Proverbs 21:19

19 Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.^[a]

Proverbs 21:19 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 21:19

[It is] better to dwell in the wilderness
Where persons live without shelter, and are not only exposed to storms and tempests, but to beasts of prey; where is want of the necessaries of life, and no society; where no "speech" is, as the word ^F5 for wilderness may signify; yet it is better to dwell in such a place, where no human voice is heard, than with a contentious and an angry woman;
that is always brawling and scolding, ever in a quarrelsome and angry disposition, and provoking to anger all about her; (See Gill on Proverbs 21:9). In a mystical sense, it is better to be with the church in the wilderness, ( Revelation 12:14 ) ; than with the furious, bloodthirsty, and persecuting church of Rome, in all its worldly glory and splendour.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (rbdm) "a" (rbd) "loqui".

Proverbs 21:19 In-Context

17 The one who loves pleasure will become a poor man; whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.

18 The wicked are a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous, for the upright.

19 Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.

20 Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.

21 The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Footnotes

• [a] Pr 15:16-17; 17:1; 21:9; 25:24