Proverbs 15:17

Proverbs 15:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
• New International Version (NIV)Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.

Context of Proverbs 15:17

15For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast. 16Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate. 18A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them. 19A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright is an open highway.

Proverbs 15:17 word by word

ט֤וֹב אֲרֻחַ֣ת יָ֭רָק וְאַהֲבָה־שָׁ֑ם מִשּׁ֥וֹר אָ֝ב֗וּס וְשִׂנְאָה־בֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• a dinnerאֲרֻחָה'ărûchâh · rationH737
• of herbsיָרָקyârâq · herbH3419
• where loveאַהֲבָה'ahăbâh · loveH160
• is, than a stalledאָבַס'âbas · to fattenH75
• oxשׁוֹרshôr · cattleH7794
• and hatredשִׂנְאָהώin'âh · hatingH8135

Cross-references for Proverbs 15:17

• Proverbs 17:1Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.
• Proverbs 21:19It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
• Psalms 133:1How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
• Philippians 2:1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?
• 1 John 4:16We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

Commentaries on Proverbs 15:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Better is a dinner of herbs - Great numbers of indigent Hindoos subsist wholly on herbs, fried in oil, and mixed with their rice.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17A dinner of herbs - The meals of the poor and the abstemious. The “stalled ox,” like the “fatted calf” of Luke 15:23, would indicate a stately magnificence.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-17Verses 16-17 Believers often have enough when worldly eyes see little; the Lord is with them, without the cares, troubles, and temptations which are with the wealth of the wicked.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17This proverb highlights the value of love over wealth. A big meal, like steak, is nice, but love is more important.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. dinner--or, "allowance" (2Ki 25:30)-- of herbs--and that the plainest. and hatred--(compare Pr 10:12, 18).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 15:17

• Cattle
• Family
• Food
• Hatred
• Herbs
• Love
• Malice
• Peace
• Riches
• Stall

In the dictionaries

• Abomination
• Cheerful
• Continual
• Countenance
• Disappoint
• Disperse
• Feast
• Grievous
• Humility
• Poetry

Commentaries on Proverbs 15

• 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