Proverbs 25:24
New International Version
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

New Living Translation
It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.

English Standard Version
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

Berean Standard Bible
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

King James Bible
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

New King James Version
It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

New American Standard Bible
It is better to live on a corner of the roof, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

NASB 1995
It is better to live in a corner of the roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

NASB 1977
It is better to live in a corner of the roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

Legacy Standard Bible
It is better to live in a corner of the roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

Amplified Bible
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop [on the flat roof, exposed to the weather] Than in a house shared with a quarrelsome (contentious) woman.

Christian Standard Bible
Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.

American Standard Version
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

Contemporary English Version
It's better to stay outside on the roof of your house than to live inside with a nagging wife.

English Revised Version
It is better to dwell in the comer of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Better to live on a corner of a roof than to share a home with a quarreling woman.

Good News Translation
Better to live on the roof than share the house with a nagging wife.

International Standard Version
It's better to live in a corner on the roof than in a house with a contentious woman.

Majority Standard Bible
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

NET Bible
It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.

New Heart English Bible
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.

Webster's Bible Translation
It is better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

World English Bible
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Better to sit on a corner of a roof, "" Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.

Young's Literal Translation
Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than with a woman of contentions, and a house of company.

Smith's Literal Translation
Good to dwell upon a corner of the roof rather than with a woman of strifes and a house of community.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
It is better to sit m a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.

Catholic Public Domain Version
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.

New American Bible
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than in a mansion with a quarrelsome wife.

New Revised Standard Version
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious wife.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a quarrelsome wife and a house divided against itself.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
It is better to dwell on the corner of a roof than to dwell with a contentious woman in a house of divisions.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than in a house in common with a contentious woman.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
It is better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
More Proverbs of Solomon
23As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks. 24Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife. 25Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.…

Cross References
Proverbs 21:9
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Proverbs 21:19
Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.

Proverbs 19:13
A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.

Proverbs 27:15-16
A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike— / restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.

Ecclesiastes 7:26
And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.

Genesis 21:9-10
But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son, / and she said to Abraham, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!”

Genesis 16:5-6
Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.” / “Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her.

1 Samuel 25:24-25
She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant. / My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.

1 Kings 21:25
(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.

2 Samuel 6:16
As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

Ephesians 5:22-24
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. / For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. / Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

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.

1 Peter 3:1-2
Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives / when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. / But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

1 Timothy 2:11-12
A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness. / I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet.


Treasury of Scripture

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

Proverbs 19:13
A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

Proverbs 21:9,19
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house…

Proverbs 27:15,16
A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike…

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Proverbs 25
1. observations about kings
8. and about avoiding causes of quarrels














Better to live
The phrase "Better to live" suggests a comparison of life choices, emphasizing the importance of peace and contentment over material comfort. The Hebrew word for "better" (טוֹב, tov) often conveys goodness, welfare, or happiness. This implies that a life of simplicity and solitude can be more fulfilling than one filled with strife, even if it means sacrificing certain comforts.

on a corner of the roof
In ancient Israelite architecture, roofs were flat and often used as additional living space. The "corner of the roof" symbolizes a place of isolation and minimalism. The Hebrew word for "corner" (פִּנָּה, pinnah) can also mean a chief or principal place, suggesting that even a small, humble spot can be preferable if it offers peace. This imagery highlights the value of tranquility over the chaos that can arise from domestic discord.

than to share a house
The phrase "than to share a house" underscores the communal aspect of living, which is typically seen as desirable. However, the proverb suggests that the quality of relationships within the home is more important than the mere act of sharing space. The Hebrew word for "house" (בַּיִת, bayit) often represents not just a physical structure but a household or family unit, emphasizing the relational dynamics at play.

with a quarrelsome wife
The term "quarrelsome wife" refers to a contentious or argumentative partner. The Hebrew word for "quarrelsome" (מִדְיָנִים, midyanim) is related to strife or contention. In the cultural and historical context of ancient Israel, harmony within the family was paramount, and a contentious spouse could disrupt the entire household. This phrase serves as a cautionary note on the importance of choosing a partner who contributes to a peaceful and harmonious home life.

(24) It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop.--See above on Proverbs 21:9.

Verse 24. - A repetition of Proverbs 21:9, taken therefore from the Solomonic collection.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Better
ט֗וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

to live
שֶׁ֥בֶת (še·ḇeṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

a corner
פִּנַּת־ (pin·naṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6438: An angle, a pinnacle, a chieftain

of the roof
גָּ֑ג (gāḡ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1406: A roof, the top of an altar

than to share
חָֽבֶר׃ (ḥā·ḇer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2267: Company, association, spell

a house
וּבֵ֥ית (ū·ḇêṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

with a quarrelsome
מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים (miḏ·yā·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4066: A contest, quarrel

wife.
מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת (mê·’ê·šeṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 25:24 It is better to dwell (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 25:23
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