Proverbs 18:22

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. (WHOSO) FINDETH A WIFE (I:E., ONE TRULY REALIZING WHAT A WIFE OUGHT, TO BE) FINDETH A GOOD (THING). It was a "good" thing even in Paradise (), when man was in innocence: much more it is so now that man is prone to lust, and needs a meet helper. Rome therefore acts against Revelation and nature in imposing compulsory celibacy on many. "Findeth" implies the rarity of the thing obtained (), and the need of circumspection in the search. Blind passion is not to make the selection at random. Wise parents should be consulted: neglect of doing so brought evil on Samson (Judges 14:2). Above all, God is to be asked in prayer, ...

Verse Proverbs 18:22. WHOSO _FINDETH A WIFE FINDETH A GOOD_ THING] _Marriage_, with all its troubles and embarrassments, is a blessing from God; and there are _few cases_ where a _wife of any sort_ is not better than none, because celibacy is an evil; for God himself hath said, "It is not good for man to be alone." None of the versions, except the _Chaldee_, are pleased with the naked simplicity of the Hebrew text, hence they all add _good_: "He that findeth a GOOD wife findeth a good thing;" and most people, who have not deeply considered the subject, think the assertion, without this qualification, is absurd. Some copies of the _Targum_, and apparently one of _Kennicott's_ MSS., have the addition טובה _tobah,_ _good_; but this would be an authority too slender to justify changing the Hebrew text; yet Houbigant, Kennico...

The sense seems to require, “Whoso findeth a good wife,” as in some Chaldee manuscripts; but the proverb writer may be looking at marriage in its ideal aspect, and sees in every such union the hands of God joining together man and woman for their mutual good. The Septuagint adds “He who casts out a good wife, casts away that which is good: but he that keepeth an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.”...

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 18:1 This is a difficult verse, and has obtained various interpretations. The Authorized Version gives, THROUGH DESIRE A MAN, HAVING SEPARATED HIMSELF, SEEKETH AND INTERMEDDLETH WITH ALL WISDOM; _i.e. _a man who has an earnest desire for self-improvement will hold himself aloof from worldly entanglements, and, occupying himself wholly in this pursuit, will become conversant with all wisdom. This gives good sense, and offers a contrast to the fool in Proverbs 18:2, who "hath no delight in understanding." But the Hebrew does not rightly bear this interpretation. Its conciseness occasions ambiguity. Literally, _For his desire a man who separates himself seeks_;_ in _(or _against_) all wisdom he mingles

[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 that retains a whore is foolish and ungodly;'' which is followed by the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, but is not in the Hebrew text. Jarc

CHAPTER 18 PROVERBS OF PERSONAL INSTRUCTION There is first a warning against separation produced by desire, that is for gratification and pleasure, and not for a righteous purpose. Such a one becomes an enemy of true wisdom and one who intermeddleth with all wisdom. This proverb finds a New Testament illustration in Alexander the coppersmith, as well as Hymenaeus and Philetus, and Diotrephes of whom John writes in his epistle. A fool foams out his own folly. This proverb in Proverbs 18:2 is illustrated by many of the critics of the Bible. They have no delight in true understanding but their own hearts are laid bare by their mad oppositions to God's Holy Word. The fool's mouth, his lips, the talebearer (whisperer), and the slothful are the themes of the proverbs in Proverbs 18:6. Then we read

PROVERBS 18:1. MT yields no satisfactory sense. The LXX reads The man who wishes to separate from his friends seeks pretexts, but is always liable to reproach. Frankenberg renders the alienated friend seeks an occasion (emending the word for - desire-'), seeks by all means to stir up strife. Proverbs 18:4. RV translates correctly, but the sense is strange. Read, perhaps, The words of the wise are deep waters, a flowing brook, a fountain of life, but this is conjecture rather than emendation. Proverbs 18:5. _cf._ Proverbs 17:26, which may have originally followed this verse....

A WIFE. Some codices, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read, "a good wife". Compare Proverbs 19:14....

Compare: "Happy is the husband of a good wife; And the number of his days shall be twofold. A brave woman rejoiceth her husband; And he shall fulfil his years in peace. A good wife is a good portion: She shall be given in the portion of such as fear the Lord." Sir 26:1-3....

WHOSO FINDETH A WIFE FINDETH A GOOD THING— _He who findeth a good wife, findeth a good thing._ Houbigant, after many of the versions. See chap. Proverbs 19:14. The LXX and Vulgate read at the end of this verse, _He that putteth away a good wife putteth away a good thing, but he who retains an adulteress is foolish and wicked._...