Proverbs 25:24

Pro 25:24 [It is] better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

Ver. 24. It is better to dwell, &c.] {See Trapp on "Pro 21:9"} {See Trapp on "Pro 21:13"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

25:24 This proverb repeats 21:9.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

This is the same with what he had said, Pro 21:9. Observe, 1. How those are to be pitied that are unequally yoked, especially with such as are brawling and contentious, whether husband or wife; for it is equally true of both. It is better to be alone than to be joined to one who, instead of being a meet-help, is a great hindrance to the comfort of life. 2. How those may sometimes be envied that live in solitude; as they want the comfort of society, so they are free from the vexation of it. And as there are cases which give occasion to say, "Blessed is the womb that has not borne," so there are which give occasion to say, "Blessed is the man who was never married, but who lies like a servant in a corner of the house-top."

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(Compare Pro 21:9, Pro 21:19).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 24. It is better to dwell in a corner] See Clarke on Pr 21:9.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(24) It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop.—See above on Pro_21:9.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

24. See Pro_21:9, and note.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. See Gill on Pro 21:9.

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Proverbs 25:25

pro 25:25

pro 25:25

pro 25:25As cold waters to a thirsty soul,.... Water is naturally cold; and is by classic writers expressed by "cold" itself (c), and is very refreshing to one athirst through heat: or, "to a weary soul" (d); to one wearied with labour; or to a traveller weary with travelling, especially in hot countries, as in the deserts of Arabia, or in places where it is rare to meet with a brook, stream, or fountain of water; which, when he does, it is exceeding pleasant and agreeable to him;

so is good news from a far country; so acceptable is it to hear from a friend in a distant part of the world, and particularly to hear good news of him. Such is the Gospel; it is good news, and glad tidings of good things; it brings the good news of the grace, and favour, and good will of God to men; of his appointment and provision of a Saviour for them; of the incarnation of Christ; of salvation being wrought out by him for the chief of sinners, which is free, full, and for ever; and of peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life, through him, And this comes "from a far country"; from heaven, the better country than Canaan, which was a type of it, or any country in this world, and which is afar from hence; the Gospel comes from God in heaven, and it is a report concerning that; it is good news to saints, of an estate they have there, an inheritance, a house, a city and kingdom prepared for them there: this news is brought by the prophets of the Old Testament, who diligently inquired of salvation by Christ; by the angels at Christ's incarnation; by John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ; by Christ himself, who was anointed to preach good tidings to the meek; and by his apostles, and all the faithful ministers of the word: and the message they bring is good news; not to carnal and self-righteous persons, but to sensible sinners; and to them it is as cold waters to a weary or thirsty soul; it assuages the heat of the law, and the wrath that works in the conscience; it quenches the thirst of carnal things, and after a man's own righteousness; it revives and refreshes his weary drooping spirits, and fills him with a joy unspeakable and full of glory; as Jacob's spirits were revived on hearing the good news of Joseph, Gen 45:26.

(c) "Perfundit gelida", Horat. Sermon. l. 2. Sat. 7. v. 91. (d) "lassa", Montanus; "lasso", Tigurine version, so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Michaelis.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Compare the Pro 21:9 note.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

It is. Chap. xxi. 9. Sixtus V does not insert this verse here.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

24. Substantially the same as Pro_21:9; Pro_21:19, which see.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A repetition of Pro_21:9, taken therefore from the Solomonic collection.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

24 Better to sit on the top of a roof,

Than a quarrelsome woman and a house in common.

A repetition of Pro 21:9.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

This proverb has been given before. (Pro 21:9 .) Scriptural repetitions shew not want of matter, but the deep importance of the matter laid out. Such is the vexation connected with this evil, that the most uncomfortable dwelling, where the soul might retire for communion with God, would be a grateful alternative.

This Book presents a graphical picture of conjugal happiness, where "the wife is as the loving hind and the pleasant roe" — her husband’s most satisfying delight. (Pro 5:18-19 .) Here is a vivid contrast of misery, from which the wide house provides no refuge, no rest.

The relative position of the parties in the sacred ordinance is wisely appointed. Equality would only have provoked contention for superiority. The divine appointment preserves peace without degradation.†1 If "man is the head of the woman," "the woman is the glory of the man"†2 — the diadem in his domestic circle,†3 and, upon her slightly lowered level, still his support, solace, and "help-meet." (Gen 2:18 .) The brawling woman, revolting against her Maker’s rule of subjection, is no less a tormentor to herself than to her husband.

Let the Christian professor beware of trifling with the law of this ordinance — "Only in the Lord." (1Co 7:39 .) If he comes into the world, instead of "coming out;" if, instead of "being separate," he unites himself in the closest bond; if, when forbidden to "touch the unclean thing," he makes himself "one flesh" with it,†4 let him not wonder, if his God "curse his blessing,"†5 and leave him to choose for himself an house of contention, unvisited with one ray of heavenly sunshine. Young man! ponder the deep responsibility of the marriage choice. Let it be manifestly the Lord’s choice for thee, not thine for thyself. Yea — let him be thy first choice, and he will order the rest. (Mat 6:33 .) Watch and distrust thine own will. Consult the "lamp and light of thy path." (Psa 119:105 .) Mark the Providence of thy God;†6 and "his blessing, that maketh rich, and addeth no sorrow with it," will sanctify his own gift.†7

Christian women! Think not these Proverbs unworthy your attention. Be it so, that you answer not to the revolting picture. But surely the repeated exhibition strongly inculcates the cultivation of the opposite graces, the absence of which clouds the female character in painful deformity.†8

Footnotes:

†1 Gen 3:16. 1Ti 2:11-14 .

†2 1Co 11:3-7 .

†3 Pro 31:28. (Pro 12:4 a)

†4 2Co 6:14-17, with Eph 5:31 .

†5 Mal 2:2.

†6 Gen 24:12-60. Rth 3:18 .

†7 Pro 19:14; Pro 10:22 .

†8 1Ti 2:9-10 . 1Pe 3:1-6 .

Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

It is better to sit on the corner of a roof This is stated concerning the withdrawal of the Shechinah.

than a quarrelsome wife The nation of lsrael, who dealt wickedly and provoked the Holy One, blessed be He.

and a house of companionship A house in which they associated idolatry with the Shechinah.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.