What does Proverbs 25:24 mean?
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 the 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 the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
NKJV: It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Verse Commentary:
Solomon's advice about marriage, wives, and women is complicated. Even with his wisdom, Solomon turned away from God's intended plan for one man to marry one woman. First Kings 11 indicates Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. Yet he learned no earthly pleasure could replace honor for God. In Ecclesiastes 1:2, Solomon proclaims "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." Many of the proverbs contained in this book, therefore, can be seen as life lessons Solomon (Proverbs 25:1) learned "the hard way."
While the imagery here is of an unpleasant wife, the concept applies to either spouse. A married couple could live in a spacious house, but if one gives the other no peace, they have only a house but not a home. This verse is identical to Proverbs 21:9 and similar to Proverbs 21:19. Personal peace with little material wealth is better that no peace with plenty of luxury.
When God created Eve to be Adam's wife, He said she would be "a helper fit for him" (Genesis 2:18). Marriage unites two human beings to be partners. Peter counsels wives to "let [their] adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" (1 Peter 3:4). He tells husbands to "live with your wives in an understanding way" and reminds them that their wives are "heirs with you of the grace of life" (1 Peter 3:7). These principles apply equally to both spouses. Godly peace-keeping requires both partners to apply love, rather than verbal abuse.
Verse Context:
Proverbs 25:15–28 provides sound counsel about personal relationships. Most of the teachings involve the best way to interact with others, whether they are friends, enemies, spouses, or strangers. Also included are suggestions about self-control.
Chapter Summary:
This chapter includes more statements from Solomon, copied by scribes of King Hezekiah many years later. The first section speaks about the risks of arrogance. The next gives comparisons which teach spiritual lessons. The last segment teaches about relationships, reputation, and self-control.
Chapter Context:
Chapter 25 begins to relate more wise statements from Solomon. Depending on where they are divided or combined, these amount to around one hundred portions of godly wisdom. These were compiled and added about 250 years after Solomon's reign by men under the direction of King Hezekiah. The phrasing used in verse 1 suggests these were copied from other records into the scrolls associated with the prior proverbs. This collection runs through the end of chapter 29.
Book Summary:
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.
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