This translation is from the Good News Translation. Several other translations are available here.
Excerpts from definitions of what seem to be key the Greek words are set out following the scriptural text. The sources are hyperlinked.
That is followed by excerpts from the scriptural texts that tell us what about God or His ways, what we should do, and what we should not do.
That is followed by commentary, in blue. The commentary is my own, so it is not entitled to any particular weight.
Scriptural Text:
1Don't be jealous of the wife you love. You will only be teaching her how to do you harm.
2Do not surrender your dignity to any woman.
3Keep away from other men's wives or they will trap you.
4Don't keep company with female musicians; they will trick you.
5Don't look too intently at a virgin, or you may find yourself forced to pay a bride price.
6Don't give yourself to prostitutes, or you may lose everything you own.
7So don't go looking about in the streets or wandering around in the run-down parts of town.
8When you see a good-looking woman, look the other way; don't let your mind dwell on the beauty of any woman who is not your wife. Many men have been led astray by a woman's beauty. It kindles passion as if it were fire.
9Don't sit down to eat with another man's wife or join her for a drink. You may give in to the temptation of her charms and be destroyed by your passion.
Definitions:
jealous = ζηλου
[rivalry, envy, jealousy] desire to be equal of excel, pride;
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
zeal for one; fervour, zeal
active emulation which grieves, not that another has the good, but that itself has it not; and which, not pausing here, seeks to supply the deficiencies which it finds in itself.
excitement of mind, ardour, fervour of spirit;zeal, ardour in embracing, pursuing, defending anything; zeal in behalf of, for a person or thing; the fierceness of indignation, punitive zeal; an envious and contentious rivalry, jealousy;zeal (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one; jealousy, as of a husband (figuratively, of God), or an enemy, malice); emulation, envy(-ing)
love = κολπου
Bosom, of the heart
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
Vagina; the whole sinus genitalis, womb;fold of a garment
the front of the body between the arms; the bosom of a garment, i.e. the hollow formed by the upper forepart of a rather loose garment bound by a girdle or sash, used for keeping and carrying things (the fold or pocket);in the closest and most intimate relation to; the hollow formed by the upper forepart of a rather loose garment bound by a girdle, used for keeping and carrying things (the fold or pocket)
dignity = ψυχην
soul-life; psyche/mind
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
Life; the conscious self or personality as centre of emotions, desires, and affections; the emotional self; the moral and intellectual self
the seat of personality; the seat of the sentient element in man, that by which he perceives, reflects, feels, desires; the seat of will and purpose; the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.);
What this passage tells us:
What this passage tells us to do:
8When you see a good-looking woman, look the other way
What this passage tells us to not to do:
1Don't be jealous of the wife you love
2Do not surrender your dignity
3Keep away from other men's wives
4Don't keep company with female musicians
5Don't look too intently at a virgin
6Don't give yourself to prostitutes
don't go looking about in the streets or wandering around in the run-down parts of town.
don't let your mind dwell on the beauty of any woman who is not your wife
9Don't sit down to eat with another man's wife or join her for a drink
Commentary:
Verses 1 and 2 seem focused on how to interact with/relate to your wife.
· We are told to not let our wives have undue influence on us; to maintain self-control; not to let lust/affection cloud our judgment/self-control, as happened to Sampson (Judges 16:4-21) and Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-8)
· Is this the same thing as treating our wives with “understanding” per 1 Peter 3:17?
· Is this similar to the direction in Ephesians 5:28-29 and Colossians 3:19 to avoid the power of negative emotions/attitudes towards our wives?
· We are not to let our wives change our core nature/identity.
· This seems similar to Ephesians 5:22-24’s statement that the husband is to maintain headship in the marriage.
· It also warns of the dangers/harms exemplified by how Solomon’s wives changed his nature. See 1 Kings 11:1-8.
· This concept that we are to maintain self-control and our own identity is consistent with the principle that spouses are God’s gift to each other; we can’t give something (ourselves) if we have let it slip away/change
· This concept is also consistent with Paul’s and Peter’s teaching that spouses can contribute to the salvation/sanctification of each other. See 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 and 1 Peter 3:1-2. We have to maintain our integrity to do that.
· It also lines up with Ephesians 5:25-27’s directions that we are to help our wives grow; we can’t do that if we lose our own identity/control over our selves.
Verses 3 through 9 tell us how to keep the focus there by avoiding other distractions/temptations/injurious influences.
· They seem like practical applications of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:27-30 and Matthew 18:8-9.
· These vv. set out a prophylactic approach, similar to Proverbs 7:6-27’s “don’t go into the neighborhood” directions.
So maybe all these vv. are not marriage specific; they warn us about all lust inducing situations/relationships
· How to control the lust that arises within marriage
· How to avoid it other situations
Under that reading, these vv. warn us about something that interferes with wise living (e.g. living according to God’s general principles and specific directions). If that’s the case, it lines up with the wisdom literature’s overall cautions about lust/sexual temptation.
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