Proverbs 14:1
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
Original Language Analysis
בֵיתָ֑הּ
her house
H1004
בֵיתָ֑הּ
her house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
4 of 7
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Cross References
Proverbs 21:9It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.Proverbs 21:19It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.Ruth 4:11And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Beth-lehem:Proverbs 19:13A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.1 Kings 16:31And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.2 Kings 11:1And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
Historical Context
In ancient Israelite patriarchal culture, women bore primary responsibility for household management. The Proverbs 31 woman exemplifies the wise woman who builds her house through industry, integrity, and godliness. Yet the principle transcends gender roles—whoever manages a household builds it through wisdom or destroys it through folly. The metaphor also applies to broader 'houses' (families, communities, churches, nations).
Questions for Reflection
- In what specific ways are you building up your household (or community, or church) through wise choices and godly character?
- What foolish patterns or behaviors might you be inadvertently using to tear down what should be built up?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This proverb uses feminine imagery to contrast wisdom and folly: 'Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.' Though gendered, the principle applies universally—wisdom builds while folly destroys. The 'wise woman' actively constructs (banah) her household through diligent effort, wise management, and godly character. The 'foolish' woman actively demolishes (haras—tears down, destroys) her own house through her actions. The phrase 'with her hands' emphasizes deliberate action—the destruction isn't accidental but the result of foolish choices. Whether through poor management, contentious behavior, or ungodly living, folly undermines the home from within.