Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 21:9
[It is] better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
9. in a corner of the housetop ] The LXX. render , with no better hiding-place from the storms of heaven than the narrow corner in which the parapet walls of the flat roof meet (Deu 22:8).
a wide house ] Lit. a house of society. This may mean, a house shared in common with her, R.V. marg., but it is better to understand it of a house large enough for the society of many people assembling there. Comp. Act 12:12.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A wide house – literally, a house of companionship, i. e., a house shared with her. The flat roof of an Eastern house was often used for retirement by day, or in summer for sleep by night. The corner of such a roof was exposed to all changes of weather, and the point of the proverb lies in the thought that all winds and storms which a man might meet with there are more endurable than the tempest within.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. In a corner of the housetop] A shed raised on the flat roof: – a wide house; beith chaber, “a house of fellowship;” what we should call a lodging-house, or a house occupied by several families. This was usual in the East, as well as in the West. Some think a house of festivity is meant: hence my old MS. Bible has, the hous and feste.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
To dwell, to wit, alone in quietness, as appears from the opposite clause.
Of the house-top; of the roof of the house, which in those countries was flat and plain, and habitable, but was exposed to all the injuries of the weather. In a
wide house; or, in a common house; or, a house of society, where husband and wife live together, or which is capable of many friends or companies.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. cornera turret or arbor onthe roof.
brawlingorcontentious.
wide houseliterally,”house of fellowship,” large enough for several families.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
[It is] better to dwell in a corner of the housetop,…. The roofs of houses in Judea were that, encompassed with battlements, whither persons might retire for solitude, and sit in safety: and it is better to be in a corner of such a roof alone, and be exposed to scorching heat, to blustering winds, to thunder storms and showers of rain,
than with a brawling woman in a wide house; large and spacious, full of rooms, fit for a numerous family: or, “an house of society” u; where many families might dwell and live sociably with each other; or a house where a man, his wife and family, might dwell together, and have communion with each other; it is opposed to the corner of the housetop, and the solitariness of it; as the scolding of the brawling woman, or “a woman of contentions” w, who is always noisy and quarrelsome, her violent passions, her storming language, and thundering voice, are to the inclemencies of the heavens, to which a man on the housetop is exposed; and yet these are more eligible than the other; see
Pr 21:19.
u “domo societatis”, Montanus, Vatablus, Baynus, Mercerus, Michaelis, “et domus societatis”, Schultens. w “prae muliere contentionum”, Montanus, Schultens.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The group now following extends to Pro 21:18, where a new one begins with a variation of its initial verse.
9 Better to sit on the pinnacle of a house-roof,
Than a contentious wife and a house in common.
We have neither to supplement the second line: than with a contentious wife… (Symmachus, Theodotion, Jerome, Luther), nor: than that one have a contentious…; but the meaning is, that sitting on the roof-top better befits one, does better than a quarrelsome wife and a common house (rightly the Targ. and Venet.), i.e., in a common house; for the connecting together of the wife and the house by vav is a Semitic hendiadys, a juxtaposition of two ideas which our language would place in a relation of subordination (Fleischer). This hendiadys would, indeed, be scarcely possible if the idea of the married wife were attached to ; for that such an one has with her husband a “house of companionship, i.e., a common house,” is self-evident. But may it not with equal right be understood of the imperious positive mother-in-law of a widower, a splenetic shrewish aunt, a sickly female neighbour disputing with all the world, and the like? A man must live together with his wife in so far as he does not divorce her; he must then escape from her; but a man may also be constrained by circumstances to live in a house with a quarrelsome mother-in-law, and such an one may, even during the life of his wife, and in spite of her affection, make his life so bitter that he would rather, in order that he might have rest, sit on the pinnacle or ridge of a house-roof. is the battlement (Zep 1:16) of the roof, the edge of the roof, or its summit; he who sits there does so not without danger, and is exposed to the storm, but that in contrast with the alternative is even to be preferred; he sits alone. Regarding the Chethb , Ker , vid., at Pro 6:14; and cf. the figures of the “continual dropping” for the continual scolding of such a wife, embittering the life of her husband, Pro 19:13.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
See here, 1. What a great affliction it is to a man to have a brawling scolding woman for his wife, who upon every occasion, and often upon no occasion, breaks out into a passion, and chides either him or those about her, is fretful to herself and furious to her children and servants, and, in both, vexatious to her husband. If a man has a wide house, spacious and pompous, this will embitter the comfort of it to him–a house of society (so the word is), in which a man may be sociable, and entertain his friends; this will make both him and his house unsociable, and unfit for enjoyments of true friendship. It makes a man ashamed of his choice and his management, and disturbs his company. 2. What many a man is forced to do under such an affliction. He cannot keep up his authority. He finds it to no purpose to contradict the most unreasonable passion, for it is unruly and rages so much the more; and his wisdom and grace will not suffer him to render railing for railing, nor his conjugal affection to use any severity, and therefore he finds it his best way to retire into a corner of the house-top, and sit alone there, out of the hearing of her clamour; and if he employ himself well there, as he may do, it is the wisest course he can take. Better do so than quit the house, and go into bad company, for diversion, as many, who, like Adam, make their wife’s sin the excuse of their own.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
The Intolerable Wife
Verse 9 declares that it is better that a man live on the roof, subject to unpleasant weather, and other inconveniences, than to dwell in a large house with a quarrelsome woman. Verse 19 states that to live in the wilderness would also be a better alternative, Pro 19:13; Pro 25:24; Pro 27:15-16; 1Ch 15:29; Eph 5:22-24; 1Pe 3:1-5.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
CRITICAL NOTES.
Pro. 21:9. Wide house. Literally a house of companionship, i.e., to share the house with her.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro. 21:9; Pro. 21:19
AN ANGRY WOMAN
I. No social discomfort is to be compared to that of an ill-tempered wife. A corner of the housetop would be exposed to the rain and to the storm, both of which, in eastern countries, are generally of a violent character; and although it is not uncommon for orientals sometimes to pass the night there, it would be most undesirable to be obliged at all seasons, and under all circumstances, to have no other place of refuge. He who had to dwell there would at one time be subjected to the intense heat of the mid-day sun, and at another would be chilled by the midnight air. Neither is the wilderness a pleasant place of abode. In addition to all the drawbacks of the housetop arising from exposure to the weather, a wilderness is a place of dreary solitude, and often of danger from wild beasts and lawless men. But it is better to dwell in either of these places than with a brawling or even with an angry woman.
1. Because one might enjoy intervals of repose. The rain would not always descend, neither would the storm-wind be always blowing; the sun would sometimes give forth only an agreeable warmth, and the night-wind bring only a refreshing coolness. Even in the wilderness the solitude would sometimes be enjoyable, and life there would not always be in peril. But the woman pictured here is one whose ill-temper is always ruling her and casting gloom over the home, and when there is no storm of passion actually raging there is one brewing and ready to burst forth. The unhappy partner of her life can never look forward to an hour of ease, for the lulls in the storm are but momentary, and the rifts in the clouds obscured again immediately.
2. Because, whatever may be the discomforts of a housetop or wilderness dwelling, they may leave the soul at rest. They can but reach the body, and the mind may be so absolutely calm or absorbed in thought as to be almost unconscious of what is passing without. To some men solitude has such charms that they are willing to forego many bodily comforts in order to obtain it. There have been and are those whose own thoughts are the only company they desire, and who would gladly brave the drawbacks of the housetop or the wilderness, if by so doing they could be left undisturbed to indulge their own speculations, or pursue their meditations. But the sharp tongue of a contentious woman leaves no corner of the soul undisturbed. It is vain for the subject of it to seek refuge in reflection upon more agreeable topics, to endeavour to banish the actual present by calling up images of the future, or of unseen though distant realities. All the powers of the mind are paralyzed by such an incubus, and the soul cannot wing its flight into pleasanter regions, as it can do sometimes when the suffering only touches the outer man.
II. External good fortune is no proof against this domestic curse. The wide house or the house of companionship, suggests a goodly mansiona dwelling which might be the centre of social gatherings, and whose owner is able to indulge in hospitality on a large scale. It calls up before us not the top-story garret of the very poor, or even the narrow dwelling of a struggling man, where the fight for bread, and the effort to make both ends meet, may have something to do with spoiling the temper of the housewife. But the angry and contentious woman is not confined to these abodesSolomon almost seems to speak here from experience, but even if he did not, we know that even palace walls cannot keep out the curse, and that there is often such a skeleton at the most sumptuous feast.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
The family is sometimes a fierce fire. It comprehends the greatest portion of our world. It is to us the most interesting, and therefore is capable of becoming the most trying portion.Cecil.
Everyone has known some pair chained together by human laws where the hearts union has either never existed or been rent asunder. Two ships at sea are bound together by strong, short chains. As long as the sea remains perfectly calm all may be well with both; though they do each other no good, they may not inflict much evil. But the sea never rests long, and seldom rests at all. Woe to these two ships when the waves begin to roll. There are two conditions in which they might be safe. If they were either brought more closely together, or more widely separated, it might yet be well with them. If they were from stern to stern riveted into one, or if the chain were broken and the two left to follow independently their several courses, there would be no further cause of anxiety on their account. If they are so united that they shall move as one body, they are safe; if they move far apart, they are safe. The worst possible position is to be chained together, and yet have separate and independent motion in the waves. They will rasp each others sides off, and tear open each others heart, and go down together.Arnot.
Better to retire into a corner of the housetop than to quit the house and go into bad company for diversion, as many who, like Adam, make their wifes sin the excuse of their own.Henry.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(9) It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop.Though there exposed to all the storms of heaven. The flat tops of houses were, in the East, used for exercise (2Sa. 11:2), sleeping, (1Sa. 9:26), devotion (Act. 10:9), and various domestic purposes (Jos. 2:6).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Corner of the housetop A slight structure on the roof. See case of prophet’s chamber “on the wall.” 2Ki 4:10. Brawling woman Hebrew, woman of contentions; a contentious, quarrelsome woman.
A wide house Margin, “A house of society,” or families. , ( beth hhabher,) a house in common; that is, in company with such a woman. The point of the proverb is, that a man had better endure all the winds, rains, and storms on the housetop rather than the tempest within. Speaker’s Commentary. Compare Pro 19:23; Pro 27:15; Pro 21:19, below; Pro 25:24.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 9. It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
The first and last of these verses are to the same effect. They both express the dreadful state of a sinful unregenerate heart, which pours forth evil, and that continually. Alas! what cause have we in the view of such things, to lament over a sinful, fallen, nature. Precious Jesus! what, but for thy great undertaking in the redemption of that nature, and the regeneration of the heart, could have saved from the wrath to come? Jas 3:14-16 . And what a beautiful contrast follows in Jas 3:17-18 !
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 21:9 [It is] better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
Ver. 9. It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top. ] Their house tops were made flat by order of the law. The sense is, then, A man had better abide abroad, sub dio, under the sun exposed to wind and weather, yea, to crowd into a corner, and to live in a little ease, than to cohabit in a convenient house with a contentious woman, that is ever brawling and brangling, that turns coniugium into coniurgium by inserting the dogs’ letter (r), and leading her husband a dog’s life. Such a one was Zillah, Peninnah, Xantippe, the wife of Phoroneus the lawgiver, who upon his deathbed told his brother he had been a man happy if he had never married. a Aristotle b affirms, that he that hath miscarried in a wife, hath lost more than half the happiness of his life. Rubius Celer and Albutius Tertius were held happy among the Romans, because the former had lived with a wife three and forty years and eight months, the latter five and twenty years, sine querela, without quarrelling or contending. And this they gave order should be engraven upon their gravestones. See Trapp on “ Pro 19:13 “
a Bruson, lib. vii. cap. 22.
b Arist. in Rhet.
better. See note on Pro 8:11.
Pro 21:9
Pro 21:9
“It is better to live in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.”
The meaning here is clear enough and needs no comment; but this rendition is an interesting variation: “It is better to dwell in an attic on the roof, than in a double bedroom with a nagging wife. In fairness, it should be stated that the corollary here is applicable also to a nagging husband.
Pro 21:9. Their housetops were flat. Gathering his few things together and living in the corner of the flat housetop, inconvenient as it would be, is proverbially said to be preferred to living down in the commodious house with a woman who is cantankerous. Pro 25:24 and Pro 21:19 of this chapter are similar. The unpleasantness of dwelling with a contentious woman is also mentioned in Pro 19:13 and Pro 27:15. Some women can be blessed with the very finest of material things and yet be anything but happy; they can be anything but a joy to come home to. In our day of permissive divorce courts such contentions lead to divorces.
better: Pro 21:19, Pro 12:4, Pro 19:13, Pro 25:24, Pro 27:15, Pro 27:16
brawling woman in a wide house: Heb. woman of contentions in a house of society, Pro 15:17, Pro 17:1
Reciprocal: Pro 9:13 – General Pro 14:1 – the foolish Pro 30:23 – an odious Mat 19:10 – General
This proverb makes sense if we keep in mind that roofs in the ancient Near East were flat and people used them as patios. It is better to live alone outside, exposed to the elements, than in the sheltered, comfortable interior of one’s house if one has to share the inside with a scolding woman. Spartan conditions with peace are better than physical comforts with strife.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)