Proverbs 14:1 - Exposition

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 second member. So we have, "Wisdom hath builded her house" ( Proverbs 9:1 ; comp. Proverbs 1:20 ). Thus: "The wisdom of women buildeth their house" ( Proverbs 12:4 ; Proverbs 24:3 ). But the foolish plucketh it down with her hands ; "but Folly plucketh it down with her own hands;" of course, the folly of women is intended.

γυνὴ γὰρ οἴκῳ πῆμα καὶ σωτηρία

"Bane or salvation to a house is woman."

Foolish, unprincipled women, by their bad management or their evil doings, ruin their families materially and morally. "The husband should labour," says a Servian proverb; "the wife should save."