Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, May 13th, 2025
the Fourth Week after Easter
the Fourth Week after Easter
video advertismenet
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
Proverbs 21:9
Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- CharlesEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Better to live on the corner of a roofthan to share a house with a nagging wife.
Better to live on the corner of a roofthan to share a house with a nagging wife.
Hebrew Names Version
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than to share a house with a contentious woman.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than to share a house with a contentious woman.
King James Version
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
English Standard Version
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
New American Standard Bible
It is better to live on a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
It is better to live on a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
New Century Version
It is better to live in a corner on the roof than inside the house with a quarreling wife.
It is better to live in a corner on the roof than inside the house with a quarreling wife.
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.
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.
World English Bible
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than to share a house with a contentious woman.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Geneva Bible (1587)
It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a contentious woman in a wide house.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a contentious woman in a wide house.
Legacy Standard Bible
It is better to live in a corner of a roofThan in a house shared with a contentious woman.
It is better to live in a corner of a roofThan in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Berean Standard Bible
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Contemporary English Version
It's better to stay outside on the roof of your house than to live inside with a nagging wife.
It's better to stay outside on the roof of your house than to live inside with a nagging wife.
Complete Jewish Bible
It is better to live on a corner of the roof than to share the house with a nagging wife.
It is better to live on a corner of the roof than to share the house with a nagging wife.
Darby Translation
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
Easy-to-Read Version
It is better to live in a small corner on the roof than to share the house with a woman who is always arguing.
It is better to live in a small corner on the roof than to share the house with a woman who is always arguing.
George Lamsa Translation
It is better to dwell alone in a corner of the housetop than to live with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
It is better to dwell alone in a corner of the housetop than to live with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
Good News Translation
Better to live on the roof than share the house with a nagging wife.
Better to live on the roof than share the house with a nagging wife.
Lexham English Bible
Better to dwell on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a woman of contention.
Better to dwell on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a woman of contention.
Literal Translation
It is better to dwell on a corner of a housetop, than with a contentious woman, and to share a house.
It is better to dwell on a corner of a housetop, than with a contentious woman, and to share a house.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
It is better to dwell in a corner vnder ye house toppe, then with a braulinge woman in a wyde house.
It is better to dwell in a corner vnder ye house toppe, then with a braulinge woman in a wyde house.
American Standard Version
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
Bible in Basic English
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
King James Version (1611)
It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top; then with a brawling woman in a wide house.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top; then with a brawling woman in a wide house.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
It is better to dwel in a corner on the house toppe, then with a brawling woman in a wide house.
It is better to dwel in a corner on the house toppe, then with a brawling woman in a wide house.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
It is better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered rooms with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
It is better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered rooms with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
English Revised Version
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
It is betere to sitte in the corner of an hous with oute roof, than with a womman ful of chydyng, and in a comyn hous.
It is betere to sitte in the corner of an hous with oute roof, than with a womman ful of chydyng, and in a comyn hous.
Update Bible Version
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
Webster's Bible Translation
[It is] better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
[It is] better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
New English Translation
It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.
It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.
New King James Version
Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
New Living Translation
It's better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
It's better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
New Life Bible
It is better to live in a corner of a roof than in a house shared with an arguing woman.
It is better to live in a corner of a roof than in a house shared with an arguing woman.
New Revised Standard
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious wife.
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious wife.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
Douay-Rheims Bible
It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
Revised Standard Version
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Young's Literal Translation
Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions and a house of company.
Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions and a house of company.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Contextual Overview
9 Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
better: Proverbs 21:19, Proverbs 12:4, Proverbs 19:13, Proverbs 25:24, Proverbs 27:15, Proverbs 27:16
brawling woman in a wide house: Heb. woman of contentions in a house of society, Proverbs 15:17, Proverbs 17:1
Reciprocal: Proverbs 9:13 - General Proverbs 14:1 - the foolish Proverbs 30:23 - an odious Matthew 19:10 - General
Cross-References
Genesis 16:1
Sarai, Abram's wife, hadn't yet produced a child. She had an Egyptian maid named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, " God has not seen fit to let me have a child. Sleep with my maid. Maybe I can get a family from her." Abram agreed to do what Sarai said.
Sarai, Abram's wife, hadn't yet produced a child. She had an Egyptian maid named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, " God has not seen fit to let me have a child. Sleep with my maid. Maybe I can get a family from her." Abram agreed to do what Sarai said.
Genesis 17:20
"And Ishmael? Yes, I heard your prayer for him. I'll also bless him; I'll make sure he has plenty of children—a huge family. He'll father twelve princes; I'll make him a great nation. But I'll establish my covenant with Isaac whom Sarah will give you about this time next year."
"And Ishmael? Yes, I heard your prayer for him. I'll also bless him; I'll make sure he has plenty of children—a huge family. He'll father twelve princes; I'll make him a great nation. But I'll establish my covenant with Isaac whom Sarah will give you about this time next year."
Genesis 21:1
God visited Sarah exactly as he said he would; God did to Sarah what he promised: Sarah became pregnant and gave Abraham a son in his old age, and at the very time God had set. Abraham named him Isaac. When his son was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him just as God had commanded.
God visited Sarah exactly as he said he would; God did to Sarah what he promised: Sarah became pregnant and gave Abraham a son in his old age, and at the very time God had set. Abraham named him Isaac. When his son was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him just as God had commanded.
Genesis 21:5
Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born. Sarah said, God has blessed me with laughter and all who get the news will laugh with me!
Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born. Sarah said, God has blessed me with laughter and all who get the news will laugh with me!
Genesis 21:14
Abraham got up early the next morning, got some food together and a canteen of water for Hagar, put them on her back and sent her away with the child. She wandered off into the desert of Beersheba. When the water was gone, she left the child under a shrub and went off, fifty yards or so. She said, "I can't watch my son die." As she sat, she broke into sobs.
Abraham got up early the next morning, got some food together and a canteen of water for Hagar, put them on her back and sent her away with the child. She wandered off into the desert of Beersheba. When the water was gone, she left the child under a shrub and went off, fifty yards or so. She said, "I can't watch my son die." As she sat, she broke into sobs.
Genesis 21:24
Abraham said, "I swear it."
Abraham said, "I swear it."
2 Chronicles 30:10
So the couriers set out, going from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far north as Zebulun. But the people poked fun at them, treated them as a joke. But not all; some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun weren't too proud to accept the invitation and come to Jerusalem. It was better in Judah—God worked powerfully among them to make it unanimous, responding to the orders sent out by the king and his officials, orders backed up by the word of God .
So the couriers set out, going from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far north as Zebulun. But the people poked fun at them, treated them as a joke. But not all; some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun weren't too proud to accept the invitation and come to Jerusalem. It was better in Judah—God worked powerfully among them to make it unanimous, responding to the orders sent out by the king and his officials, orders backed up by the word of God .
Job 30:1
"But no longer. Now I'm the butt of their jokes— young ruffians! whippersnappers! Why, I considered their fathers mere inexperienced pups. But they are worse than dogs—good for nothing, stray, mangy animals, Half-starved, scavenging the back alleys, howling at the moon; Homeless guttersnipes chewing on old bones and licking old tin cans; Outcasts from the community, cursed as dangerous delinquents. Nobody would put up with them; they were driven from the neighborhood. You could hear them out there at the edge of town, yelping and barking, huddled in junkyards, A gang of beggars and no-names, thrown out on their ears.
"But no longer. Now I'm the butt of their jokes— young ruffians! whippersnappers! Why, I considered their fathers mere inexperienced pups. But they are worse than dogs—good for nothing, stray, mangy animals, Half-starved, scavenging the back alleys, howling at the moon; Homeless guttersnipes chewing on old bones and licking old tin cans; Outcasts from the community, cursed as dangerous delinquents. Nobody would put up with them; they were driven from the neighborhood. You could hear them out there at the edge of town, yelping and barking, huddled in junkyards, A gang of beggars and no-names, thrown out on their ears.
Psalms 22:6
And here I am, a nothing—an earthworm, something to step on, to squash. Everyone pokes fun at me; they make faces at me, they shake their heads: "Let's see how God handles this one; since God likes him so much, let him help him!"
And here I am, a nothing—an earthworm, something to step on, to squash. Everyone pokes fun at me; they make faces at me, they shake their heads: "Let's see how God handles this one; since God likes him so much, let him help him!"
Proverbs 20:11
Young people eventually reveal by their actions if their motives are on the up and up.
Young people eventually reveal by their actions if their motives are on the up and up.
Gill's Notes on the 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
Proverbs 21:19.
u ובית חבר "domo societatis", Montanus, Vatablus, Baynus, Mercerus, Michaelis, "et domus societatis", Schultens. w מאשת מדונים "prae muliere contentionum", Montanus, Schultens.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
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.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Proverbs 21:9. In a corner of the housetop — A shed raised on the flat roof: - a wide house; בית חבר 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.
