Proverbs 27:15 kjv

A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

Proverbs 27:15 nkjv

A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike;

Proverbs 27:15 niv

A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;

Proverbs 27:15 esv

A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;

Proverbs 27:15 nlt

A quarrelsome wife is as annoying
as constant dripping on a rainy day.

Proverbs 27 verses

Proverbs 27 15 Meaning

Proverbs 27:15 likens a house afflicted by incessant, leaking water during a steady rain to a home with a quarrelsome wife. The core meaning conveys an unrelenting and pervasive source of irritation and discomfort that offers no respite or escape, highlighting how continuous domestic strife erodes peace and wellbeing.

Proverbs 27 15 Context

Proverbs chapter 27 is a collection of various short, distinct proverbs offering practical wisdom for daily life, social interactions, and personal character. There isn't a single continuous theme throughout the chapter, but rather a series of observations about human behavior, relationships, and the nature of wisdom. Verse 15 fits into this collection by offering a vivid analogy drawn from common experience, relating a natural nuisance (leaky roof in rain) to a profound relational disturbance (a quarrelsome wife). It appears within a cluster of proverbs dealing with friendship, neighborliness, and domestic life, underscoring the importance of a peaceful and ordered household as a foundational aspect of well-being. The verse directly addresses the quality of home life, implying that a man's home should be a place of refuge and peace, not a source of unending vexation.

Proverbs 27 15 Word analysis

• A continuous dripping (דֶלֶף, delef):
  • Hebrew term delef means "a dropping," "a leaking." It specifically refers to water constantly seeping or dripping from a poor or damaged roof.
  • Significance: It emphasizes a slow, pervasive, inescapable annoyance rather than a sudden disaster. It's the cumulative, persistent nature that makes it unbearable.
• on a rainy day (יוֹם סַגְרִיר, yom sagrir):
  • Hebrew phrase yom sagrir denotes a "day of incessant rain" or "heavy, continuous downpour." Sagrir implies being closed off or shut in by the rain, making the indoor leak more pronounced and inescapable.
  • Significance: The combination with "dripping" indicates there is no relief. The problem is ongoing and intensified by the external conditions, forcing one indoors to confront the annoyance without end.
• and a quarrelsome wife (אֵשֶׁת מִדְיָנִים, eshet midyanim):
  • Eshet means "woman" or "wife." Midyanim (plural of madon) means "strife," "contention," "dispute," "quarrel."
  • Significance: Describes a wife whose character is habitually marked by arguing, bickering, nagging, and provoking disputes. This is not about a rare disagreement but a constant disposition to quarrel, creating perpetual disharmony.
• are alike (implied comparison):
  • The Hebrew structure simply juxtaposes the two elements. The absence of an explicit "like" or "as" word (common in Hebrew parallelism) heightens the sense of equivalence. The listener is invited to draw the direct parallel.
  • Significance: The unpleasant experience of the constant dripping is directly mapped onto the experience of living with a contentious spouse. Both situations deny peace, erode comfort, and create a pervasive sense of distress from which there is no easy escape. The comparison emphasizes the grating, oppressive, and spirit-wearing nature of continuous domestic strife.

Proverbs 27 15 Bonus section

This proverb, while specifically mentioning a wife, conveys a principle applicable to any individual whose continuous contentious behavior disrupts peace in the home or any relationship. The underlying message transcends gender, highlighting that persistent negativity, nagging, and arguing—whether from a husband, child, or any member—create an oppressive atmosphere comparable to an inescapable physical nuisance. It underscores that true wisdom involves cultivating self-control and peaceful interactions to build, rather than undermine, the foundation of security and rest within the home. The home should be a place of quiet strength and comfort, and relentless conflict directly opposes this divine intention for familial well-being.

Proverbs 27 15 Commentary

Proverbs 27:15 employs a visceral and relatable metaphor to communicate a profound truth about relational dynamics. A continuously leaking roof on a relentlessly rainy day presents a minor, yet inescapable, irritation. It isn't a flood, but the ceaseless plink-plink, the growing damp spot, the slow damage—a constant reminder of discomfort and a lack of peace within one's own refuge. Similarly, a contentious wife is not necessarily malevolent, but her habitual arguing, bickering, and unpeaceful disposition create an environment of perpetual strife that denies the home its essential role as a sanctuary. Both scenarios are characterized by their enduring nature, offering no break or respite. This proverb highlights the high value God's wisdom places on domestic harmony and cautions against any behavior that continuously erodes it. It implicitly challenges the contentious person (though here specifically the wife) to cultivate a spirit of peace and kindness, recognizing the profound impact of their character on the well-being of the entire household. The imagery suggests a deep, ongoing weariness and the longing for peace that is consistently denied.