Proverbs 17:1 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 17:1

These words recommend family-love and peace, as conducing very much to the comfort of human life. 1. Those that live in unity and quietness, not only free from jealousies and animosities, but vying in mutual endearments, and obliging to one another, live very comfortably, though they are low in the world, work hard and fare hard, though they have but each of them a morsel, and that a dry morsel. There may be peace and quietness where there are not three meals a day, provided there by a joint... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:1

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith ,.... A small quantity of bread; a broken piece of bread, as the word F23 פת "frustrum", a פתת , "fregit", Gejerus. signifies; which has been long broken off, and become "dry" F24 חרבה "siccum frustum panis", Tigurine version; "cibi sicci" Junius & Tremellius; "brucella sicca", V. L. Mercerus, Piscator; "buccea sicca", Cocceuis; "frustum sicci, sc. cibi", Michaelis, "frustum siccae buccellae, Schultens, so Ben Melech. ;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 17:1

Better is a dry morsel - Peace and contentment, and especially domestic peace, are beyond all other blessings. A house full of sacrifices - A Hindoo priest, who officiates at a festival, sometimes receives so many offeringss that his house is filled with them, so that many of them are damaged before they can be used - Ward. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:1

(Comp, Proverbs 15:16 , Proverbs 15:17 ; Proverbs 16:8 .) Better (sweeter) is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith. Dry bread was soaked in wine or water before it was eaten. Thus Boaz bid Ruth "dip her morsel in the vinegar" ( Ruth 2:14 ); thus Jesus gave the sop to Judas when he had dipped it ( John 13:26 ). The Septuagint is pleonastic, "Better is a morsel with joy in peace." Aben Ezra connects this verse with the last two of ch. 16, confining the application to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:1-9

Traits of outward dad inward happiness. Happiness depends more on the inward state than on the outward condition Hence— I. CONTENTMENT AS AN ELEMENT OF HAPPINESS . ( Proverbs 17:1 .) The dry morsel, with rest and quiet in the spirit, is better, says the preacher, than the most luxurious meal; the allusion being to slaughtered sacrificial animals as the chief constituents of a rich repast ( Proverbs 9:2 ; Genesis 43:16 ). It suggests the picture of "holy love, found... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 17:1

Proverbs 17:1. Better is a dry morsel “Bread with pulse, or husks,” as Bochart and Houbigant interpret it; which was the food of meaner persons; and quietness therewith Peace, love, and concord among the members of a family; than a house full of sacrifices Of the remainder of sacrifices, of which they used to make feasts; concerning which see on Proverbs 7:14: or, of slain beasts, as the same word, זבחים , is used Genesis 31:54, and elsewhere. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:1-28

Friends and fools (17:1-28)A peaceful family life, no matter how simple, is a great blessing, but a son may miss out on his family inheritance through his own folly (17:1-2). God’s dealings with his people are always for a good purpose, to make them better than they were before (3). To listen to evil talk is as bad as to speak evil oneself; to take pleasure in another’s troubles is as bad as to cause those troubles (4-5).Other proverbs concern the appreciation that the old and the young should... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 17:1

Better. See note on Proverbs 8:11 . sacrifices = slain beasts. Hebrew. zebach. App-43 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 17:1

Proverbs 17:1"Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.""Better a dry crust and concord with it than a house full of feasting and strife."[1] "Better a morsel of dry bread, and peace with it, than a house full of feasting, with strife."[2] read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 17:1

Proverbs 17:1. A dry morsel— Bread with pulse, or husks. Bochart and Houbigant. This was the food of meaner persons; whence Horace says, Epist. 1: lib. 2: line 123. Vivit siliquis et pane secundo: Lives on coarse bread and vegetable fare. DUNCOMBE. This verse is plainly similar to the 16th and 17th of chap. 15: read more