Proverbs 12:4
in Proverbs 12A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A worthy woman is the crown of her husband; But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
KJV
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
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This verse in Proverbs 12
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA virtuous woman is a crown to her husband - אשת חיל esheth chayil, a strong woman.
This site's exposition
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband plants in one line the word the whole book closes on, the acrostic portrait of Proverbs 31, and here the same woman is set against her opposite, one that maketh ashamed, pictured as rottenness eating the husband's bones from within. The bench reads the contrast as deliberately extreme, honor that adorns against decay that consumes, because the book treats the choice of a wife as one of the largest decisions a man makes.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 12:4 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
When you are going to take a wife, do not only look for a companion in life but also for a companion in virtue. It is inevitable that the husband of a depraved wife perishes in the same way. Therefore look for virtue and not for money. And a well-behaved wife will become a crown of glory because she is strong; [whereas] an evil wife, as if a worm dwells inside her heart, will cause destruction gradually and silently. And what is even more dreadful is that this does not appear externally, but this sort of wife injects the poison inside and consumes an unhappy soul. In the opposite way, virtue adorns the one who follows it, whereas iniquity makes the iniquitous even more detestable. "The reflections of the righteous are judgments." They are, in fact, discreet and simple: either because the righteous always reflect on the judgments and commands of God or because they always turn judgments over inside their mind. Our mind sits like a judge, judging the different virtues and arguing with the opposing vices, approving one, condemning the other.
The Medieval Church2 voices
A diligent woman is a crown to her husband, etc. The meaning of the letter is evident because a good and chaste woman gives honor to her husband in all things, and by well managing the household with his virtues, she, as it were, adds …
For all who are around him, etc. And the son of Sirach concerning the high priest: He himself standing next to the altar, and around him a crown of brothers. But the bones, that is, the virtues, which can be seen in the faction of …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,.... One that is loving and chaste, constant and faithful, obsequious and submissive to him; that is diligent in the affairs of her house, takes care of her family, brings up her children, and keeps up a good order and decorum among her servants, is an honour and credit to her husband.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
A virtuous woman--in the wide sense of well-disposed to all moral duties (Pr 31:10). maketh ashamed--that is, by misconduct. rottenness--an incurable evil.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Virtuous - The word implies the virtue of earnestness, or strength of character, rather than of simple chastity. A crown - With the Jews the sign, not of kingly power only, but also of joy and gladness. Compare Son 3:11.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֵֽשֶׁת־ | ʾeshet- | a wife of | H802 → | 781 times |
| חַ֭יִל | chayil | ability | H2428 → | 246 times |
| עֲטֶ֣רֶת | ʾateret | [is] [the] crown of | H5850 → | 23 times |
| בַּעְלָ֑הּ | ba'lah | husband her | H1167 → | 84 times |
| וּכְרָקָ֖ב | ukherakav | and [is] like rottenness | H7538 → | |
| בְּעַצְמוֹתָ֣יו | beatzmotav | in bones his | H6106 → | 126 times |
| מְבִישָֽׁה׃ | mevishah | a [woman who] acts shamefully | H954 → | 127 times |
אֵֽשֶׁת־a wife of
ʾeshet-H802 →781 times
חַ֭יִלability
chayilH2428 →246 times
עֲטֶ֣רֶת[is] [the] crown of
ʾateretH5850 →23 times
בַּעְלָ֑הּhusband her
ba'lahH1167 →84 times
וּכְרָקָ֖בand [is] like rottenness
ukherakavH7538 →
בְּעַצְמוֹתָ֣יוin bones his
beatzmotavH6106 →126 times
מְבִישָֽׁה׃a [woman who] acts shamefully
mevishahH954 →127 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 14:1Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
it leads to
- Proverbs 21:9
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 31:10–31
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
- Proverbs 24:3–4
By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;
- Proverbs 21:19
Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
- Ruth 4:11
“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel.…
- Proverbs 21:9
Through
Proverbs 14:30A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
it leads to
- Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
- Job 5:2
For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
- Proverbs 3:8
This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
- Proverbs 17:22
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 12:4; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).