21:19

This is another “better than” proverb. It is very similar in both form and meaning to 21:9.

19a Better to live in the desert

19b than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.

Some of the implied contrasts are:

19a It is better to live ⌊alone⌋ in a ⌊harsh and isolated⌋ desert

19b than to live ⌊in a comfortable house⌋ with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.

There are two minor differences between 21:9 and this proverb:

(a) In this first line, this proverb has “a desert” instead of “a corner of the roof.”

(b) In the second line, it has “with a contentious and ill-tempered wife” instead of “share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”

See the notes at 21:9 for more information on this type of “better than” proverb.

21:19a

Better to live in the desert: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as desert refers to an area where few or no people lived. In Israel, it could be used as pastureland for animals. Some languages have a special word to refer to such areas, such as “the bush” (Africa) or “steppes” (Asia). Some other ways to translate this word are:

land with few people
-or-
place with no inhabitants
-or-
wild, open area

Here the main implications of the word desert are that it is isolated and lonely. It is also difficult to live there.

21:19b

than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife: The word contentious is the same word that is used in 21:9b. See the note and translation suggestions there. The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ill-tempered refers here to a wife who is easily angered and irritated. As a result, she constantly complains to her husband. Some other ways to translate this term are:

irritable (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
easily provoked (NET Bible)
-or-
complaining (Good News Translation)

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