Proverbs 18:22
New International Version
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

New Living Translation
The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD.

English Standard Version
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

King James Bible
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

New King James Version
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the LORD.

NASB 1995
He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the LORD.

NASB 1977
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
He who finds a [true and faithful] wife finds a good thing And obtains favor and approval from the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

American Standard Version
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
A man's greatest treasure is his wife--she is a gift from the LORD.

English Revised Version
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever finds a wife finds something good and has obtained favor from the LORD.

Good News Translation
Find a wife and you find a good thing; it shows that the LORD is good to you.

International Standard Version
Whoever finds a wife finds what is good, and receives favor from the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

NET Bible
The one who finds a wife finds what is enjoyable, and receives a pleasurable gift from the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whoever findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor from the LORD.

World English Bible
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
[Whoever] has found a wife has found good, "" And brings out goodwill from YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
Whoso hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
He finding a wife found good, and shall obtain acceptance from Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He who has found a good wife has found goodness, and he shall draw contentment from the Lord. He who expels a good wife expels goodness. But he who holds on to an adulteress is foolish and impious.

New American Bible
To find a wife is to find happiness, a favor granted by the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He who finds a good wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD. And he who puts out a good wife, puts out good from his house.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He that finds a good wife finds a good thing, and receives the will of LORD JEHOVAH, and he that puts away a good wife puts away good from his house.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a great good, And obtaineth favour of the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He that has found a good wife has found favours, and has received gladness from God. He that puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 22He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. 23The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.…

Cross References
Genesis 2:18-24
The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.” / And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would name each one. And whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. / The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. ...

Ephesians 5:25-33
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her / to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, / and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. ...

Proverbs 19:14
Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

1 Corinthians 7:2-4
But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. / The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. / The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.

Proverbs 31:10-12
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies. / The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value. / She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.

1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Ecclesiastes 9:9
Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.

Colossians 3:18-19
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. / Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Ruth 3:10-11
Then Boaz said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. / And now do not be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you request, since all my fellow townspeople know that you are a woman of noble character.

1 Corinthians 11:11-12
In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. / For just as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

Song of Solomon 4:9-10
You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck. / How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! Your love is much better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than all spices.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Malachi 2:14-16
Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.

Matthew 19:4-6
Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ / and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? / So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

1 Timothy 5:14
So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.


Treasury of Scripture

Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.

findeth a wife

Proverbs 5:15
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

Proverbs 12:4
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

Proverbs 19:14
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

and

Proverbs 3:4
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 8:35
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

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Approval Favor Favour Findeth Finds Found Gets Good Good-Will Great Obtained Obtaineth Obtains Receives Wife
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Approval Favor Favour Findeth Finds Found Gets Good Good-Will Great Obtained Obtaineth Obtains Receives Wife
Proverbs 18
1. A fool delights not in understanding














He who finds a wife
The phrase "He who finds a wife" suggests an active pursuit and discovery. The Hebrew root for "finds" is "מָצָא" (matsa), which implies seeking with intention and purpose. In the ancient Near Eastern context, marriage was often seen as a covenantal relationship, not just a social contract. The act of finding a wife is portrayed as a deliberate and meaningful endeavor, reflecting the importance of marriage in God's design for humanity. This pursuit is not merely about companionship but about fulfilling a divine purpose and order established since creation, as seen in Genesis 2:18, where God declares, "It is not good for the man to be alone."

finds a good thing
The term "good thing" in Hebrew is "טוֹב" (tov), which encompasses goodness, benefit, and well-being. This phrase underscores the intrinsic value and blessing of marriage. In the biblical worldview, a wife is not just a partner but a source of goodness and enrichment in a man's life. This aligns with the creation narrative where God saw everything He made, including the institution of marriage, as "very good" (Genesis 1:31). The "good thing" is a reflection of God's benevolent design, where marriage is intended to bring joy, support, and mutual growth.

and obtains favor from the LORD
The word "favor" is derived from the Hebrew "רָצוֹן" (ratson), which signifies pleasure, delight, and acceptance. This phrase highlights that marriage is not only a personal blessing but also a divine endorsement. The favor from the LORD indicates that God is pleased with the union and that it aligns with His will and purpose. In the conservative Christian perspective, this favor is seen as a spiritual blessing that brings divine grace and guidance into the marriage. The concept of obtaining favor from the LORD emphasizes that marriage is a sacred covenant, blessed and sustained by God's presence and approval. This divine favor is a reminder of the spiritual dimension of marriage, where the couple is called to reflect God's love and faithfulness in their relationship.

(22) Whoso findeth a wife . . .--One who deserves the name of wife, as the one described in Proverbs 31:10, sqq.

Verse 22. - Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing. A good wife is meant (as the Septuagint has it, γυναῖκα ἀγαθήν; mulierem bonam, Vulgate), a virtuous, prudent helpmate, as in Proverbs 12:4; Proverbs 19:14; and 31. The epithet is omitted, because the moralist is thinking of the ideal wife, the one whoso union is blessed, who alone deserves the holy name of wife. Thus in ver. 4 we had the ideal man spoken cf. Septuagint, εϋρε χάριτας," findeth graces," viz. peace, union, plenty, ruder (see a different view, Ecclesiastes 7:26-28). And obtaineth favour of the Lord (Proverbs 8:35; Proverbs 12:2); or, hath obtained (Proverbs 3:13), as shown by the consort whom God has given him. Ratson, "good will," "favour," is rendered by the Septuagint ἱλαρότητα, and by the Vulgate, jucunditatem, "cheerfulness," "joyousness" (see on Proverbs 19:12). Ecclus. 26:1, etc., "Blessed is the man that hath a good wife, for the number of his days shall be double. A virtuous (ἀνδρεία) woman rejoiceth her husband, and he shall fulfil the years of his life in peace. A good wife is a good portion which shall be given in the portion of them that fear the Lord." "A good wife," says the Talmud. "is a good gift; she shall be given to a man that feareth God." And again, "God did not make woman from man's head, that she should not rule over him; nor from his feet, that she should not be his slave; but from his side, that she should be near his heart" (Dukes, p. 69). A Greek gnome runs -

Γυνή δικαζα τοῦ βίου σωτηρία The Septuagint and Vulgate here introduce a paragraph which is not in the Hebrew, and only partly in the Syriac. It seems to be a further explanation of the statement in the text, founded on the practice prevalent at the time when the Septuagint Version was composed, which appears to have made divorce a recognized necessity in the case of adultery: "He who casteth away a good a wife casteth away good things; but he who retaineth an adulteress is a fool and impious." The advice of Siracides concerning a wicked wife is austere: "If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh" (Ecclus. 25:26). Nothing is here said about the marriage of divorced persons; but the absolute indissolubility of the marriage bond was never held among the Jews, a certain laxity being allowed because of the hardness of their heart (Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:8, etc.). The original intently of the marriage contract was re-established by Christ.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He who finds
מָצָ֣א (mā·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

a wife
אִ֭שָּׁה (’iš·šāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

finds
מָ֣צָא (mā·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

a good thing
ט֑וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

and obtains
וַיָּ֥פֶק (way·yā·p̄eq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6329: To issue, furnish, to secure, to succeed

favor
רָ֝צ֗וֹן (rā·ṣō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7522: Goodwill, favor, acceptance, will

from the LORD.
מֵיְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 18:22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good (Prov. Pro Pr)
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