Proverbs 19:13

Proverbs 19:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
• New International Version (NIV)A foolish child is a father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

Context of Proverbs 19:13

11Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. 12The king’s anger is like a lion’s roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass. A foolish child is a calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping. 14Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the Lord can give an understanding wife. 15Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry.

Proverbs 19:13 word by word

הַוֹּ֣ת לְ֭אָבִיו בֵּ֣ן כְּסִ֑יל וְדֶ֥לֶף טֹ֝רֵ֗ד מִדְיְנֵ֥י אִשָּֽׁה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A foolishכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684
• sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• the calamityהַוָּהhavvâh · desireH1942
• of his fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
• and the contentionsמִדְיָןmidyân · contentionH4079
• of a wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• a continualטָרַדţârad · to pursueH2956
• droppingדֶּ֫לֶףdeleph · drippingH1812

Cross-references for Proverbs 19:13

• Proverbs 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother.
• Proverbs 15:20Sensible children bring joy to their father; foolish children despise their mother.
• Proverbs 17:21It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.
• 2 Samuel 13:13Where could I go in my shame? And you would be called one of the greatest fools in Israel. Please, just speak to the king about it, and he will let you marry me.”
• Ecclesiastes 2:18I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned.
• Proverbs 21:9It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
• Proverbs 25:24It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
• Proverbs 27:15A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day.
• Job 14:19as water wears away the stones and floods wash away the soil, so you destroy people’s hope.

Commentaries on Proverbs 19:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13The contentions of a wife are a continual dropping - The man who has got such a wife is like a tenant who has got a cottage with a bad roof through every part of which the rain either drops or pours. He can neither sit, stand work, nor sleep, without being exposed to these droppings. God help the man who is in such a case, with house or wife!Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Calamity - The Hebrew word is plural (as in Psalm 57:1; Psalm 91:3), and seems to express the multiplied and manifold sorrow caused by the foolish son. Continual dropping - The irritating, unceasing, sound of the fall, drop after drop, of water through the chinks in the roof.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13Verse 13 It shows the vanity of the world, that we are liable to the greatest griefs where we promise ourselves the greatest comfort.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-14No decision is more important for a son than choosing a good wife (compare Proverbs 31:10–31). A poor choice causes pain (compare 10:1; 11:22; 12:4; 21:9, 19; 25:24; 27:15–17). A wise man will seek the Lord's help to find an understanding wife.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. calamity--literally, "calamities," varied and many. continual dropping--a perpetual annoyance, wearing out patience.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 19:13

• Children
• Family
• Fool
• Strife
• Wife
• Women
• Young Men

In the dictionaries

• House
• Judgment
• Pity
• Scorner
• Slothfulness
• Calamity
• Drop, Dropping
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 19

• 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