משלי, פרק ה׳, פסוק ט״ו

Proverbs 5:15Sefaria

שְׁתֵה־מַ֥יִם מִבּוֹרֶ֑ךָ וְ֝נֹזְלִ֗ים מִתּ֥וֹךְ בְּאֵרֶֽךָ׃

Finding true satisfaction requires looking inward at what rightfully belongs to a person, rather than seeking fulfillment in foreign places. The primary approach among commentators is that the imagery of drinking water from a personal source serves as a strict warning to remain faithful to one's lawful wife. A man is called to find love and closeness exclusively with her, resisting the pull of any foreign woman [ביאור שטיינזלץ, אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, עמנואל הרומי]. There is simply no reason to carve out broken cisterns by chasing after foreign loves when one can rejoice in the partner he already has [עמנואל הרומי].

To grasp the depth of this imagery, it is helpful to understand the different types of water sources described. One source represents a static pool of gathered water, much like collected rain [רש"י, אבן עזרא, אלשיך, מלבי"ם]. The other is a deep, active well of living, springing water that constantly flows and streams outward [רש"י, אבן עזרא, אלשיך, מלבי"ם, מצודת ציון]. Building on this distinction, an additional layer of meaning emerges where water serves as a metaphor for Torah and wisdom. This pure wisdom acts as a counterweight to the temptations that might draw a person toward foreign philosophies [אלשיך, מלבי"ם]. A person must drink deeply from the portion God has granted him—the Torah of Moses [רש"י]. By recognizing the natural intellect God has given him as a spring of wisdom, a person can further develop his mind, provided he distances himself from material desires [אמרי דעת].

The progression from a static pool to a flowing well perfectly mirrors the stages of a person's intellectual and spiritual growth in Torah study. In the early stages of learning, a student is like a gathered pool of water. He acts as a vessel, simply storing the wisdom and rules he receives from his teachers [רש"י, אלשיך, מלבי"ם, חומת אנך]. However, as he deepens his understanding, deduces new concepts, and develops original insights, he transforms into a surging spring. His wisdom becomes a rush of living water bursting outward as he begins to spread his knowledge and teach others [רש"י, אלשיך, מלבי"ם, חומת אנך].

נעזרתם בפירוש שלנו ומצאתם בו ערך?

עזרו לנו להגדיל תורה ולהאדירה. תחזוקת האתר והשבחת התוכן כרוכות בהוצאות מרובות. תרומה קטנה שלכם תסייע לנו להחזיק את הפלטפורמה ותהפוך אתכם לשותפים מלאים בהנגשת חוכמת המקרא.

תרמו עכשיו

מה דעתכם על הפירוש?

התחברתם? יש לכם חידוש או הארה על הפסוק שלמדתם כאן? נשמח לשמוע!

ההערות שלכם חשובות לנו ועוזרות לשפר את הפירוש.