Proverbs 21:19
It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
Original Language Analysis
ט֗וֹב
It is better
H2896
ט֗וֹב
It is better
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
1 of 7
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
שֶׁ֥בֶת
to dwell
H3427
שֶׁ֥בֶת
to dwell
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
2 of 7
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
בְּאֶֽרֶץ
in the wilderness
H776
בְּאֶֽרֶץ
in the wilderness
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
3 of 7
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Historical Context
Divorce in ancient Israel was permitted for serious issues, but the ideal was lifelong covenant faithfulness. This proverb doesn't encourage divorce but warns against making marriage unbearable through constant strife.
Questions for Reflection
- If married, are you cultivating peace or generating conflict in your home?
- If unmarried, are you prioritizing godly character when considering a spouse?
Analysis & Commentary
Better to dwell alone in the wilderness than with a 'contentious and angry' wife. The severity of this comparison emphasizes how unbearable constant strife makes a home. The wilderness represents isolation, hardship, and danger—yet even this is preferable to domestic warfare. A peaceful solitude surpasses companionship characterized by anger and contention. This hyperbolic comparison aims to prevent such marriages (by warning men to seek godly wives) and to correct contentious wives (by showing how their behavior destroys the home). The principle applies mutually: either spouse's habitual anger and strife makes marriage miserable. Believers must cultivate gentleness, patience, and self-control to create peaceful homes that glorify God.