Proverbs 21:19

19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

Proverbs 21:19 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
English Standard Version (ESV)
19 It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
New Living Translation (NLT)
19 It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
The Message Bible (MSG)
19 Better to live in a tent in the wild than with a cross and petulant spouse.
American Standard Version (ASV)
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarreling and angry woman.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
19 Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
19 It is better to live in a desert than to live with a nagging, angry wife.

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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

Proverbs 21:19 In-Context

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.
19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.

Cross References 1

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