Proverbs 17:1

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

טוֹב פַּת חֲרֵבָה וְשַׁלְוָה־בָהּ מִבַּיִת מָלֵא זִבְחֵי־רִיב

Transliteration

Better pat chărēbāh wə-šalwāh in it than bayit mālē zibchē-rîb

Grammar Details

*pat*: construct state, feminine singular - morsel/piece of
*chărēbāh*: adjective, feminine singular - dry/stale
*wə-šalwāh*: conjunction + noun, feminine singular - and tranquility/peace/quietness
*bayit*: noun, masculine singular - house
*mālē*: adjective, masculine singular - full
*zibchē*: construct plural of *zebach* - sacrifices of
*rîb*: noun, masculine singular - strife/contention/dispute

Word Meanings

*pat*: piece/morsel/fragment of bread
*chărēbāh*: dry/stale/parched
*šalwāh*: tranquility/peace/quietness
*bayit*: house/home/dwelling
*zibchē*: sacrificial meals/feasts/offerings
*rîb*: strife/contention/quarrel/dispute

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Prov 15:17 : 17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
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.
Ps 37:16 : 16 Better is a little that the righteous hath Than the abundance of many wicked.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 15:16-18
3 verses
78%
16Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith.
17Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
18A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Eccl 4:6
78%
6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.
Prov 25:24
75%
24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
Prov 21:9
75%
9It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
Prov 17:14
74%
14The beginning of strife is [as] when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
Prov 21:19-20
2 verses
73%
19It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.
Prov 16:8
73%
8Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.
Prov 17:2
72%
2A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
Eccl 9:17-18
2 verses
71%
17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
18Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Prov 15:1
70%
1A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.
Ps 37:16
70%
16Better is a little that the righteous hath Than the abundance of many wicked.
Prov 20:3
70%
3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
Prov 19:1
70%
1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
Prov 16:19
70%
19Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Prov 19:13-15
3 verses
69%
13A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
15Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Prov 22:10
69%
10Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.
Prov 21:14
69%
14A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
Eccl 7:5
69%
5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Prov 17:27
69%
27He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Prov 13:10
68%
10By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.
Prov 26:20
68%
20For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
Prov 13:23
68%
23Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.
Job 13:5
68%
5Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.
Eccl 5:1
68%
1Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.
Prov 15:27
68%
27He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth bribes shall live.
Eccl 7:2
68%
2It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
Prov 25:17
67%
17Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Eccl 6:7
67%
7All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
Prov 16:32
67%
32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.
Eccl 4:13
67%
13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
Prov 26:17
67%
17He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Prov 29:17
67%
17Correct thy son, and he will give thee rest; Yea, he will give delight unto thy soul.
Prov 12:9
67%
9Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.
Prov 11:29
67%
29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
Prov 27:15
67%
15A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike:
Prov 28:25
67%
25He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife; But he that putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.
Prov 27:7
67%
7The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
Prov 9:17
67%
17Stolen waters are sweet, And bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.
Prov 16:16
67%
16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
Prov 15:6
67%
6In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
Prov 10:19
67%
19In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.
Eccl 10:17
66%
17Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Prov 14:29
66%
29He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.