Proverbs 12:4

KJV1611 – Modern English

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but she who causes shame 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

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

• 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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  A stedfast woman is a crowne vnto hir hu?bonde: but she that behaueth herself vnhonestly, is a corrupcion in his bones.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  A vertuous woman is the crowne of her husband: but she that maketh him ashamed, is as corruption in his bones.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  A huswifely woman is a crowne vnto her husbande: but she that behaueth her selfe vnhonestly, is as corruption in his bones.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed [is] as rottenness in his bones.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, But a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  A virtuous woman `is' a crown to her husband, And as rottenness in his bones `is' one causing shame.

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband; but she whose behaviour is a cause of shame is like a wasting disease in his bones.

• World English Bible (2000)

  A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  A noble wife is the crown of her husband, but the wife who acts shamefully is like rottenness in his bones.

Referenced Verses

• Prov 14:30 : 30 A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to 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 dripping. 14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers, and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
• Prov 21:9 : 9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a spacious house with a contentious woman.
• Prov 21:19 : 19 It is better to live in the wilderness than with a contentious and angry woman.
• Prov 27:15-16 : 15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. 16 Whoever hides her hides the wind, and the ointment of his right hand reveals itself.
• Prov 31:10-25 : 10 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her worth is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so he will have no lack of gain. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax, and works willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from afar. 15 She rises also while it is yet night, and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds herself with strength and strengthens her arms. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is good; her lamp does not go out by night. 19 She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She extends her hand to the poor; yes, she reaches forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes fine linen and sells it, and delivers sashes to the merchant. 25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come.
• Hab 3:16 : 16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice; decay entered my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, he will invade them with his troops.
• 1 Cor 11:7 : 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man.
• Prov 14:1 : 1 Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her hands.
• 1 Cor 11:11 : 11 Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man, in the Lord.