Meaning, commentary and cross references
Proverbs 18:22
“He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
NIV · New International Version
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.
WEB · World English Bible
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.
What does Proverbs 18:22 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Proverbs 18:22
Whoso findeth a wife,.... A good one; so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, supply it; and so the Targum, though it leaves out the word good in the last clause; and no other can be meant, even a good natured one, wise, prudent, careful, and industrious; a proper helpmeet, a virtuous woman, as in Proverbs 31:10; whoso seeks after such an one, and finds one, especially one that has the grace of God, which he should seek after among his friends, and by their assistance, and by prayer to God: findeth a good thing; that will be good for him, both upon a civil and spiritual account; the Septuagint version adds, "he that casts out a good wife casts out good things, but he…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Proverbs 18:22
Note, 1. A good wife is a great blessing to a man. He that finds a wife (that is, a wife indeed; a bad wife does not deserve to be called by a name of so much honour), that finds a help meet for him (that is a wife in the original acceptation of the word), that sought such a one with care and prayer and has found what he sought, he has found a good thing, a jewel of great value, a rare jewel; he has found that which will not only contribute more than any thing to his comfort in this life, but will forward him in the way to heaven. 2. God is to be acknowledged in it with thankfulness; it is a token of his favour, and a happy pledge of further favours; it is a sign that God delights in a man…
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Proverbs 18:19–24 (WEB)
19A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress. 20A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied. 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit. 22Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD. 23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. 24A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Cross references
- Proverbs 19:14
House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
- Proverbs 31:10–31
Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
- Proverbs 12:4
A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.
- Ecclesiastes 9:9
Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity, for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun.
- 1 Corinthians 7:2
But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
- Genesis 2:18
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
- Proverbs 5:15–23
Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.
- Hosea 12:12
Jacob fled into the country of Aram. Israel served to get a wife. For a wife he tended flocks and herds.