God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 11:16
16A gracious woman wins respect, but ruthless men gain riches.
Proverbs 11:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
- New International Version (NIV)A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.
Context of Proverbs 11:16
14A nation will fall when there is no direction, but with many advisers there is victory. 15Whoever guarantees a stranger’s loan will get into trouble, but whoever hates the closing of a deal remains secure. A gracious woman wins respect, but ruthless men gain riches. 17A merciful person helps himself, but a cruel person hurts himself. 18A wicked person earns dishonest wages, but whoever spreads righteousness earns honest pay.
Read all of Proverbs 11Proverbs 11:16 word by word
אֵֽשֶׁת־חֵ֭ן תִּתְמֹ֣ךְ כָּב֑וֹד וְ֝עָרִיצִ֗ים יִתְמְכוּ־עֹֽשֶׁר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 11:16
- Proverbs 31:30“Charm is deceptive, and beauty evaporates, ⌞but⌟ a woman who has the fear of the Lord should be praised.
- 1 Samuel 25:32David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me.
- 2 Samuel 20:16Then a clever woman called from the city, “Listen, listen! Tell Joab to come here so that I can talk to him.”
- Esther 9:25But when this came to the king’s attention, he ordered, in the well-known letter, that the evil plan Haman had plotted against the Jews should turn back on his own head. As a result, they hung Haman and his sons on poles.
- Matthew 26:13I can guarantee this truth: Wherever this Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
- Luke 8:3Joanna, whose husband Chusa was Herod’s administrator; Susanna; and many other women. They provided financial support for Jesus and his disciples.
- Luke 10:42There’s only one thing you need. Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken away from her.”
- Luke 21:2He noticed a poor widow drop in two small coins.
- Acts 9:39So Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs. All the widows stood around him. They were crying and showing Peter the articles of clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
- Acts 16:14A woman named Lydia was present. She was a convert to Judaism from the city of Thyatira and sold purple dye for a living. She was listening because the Lord made her willing to pay attention to what Paul said.
- Romans 16:2Give her a Christian welcome that shows you are God’s holy people. Provide her with anything she may need, because she has provided help to many people, including me.
- 2 John 1:1From the church leader. To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love because we share the truth. I’m not the only one who loves you. Everyone who knows the truth also loves you.
- Luke 11:21“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe.
Commentaries on Proverbs 11:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16A gracious woman retaineth honor - Instead of this clause, the Septuagint have, , "A gracious woman raiseth up honor to the man;" , "But she that hateth righteous things is a throne of dishonor." A good wife is an honor to her husband; and a bad wife is her husband's reproach: if this be so, how careful should a man be whom he marries!Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Or, “The gracious woman wins and keeps honor, as (the conjunction may be so rendered) strong men win riches.”Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16Verse 16 A pious and discreet woman will keep esteem and respect, as strong men keep possession of wealth.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Respect is a lasting reward for being kind, while wealth is a temporary prize for being ruthless (see also Proverbs 10:2; 11:18).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. retaineth--or literally, "lay hold of as a support." Honor is to a feeble woman thus as valuable as riches to men.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 11:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 11
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries