Proverbs 12:4

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

A worthy woman is the crown of her husband; But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אֵֽשֶׁת־חַ֭יִל עֲטֶ֣רֶת בַּעְלָ֑הּ וּכְרָקָ֖ב בְּעַצְמוֹתָ֣יו מְבִישָֽׁה׃

Transliteration

ʾēšeṯ-ḥayil ʿăṭereṯ baʿlāh ûḵərāqāḇ bəʿaṣmôṯāyw məḇîšāh

Grammar Details

• *ʾēšeṯ*: noun, feminine singular construct - wife of
• *ḥayil*: noun, masculine singular - strength/virtue/worth
• *ʿăṭereṯ*: noun, feminine singular construct - crown of
• *baʿlāh*: noun, masculine singular + 3rd feminine singular suffix - her husband
• *ûḵərāqāḇ*: conjunction + preposition + noun, masculine singular - and like rottenness
• *bəʿaṣmôṯāyw*: preposition + noun, feminine plural + 3rd masculine singular suffix - in his bones
• *məḇîšāh*: verb, hiphil participle, feminine singular - causing shame

Word Meanings

• *ʾēšeṯ*-*ḥayil*: woman of valor/virtuous woman/excellent wife/capable wife
• *ʿăṭereṯ*: crown/ornament
• *rāqāḇ*: rottenness/decay/putrefaction
• *məḇîšāh*: causing shame/bringing shame/is shameful

Referenced Verses

• Prov 14:30 : 30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones.
• Prov 19:13-14 : 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
• Prov 21:9 : 9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
• Prov 21:19 : 19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
• Prov 27:15-16 : 15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike: 16 He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil.
• Prov 31:10-25 : 10 A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain. 12 She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life. 13 She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come.
• Hab 3:16 : 16 I heard, and my body trembled, My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entereth into my bones, and I tremble in my place; Because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, For the coming up of the people that invadeth us.
• 1 Cor 11:7 : 7 For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
• Prov 14:1 : 1 Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
• 1 Cor 11:11 : 11 Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord.