Proverbs 21:9

Proverbs 21:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
• New International Version (NIV)Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
• English Standard Version (ESV)It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

Context of Proverbs 21:9

7When wicked people do violent things, it destroys them. They refuse to do what is right. 8Guilty people are always going the wrong way. Good people keep on the right way. It is better to live on the roof of your house than to live with a wife who always argues. 10Evil things are the food that wicked people eat to live. They are not kind to anyone, even their friends. 11When a proud person receives punishment, silly people become wise. When you teach a wise person, he learns more knowledge.

Proverbs 21:9 word by word

ט֗וֹב לָשֶׁ֥בֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• to dwellיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• in a cornerפִּנָּהpinnâh · cornerH6438
• of the housetopגָּגgâg · roofH1406
• than with a brawlingמָדוֹןmâdôn · strifeH4066
• than with a brawlingמִדְיָןmidyân · contentionH4079
• womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• in a wideחֶ֫בֶרcheber · spellH2267
• houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004

Cross-references for Proverbs 21:9

• Proverbs 21:19It is better to live alone in a desert than to live with a wife who quarrels and complains.
• Proverbs 12:4A good wife will bring honour to her husband, like a crown. But a wife who brings shame to her husband will take away his strength.
• Proverbs 19:13A foolish child will destroy his father. A woman who quarrels with her husband is like rain that never stops.
• Proverbs 25:24It is better to live on the roof of your house than to live with a wife who always argues.
• Proverbs 27:15A wife who is always arguing with you is as bad as rain that never stops falling.
• Proverbs 15:17It is better to eat vegetables with people who love each other than to eat good meat with people who hate each other.
• Proverbs 17:1It is better to eat a piece of dry bread in a quiet place, than to eat a big feast in a house full of arguments.

Commentaries on Proverbs 21:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9In a corner of the housetop - A shed raised on the flat roof - a wide house; חבר בית beith chaber, "a house of fellowship;" what we should call a lodging-house, or a house occupied by several families. This was usual in the East, as well as in the West. Some think a house of festivity is meant: hence my old MS. Bible has, the hous and feste.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9A wide house - literally, “a house of companionship,” i. e., a house shared with her. The flat roof of an Eastern house was often used for retirement by day, or in summer for sleep by night. The corner of such a roof was exposed to all changes of weather, and the point of the proverb lies in the thought that all winds and storms which a man might meet with there are more endurable than the tempest within.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9Verse 9 It is best to shun bitter contention by pouring out the heart before God. For by prudence and patience, with constant prayer, the cross may be removed.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9A marriage that appears good from the outside, like in a beautiful home, is not fulfilling if it is full of arguments (see also Proverbs 21:19; 25:24; 27:15–17; compare 11:22; 12:4b). See the parallel passage in Proverbs 25:24Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. corner--a turret or arbor on the roof. brawling--or contentious. wide house--literally, "house of fellowship," large enough for several families.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 21:9

• Family
• House
• Marriage
• Wife
• Women

In the dictionaries

• House
• Mind
• Ponder
• Toss
• Brawler
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Relationships, Family

Commentaries on Proverbs 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings