und den Bund ihres Gottes vergißt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et relinquit ducem pubertatis suæ,