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What does Proverbs 5:20 mean?

So why chase after someone else’s spouse? Why let yourself be drawn in by another’s embrace? Proverbs 5:20 - Modern Text Bible

(He questions the logic of seeking intimacy outside marriage, highlighting its foolishness.)

Chasing after someone outside your relationship won’t bring the satisfaction you’re looking for. This verse asks a blunt question: why turn to someone else when you already have a connection worth investing in? The Hebrew word for "embrace" here is chabek, which means to cling to, to hold close. It’s about intimacy, not just physical but emotional and personal, and the verse questions giving that to a stranger.

This wisdom is counter-cultural in any era that celebrates endless options and new thrills. It pushes back against the idea that happiness is found in novelty or forbidden excitement. Instead, it suggests that real fulfillment comes from depth, not from chasing after what’s out of reach or unfamiliar.

If you’ve ever felt tempted to look for excitement elsewhere or wondered if you’re missing out, this verse is a reality check. It’s a call to consider what you might lose by giving away your trust and intimacy to someone who hasn’t earned it. Real connection is built over time, and giving it away lightly can leave you emptier than before.