Proverbs 18:22 kjv
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Proverbs 18:22 nkjv
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 18:22 niv
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 18:22 esv
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 18:22 nlt
The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,
and he receives favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 18 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:18 | The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." | Foundation of marriage as God's design. |
| Gen 2:24 | Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. | Institution of marriage; unity. |
| Prov 19:14 | House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. | A good wife is a divine gift, not merely inheritance. |
| Prov 12:4 | A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown... | Value of an excellent wife to her husband. |
| Prov 31:10 | A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. | Exemplar of a highly valuable and virtuous wife. |
| Eccl 9:9 | Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life... | Encouragement to find joy in marriage. |
| Mal 2:14-15 | The LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth... | Marriage as a covenant relationship before God. |
| Matt 19:4-6 | Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female... and the two shall become one flesh? | Jesus affirms marriage as a divine, foundational ordinance. |
| Eph 5:22-33 | Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church... | Marriage reflecting Christ's relationship with the Church. |
| Heb 13:4 | Let marriage be held in honor among all... | Exhortation for high regard of marriage. |
| Gen 1:31 | God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. | Connection to "good thing" as part of God's original creation. |
| Gen 39:2-4 | The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man... | Joseph finding favor with his master Potiphar and God. |
| Ruth 2:13 | "May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord," she said. | Example of someone seeking and receiving favor. |
| Luke 1:28,30 | "Greetings, you who are highly favored!" ... "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God." | Mary's divine favor for God's plan. |
| Psa 30:5 | For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; | God's favor as a lasting blessing. |
| Psa 84:11 | For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor... | God as the source of favor and protection. |
| Prov 3:4 | So you will find favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. | Finding favor as a result of walking with God. |
| Prov 8:35 | For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD. | Parallel with finding wisdom as finding life and divine favor. |
| Prov 21:9 | It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. | Illustrates the contrast if a "good thing" is not found. |
| Prov 21:19 | It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman. | Further emphasis on difficulties with a bad marriage. |
| 1 Cor 7:2 | But because of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. | Marriage as a protective good within God's order. |
| Prov 5:18 | Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. | Encouragement for marital fidelity and joy. |
Proverbs 18 verses
Proverbs 18 22 Meaning
Proverbs 18:22 proclaims that discovering and entering into marriage with a wife, specifically one chosen wisely and aligned with God's design, is a highly beneficial act. This act of finding a spouse is presented as a profound good thing that is inherently blessed by the Lord, signifying divine approval, grace, and an experience of God's goodwill and partnership in one's life.
Proverbs 18 22 Context
Proverbs 18:22 stands within the collection of Solomonic proverbs, didactic sayings that impart wisdom for living a godly and prosperous life. This particular verse speaks to the importance of marital relationships, a recurring theme throughout the book of Proverbs, which offers practical guidance for everyday life, often contrasting wisdom with folly. It highlights foundational societal units like the family and underscores God's active role in blessing human endeavors that align with His creation design. The book of Proverbs is not merely offering general life advice, but rather wisdom rooted in the fear of the LORD, framing marriage within a covenantal relationship with God and one another.
Proverbs 18 22 Word analysis
- He who finds: From the Hebrew verb מָצָא (matsa), meaning "to find, discover, acquire, meet with." It can imply active searching or providentially encountering. In this context, it suggests that securing a wife, a divinely intended relationship, is a deliberate and blessed act.
- a wife: From the Hebrew אִשָּׁה (ishshah), referring to a female human, specifically a spouse. It does not refer to any woman but one united in marriage, establishing a household. The "wife" in Proverbs often carries the connotation of a "virtuous" or "prudent" wife, a "good thing" being specifically an excellent companion.
- finds a good thing: The phrase "finds a good thing" uses matsa tov. "Good" is from the Hebrew טוֹב (tov), a multifaceted word meaning excellent, agreeable, prosperous, pleasant, righteous, and beneficial. This echoes the "very good" in Gen 1:31 regarding God's creation. Finding a wife is inherently tov because marriage is part of God's original, perfect design for humanity.
- and obtains favor: From the Hebrew יָפִיק רָצוֹן (yafîq rātsôn). The verb yafîq means "to bring forth, procure, obtain, gain." It suggests a result or consequence, something achieved. Rātsôn means "favor, good will, delight, acceptance." It implies God's personal approval and blessing bestowed upon the one who finds a wife.
- from the LORD: The Hebrew יְהֹוָה (YHWH), the covenant name of God. This attributes the source of the "good thing" and the "favor" directly to the sovereign Creator and Redeemer God, emphasizing His divine initiative and blessing.
Words-group analysis
- He who finds a wife: This phrase indicates that the establishment of the marital relationship is a significant act that requires effort or providential alignment. It sets the stage for the resultant blessing, pointing to marriage as a sought-after state for flourishing within God's design.
- finds a good thing: This asserts the intrinsic value and benefit of marriage. It aligns marriage with God's original "very good" creation and indicates that marriage, as an institution, is part of the Lord's beneficial plan for humanity, offering companionship, partnership, and procreation within a stable covenant.
- and obtains favor from the LORD: This final part elevates marriage from merely a human arrangement to a divine endorsement. It means that the individual who enters into marriage, particularly in a manner honoring God, receives His special blessing, approval, and active goodwill. This is not merely good luck, but a tangible manifestation of divine blessing.
Proverbs 18 22 Bonus section
The phrasing of "obtains favor from the LORD" (יָפִיק רָצוֹן מֵיְהוָה) parallels Proverbs 8:35, "For whoever finds me (wisdom) finds life and obtains favor from the LORD." This strong lexical link suggests that finding a virtuous wife, aligning with God's design for marriage, is deeply connected to wisdom itself. It implies that a truly "good thing" in a wife is found through seeking divine wisdom. This verse does not imply that God bestows favor on merely finding any woman, but on entering the covenant of marriage according to His wise order and finding a suitable helper and partner, making the pursuit of a God-fearing spouse a wise endeavor yielding divine favor. Conversely, the absence of marriage or a harmonious one is not inherently unfavored, as singleness for Christ's sake (1 Cor 7) can also be a divine calling with its own blessings, but this proverb speaks to the general principle of God's design for most of humanity.
Proverbs 18 22 Commentary
Proverbs 18:22 succinctly states a profound theological truth about marriage: it is a divine gift and a source of God's favor. It highlights that the act of finding a wife – and by extension, establishing a family – is viewed not just as a natural progression but as something inherently good and ordained by God from creation. The "good thing" signifies its value within God's perfect design for humanity, promoting companionship, stability, and mutual flourishing. Furthermore, the accompanying "favor from the LORD" suggests that those who commit to this sacred covenant find divine blessing and approval, experiencing God's gracious provision and goodwill in their lives. It encourages the pursuit of marriage as a blessed state rather than a burden, provided it aligns with God’s wisdom. For example, a home built on such a foundation often experiences peace and prosperity beyond mere material wealth, manifesting spiritual and relational harmony; a spouse who genuinely supports one’s walk with God becomes an immense spiritual aid.