Proverbs 14
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
(Pro. 14:1-35) Every wise, &c.--literally, "The wisdoms" (compare Pro 9:1) "of women," plural, a distributive form of speech. buildeth . . . house--increases wealth, which the foolish, by mismanagement, lessen.
Open source ↗Every wise woman buildeth her house,.... Not only by her fruitfulness, as Leah and Rachel built up the house of Israel; but by her good housewifery, prudent economy; looking well to the ways of her household; guiding the affairs of her house with discretion; keeping all things in a good decorum; and bringing up her children in virtue, and in the fear and admonition of the Lord. So Christ, who in this book goes by the name of "Wisdom", or the wise woman, builds his house upon himself, the Rock; and all his people on their most holy faith, by means of the ministry of the word, and administration of ordinances: he guides and governs his house, where he is, as a Son in it and over it; and of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, taken care of, and wisely and plentifully provided for: and so Gospel ministers, who are wise to win souls, being well instructed in the kingdom of God; these "wise women" (y), so it is in the original text, or wise virgins; these wise master builders lay the foundation Christ ministerially, and build souls on it; and speak things to the edification of the church and people of God, and the building of them up in faith and holiness; but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands; the Vulgate Latin version adds, "being built"; this she does by her idleness and laziness; by her lavish and profuse way of living; by her negligence and want of economy; by her frequenting playhouses, and attention to other diversions; and so her family and the affairs of it go to wreck and ruin. Thus the apostate church of Rome, who is called a "woman", and may be said to be a "foolish" one, being a wicked one and a harlot; see Rev 17:2; pulls down the true church and house of God with both hands, as much as in her lies, by her false doctrines, and superstit…
Open source ↗1 The wisdom of the woman buildeth her house, And folly teareth it down with its own hands. Were it חכמות נשׁים, after Jdg 5:29, cf. Isa 19:11, then the meaning would be: the wise among women, each of them buildeth her house. But why then not just אשּׁה חכמה, as Sa2 14:2, cf. Exo 35:25? The Syr., Targum, and Jerome write sapiens mulier. And if the whole class must be spoken of, why again immediately the individualizing in בּנתה? The lxx obliterates that by its ᾠκοδόμησαν. And does not אוּלת [folly] in the contrasted proverb (1b) lead us to conclude on a similar abstract in 1a? The translators conceal this, for they translate אולת personally. Thus also the Venet. and Luther; אוּלת is, says Kimchi, an adj. like עוּרת, caeca. But the linguistic usage does not point אויל with אוילי to any אוּל. It is true that a fem. of אויל does not occur; there is, however, also no place in which אולת may certainly present itself as such. Thus also חכמות must be an abstr.; we have shown at Pro 1:20 how חכמות, as neut. plur., might have an abstr. meaning. But since it is not to be perceived why the poet should express himself so singularly, the punctuation חכמות is to be understood as proceeding from a false supposition, and is to be read חכמות, as at Pro 9:1 (especially since this passage rests on the one before us). Fleischer says: "to build the house is figuratively equivalent to, to regulate well the affairs of a house, and to keep them in a good condition; the contrary, to tear down the house, is the same contrast as the Arab. 'amârat âlbyt and kharab albyt. Thus e.g., in Burckhardt's Sprchw. 217, harrt ṣabrt bythâ 'amârat, a good woman (ein braves Weib) has patience (with her husband), and thereby she builds up her house (at the same time an example of the use of the preterit…
Open source ↗Note, 1. A good wife is a great blessing to a family. By a fruitful wife a family is multiplied and replenished with children, and so built up. But by a prudent wife, one that is pious, industrious, and considerate, the affairs of the family are made to prosper, debts are paid, portions raised, provision made, the children well educated and maintained, and the family has comfort within doors and credit without; thus is the house built. She looks upon it as her own to take care of, though she knows it is her husband's to bear rule in, Est 1:22. 2. Many a family is brought to ruin by ill housewifery, as well as by ill husbandry. A foolish woman, that has no fear of God nor regard to her business, that is wilful, and wasteful, and humoursome, that indulges her ease and appetite, and is all for jaunting and feasting, cards and the play-house, though she come to a plentiful estate, and to a family beforehand, she will impoverish and waste it, and will as certainly be the ruin of her house as if she plucked it down with her hands; and the husband himself, with all his care, can scarcely prevent it.
Open source ↗14:1 Building or tearing down the home is a metaphor for strengthening or weakening one’s family.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
חׇכְמוֹת (chokmôwth, H2454) — wisdom אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אִוֶּלֶת (ʼivveleth, H200) — silliness הָרַס (hâraç, H2040) — to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
Open source ↗הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) יֹשֶׁר (yôsher, H3476) — the right יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3373) — fearing; morally, reverent יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God לוּז (lûwz, H3868) — to turn aside , i.e. (literally) to depart, (figuratively) be perverse דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb בָּזָה (bâzâh, H959) — to disesteem
Open source ↗פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… אֱוִיל (ʼĕvîyl, H191) — (figuratively) silly חֹטֵר (chôṭêr, H2415) — a twig גַּאֲוָה (gaʼăvâh, H1346) — arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament שָׂפָה (sâphâh, H8193) — the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a… חָכָם (châkâm, H2450) — wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful) שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,…
Open source ↗אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H504) — a family; also (from the sense of yoking or taming) an ox or cow אֵבוּס (ʼêbûwç, H18) — a manger or stall בַּר (bar, H1249) — beloved; also pure, empty רֹב (rôb, H7230) — abundance (in any respect) תְּבוּאָה (tᵉbûwʼâh, H8393) — income, i.e. produce (literally or figuratively) כֹּחַ (kôach, H3581) — vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means,… שׁוֹר (shôwr, H7794) — a bullock (as a traveller)
Open source ↗אֵמוּן (ʼêmûwn, H529) — established, i.e. (figuratively) trusty; also (abstractly) trustworthiness עֵד (ʻêd, H5707) — concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. prince כָּזָב (kâzâb, H3577) — falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol) שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, H8267) — an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial) פּוּחַ (pûwach, H6315) — to puff, i.e. blow with the breath or air; hence, to fan (as a breeze), to utter, to… כָּזַב (kâzab, H3576) — to lie (i.e. deceive), literally or figuratively
Open source ↗לוּץ (lûwts, H3887) — properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign… בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to… חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) דַּעַת (daʻath, H1847) — knowledge קָלַל (qâlal, H7043) — to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively… בִּין (bîyn, H995) — to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand
Open source ↗יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) נֶגֶד (neged, H5048) — a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial,… כְּסִיל (kᵉçîyl, H3684) — properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… שָׂפָה (sâphâh, H8193) — the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a… דַּעַת (daʻath, H1847) — knowledge
Open source ↗חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) עָרוּם (ʻârûwm, H6175) — cunning (usually in a bad sense) בִּין (bîyn, H995) — to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb אִוֶּלֶת (ʼivveleth, H200) — silliness כְּסִיל (kᵉçîyl, H3684) — properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly מִרְמָה (mirmâh, H4820) — fraud
Open source ↗אֱוִיל (ʼĕvîyl, H191) — (figuratively) silly לוּץ (lûwts, H3887) — properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign… אָשָׁם (ʼâshâm, H817) — guilt; by implication, a fault; also a sin-offering יָשָׁר (yâshâr, H3477) — straight (literally or figuratively) רָצוֹן (râtsôwn, H7522) — delight (especially as shown)
Open source ↗לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… מׇרָּה (morrâh, H4787) — trouble זוּר (zûwr, H2114) — to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be aforeigner, strange, profane;… עָרַב (ʻârab, H6148) — to braid, i.e. intermix; technically, to traffic (as if by barter); also or give to be… שִׂמְחָה (simchâh, H8057) — blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)
Open source ↗בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) רָשָׁע (râshâʻ, H7563) — morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person שָׁמַד (shâmad, H8045) — to desolate אֹהֶל (ʼôhel, H168) — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance) יָשָׁר (yâshâr, H3477) — straight (literally or figuratively) פָּרַח (pârach, H6524) — to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as…
Open source ↗יֵשׁ (yêsh, H3426) — there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection) דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb יָשָׁר (yâshâr, H3477) — straight (literally or figuratively) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… אַחֲרִית (ʼachărîyth, H319) — the last or end, hence, the future; also posterity מָוֶת (mâveth, H4194) — death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades);…
Open source ↗שְׂחוֹק (sᵉchôwq, H7814) — laughter (in merriment or defiance) לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… כָּאַב (kâʼab, H3510) — properly, to feel pain; by implication, to grieve; figuratively, to spoil אַחֲרִית (ʼachărîyth, H319) — the last or end, hence, the future; also posterity שִׂמְחָה (simchâh, H8057) — blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival) תּוּגָה (tûwgâh, H8424) — depression (of spirits); concretely a grief
Open source ↗סוּג (çûwg, H5472) — properly, to flinch, i.e. (by implication) to go back, literally (to retreat) or… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… שָׂבַע (sâbaʻ, H7646) — to sate, i.e. fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively) דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.
A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.
When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.