Translation commentary on Proverbs 12:4

“A good wife is the crown of her husband”: The Hebrew term translated “good” refers principally to strength or power. It is used in 31.10-31. The activities of the “good wife” there show her to be trustworthy, competent, and industrious. See also Ruth 3.11 where “woman of worth” is used. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch calls her “capable,” Bible en français courant “courageous,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “exemplary,” and Contemporary English Version “helpful.” “The crown”, the object worn on the head of a king or queen, is a symbol of authority, status, or honor.

Translations differ in the way they understand the “good wife” to be a “crown”. Some take it to mean that she gives honor to her husband. For example, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “The exemplary wife makes her husband a king” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “The capable wife brings the highest honor to her husband.” In Good News Translation, on the other hand, the woman is honored by her husband: “. . . is her husband’s pride and joy.” Both approaches are suitable; however, the first understanding seems more appropriate when the sense of the contrasting second line is considered. In some languages it may be necessary to say, for example, “A husband who has a capable wife is respected by others” or “People respect a man whose wife is industrious.”

“But she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones”: “Brings shame” contrasts with the honor and respect given to the “husband” in line 1. For “brings shame” refer to 10.5. The sense is the opposite of honor and so the meaning is “dishonor” or “disgrace.” The thought in line 2 is that the opposite kind of wife brings shame on her husband; as one translation says, “But if a wife does all kinds of bad things and her husband is ashamed. . ..” The wife in line 2 is compared to “rottenness in his [her husband’s] bones”. This figure suggests a disease that weakens the body and leads to death. Contemporary English Version says “but a shameless wife will make his bones rot.” Note Good News Translation “. . . is like cancer in his bones.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy offers a nonfigurative rendering: “but a bad wife destroys him completely.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 12:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 12:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “A gentle woman brings honor to her husband,
    but an evil/immoral one brings shame to her husband.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “A good wife is her husband’s crown,
    but a woman
    who makes her husband ashamed
    is like rotting bones.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A good wife is pride and delight of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is like a disease that nibbles/gnaws the bones of her husband.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The intelligent/skillful woman whose behavior is good, she can-be-compared to a crown which is the cause-of- her spouse -being-praised, but the woman who shames her spouse, she can-be-compared to a sickness of the bones that uses-up strength.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “A good wife is one who causes her husband to be greatly honored,
    but a wife who does things that cause her husband to be ashamed will destroy him like cancer destroys his bones.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 12:4

12:4

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

4a
A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,

4b but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.

This proverb contrasts a good wife with a wife who disgraces her husband. The effect of these two kinds of wives on their husbands is described by a metaphor in 12:4a and a simile in 12:4b.

12:4a

A wife of noble character: The word noble usually means “strength” or “power.” In this context, it indicates a wife who has both strength of character and competence. Most versions use only one expression to describe her. For example:

a capable wife (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
a worthy wife (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
A good wife (Good News Translation)
-or-
a wife with strength of character (God’s Word)

Some languages may have one expression that includes both meanings of the Hebrew word. If not, you may use more than one term. For example:

a wife who is clever and good

is her husband’s crown: In this metaphor, a good wife is compared to a crown on her husband’s head. A crown is a symbol of honor. So a wife who is her husband’s crown causes him to be honored or respected by other people.

If this metaphor is not natural or clear in your language, some other ways to translate it are:

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

A good wife is like a crown for her husband (New Century Version)

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

A capable and virtuous wife brings her husband respect/honor.

• Use an idiom in your language that expresses the right meaning. For example:

A good wife is her husband’s pride and joy (Good News Translation)

12:4b

but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones: This simile compares a wife who disgraces her husband to decay in his bones. The similarity is that the disgraceful wife steadily ruins her husband’s happiness, reputation, and influence. In the same way, a serious disease ruins his health.

In some languages, it may be helpful to make this similarity explicit. For example:

But if a wife’s behavior shames her husband, she will ⌊ruin his reputation⌋ just as a bone disease would ruin his health.

she who causes shame: This phrase refers to a wife who brings shame or disgrace to her husband or ruins his reputation.

is like decay in his bones: In Old Testament times, people regarded the bones as the source of the body’s health and strength. So the expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as decay (the New Revised Standard Version has “rottenness”) in his bones refers to a disease which slowly but steadily takes away a person’s health and strength. A possible modern equivalent of this condition is cancer. For example:

rottenness in his bones (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
bone cancer (God’s Word)
-or-
a cancer in his bones (Good News Translation)

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