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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:1

Note, 1. A good wife is a great blessing to a family. By a fruitful wife a family is multiplied and replenished with children, and so built up. But by a prudent wife, one that is pious, industrious, and considerate, the affairs of the family are made to prosper, debts are paid, portions raised, provision made, the children well educated and maintained, and the family has comfort within doors and credit without; thus is the house built. She looks upon it as her own to take care of, though she... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:1

Every wise woman buildeth her house ,.... Not only by her fruitfulness, as Leah and Rachel built up the house of Israel; but by her good housewifery, prudent economy; looking well to the ways of her household; guiding the affairs of her house with discretion; keeping all things in a good decorum; and bringing up her children in virtue, and in the fear and admonition of the Lord. So Christ, who in this book goes by the name of "Wisdom", or the wise woman, builds his house upon himself, the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:1

Every wise woman buildeth her house - By her prudent and industrious management she increases property in the family, furniture in the house, and food and raiment for her household. This is the true building of a house. The thriftless wife acts differently, and the opposite is the result. Household furniture, far from being increased, is dilapidated; and her household are ill-fed, ill-clothed, and worse educated. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:1

Every wise woman buildeth her house. Wise women order well their household matters and their families; they have an important influence, and exercise it beneficially. γυναικὸς ἐσθλῆς ἐστὶ σώζειν οἰκίαν . "A good wife is the saving of a house." The versions render as above. A different pointing of the word translated "wise" ( chakhmoth ) will give "wisdom" ( chokhmoth ) , which it seems best to read here, as the parallel to the abstract term "folly" in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:1

Woman as a builder Where the light of revelation has shone, woman has had a position and a power, an honor and a happiness, such as she has not enjoyed elsewhere. Under the teaching of Christian truth she has been, or is being, rapidly raised to her rightful place, and is becoming all that the Creator intended her to be. We cannot forecast the future, but we may predict that her own especial province, the sphere where she will always shine, will be, as it is now, the home. It is " her ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:1-7

Traits of wisdom and folly I. FEMININE WISDOM . ( Proverbs 14:1 .) 1 . Its peculiar scope is the home. Women are physically and morally constructed with a view to the stationary life and settled pursuits of home. Its comfort, the strength of the race, the well being of society, are rooted, more than in any other human means, in the character, the principle, the love and truth of the wife and mother. 2 . The absence of it is one of the commonest causes of domestic misery.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 14:1

Proverbs 14:1. Every wise woman buildeth her house By her care, industry: diligence, and prudent management, she improves, and raises her family and estate. So the phrase is used Exo 1:21 ; 2 Samuel 7:11; Psalms 127:1. He speaks of the woman, not exclusively of the man, of whom this is no less true, but because the women, especially in those times, were very industrious in managing their husbands’ estates. But the foolish plucketh it down with her hands By her negligence, idleness, ill... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:1-35

Hidden feelings and motives (14:1-35)Wisdom builds, but folly destroys. People’s actions reveal their attitude to God (14:1-2). The wisdom of their speech and their commitment to hard work are among the things that determine whether they progress or come to ruin (3-5). Those who think they know everything can never become truly wise and therefore can never have right discernment in the moral issues of life (6-8).Good people may prosper and evil people may suffer loss, but outward appearances do... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 14:1

wise. Hebrew. chokmoth (see note on Proverbs 1:2 ), wisdoms, plural (with verb in singular) for emphasis. Figure of speech Hypallage ( App-6 ) = the true wisdom of women, which is put for the wise woman. The word is pointed as an Adjective by mistake. See notes on Proverbs 1:20 ; Proverbs 9:1 ; Proverbs 14:1 . buildeth = has built. Preterite tense, implying the outcome of past wisdom. the foolish = a foolish woman. Hebrew. 'evil. Same word as in verses: Proverbs 14:3 , Proverbs 14:8 ,... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 14:1

Proverbs 14:1"Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands."The hands as used here is a synecdoche for the woman's total behavior. This writer remembers a young banker, many years ago, whose wife, in public gatherings, such as receptions, habitually made derogatory remarks about her husband, apparently unaware that she was wrecking his career and her own as well. She was an excellent illustration of the second clause here. "If Laban and Potiphar were... read more

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