Proverbs 21:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

NIV: Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

NASB: It is better to live on a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

CSB: Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.

NLT: It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.

KJV: It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

NKJV: Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

Once again, Solomon notes the stress and misery caused by an argumentative, negative wife (Proverbs 19:13). Ancient homes, in Solomon's era, often had flat roofs accessible by stairs. In both a literal and figurative sense, Solomon is referencing the stereotypical image of a man who would rather be cold, alone, and uncomfortable than inside with a wife who "nags" and finds fault.

The phrasing here is literally about a woman bringing grief to a man, but the principle applies to either spouse. Harmony and helpfulness are the ideal for any marriage, but tempers and personality conflicts can disrupt that partnership. When one's spouse is constantly complaining, arguing, or bringing insults, the other spouse suffers a great deal of stress and anxiety.

God created the first woman, Eve, to live in harmony with her husband Adam. He created her to be a helper and treasured partner (Genesis 2:18). The apostle Peter exhorts wives to adorn their hearts "with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious" (1 Peter 3:4). With equal importance, God called on husbands to love and sacrifice for their wives by following the example of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:28).

The exact same statement is repeated in Proverbs 25:24.

Proverbs 21:1–16 continues Solomon's wise observations (Proverbs 10:1) by acknowledging the Lord's control of kings. He also mentions what the Lord despises: pride, love of money, violence, the conduct of the wicked, the withholding of charity, bribery, and apostasy. On the other hand, he commends righteousness and justice, pure conduct, wise acceptance of instruction, and charity.

This chapter begins and ends with a declaration of God's sovereignty. He alone judges the heart; the Lord considers intentions just as important as physical actions. Other comments include statements about unpleasant spouses, proper perspectives on wealth, work ethic, and the essential nature of godly wisdom. Human wisdom is no match for the sovereign Lord, who alone is ultimately responsible for victory in battle.

This is part of the second major section of the book (Proverbs 10—22) featuring nearly four hundred statements. Most of these are two-line comments presenting common sense and general wisdom. The vague theme of chapter 21 is God's control. Man may believe he is in control of his circumstances, but God superintends everything. The chapter begins and ends by assuring the readers that God holds ultimate sway over all things.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.