Proverbs 30:23 kjv

For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

Proverbs 30:23 nkjv

A hateful woman when she is married, And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.

Proverbs 30:23 niv

a contemptible woman who gets married, and a servant who displaces her mistress.

Proverbs 30:23 esv

an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.

Proverbs 30:23 nlt

a bitter woman who finally gets a husband,
a servant girl who supplants her mistress.

Proverbs 30 verses

Proverbs 30 23 Meaning

Proverbs 30:23 describes two specific scenarios, listed among "four things that are unendurable for the earth." This verse highlights situations of unexpected or undeserved social elevation that lead to disruption and difficulty rather than stability. It is not the status change itself that is condemned, but the typical outcome when individuals, particularly those lacking character, humility, or wisdom, are placed in positions of power or influence over others. These are seen as inherently unsettling and disruptive to communal peace and order.

Proverbs 30 23 Context

Proverbs chapter 30 is attributed to Agur son of Jakeh, whose words differ structurally and thematically in some ways from the main Solomonic collections. Verses 21-23 form a specific numerical proverb, a common literary device in wisdom literature (x, x+1). Here, the pattern "Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up" signals a list of increasingly intolerable situations that cause societal unrest and disturbance. These four are: a slave becoming king (v. 22), a fool gaining ample food/luxury (v. 22), an unloved woman gaining a husband (v. 23), and a maidservant displacing her mistress (v. 23). The underlying theme across these scenarios is the subversion of natural or established order by individuals who are ill-suited for their elevated positions, often leading to arrogance, abuses of power, and societal disharmony. The verses present observations about human nature and societal dynamics, illustrating how instability arises when character is disproportionate to one's station.

Proverbs 30 23 Word analysis

• an unloved woman: Hebrew שְׂנוּאָה (sĕnu'ah) literally means "hated," "despised," or "unloved." In a societal context where a woman's value and security were often tied to her marital status and fruitfulness, being sĕnu'ah could imply a woman who was scorned, overlooked, or barren. The difficulty arises not just from her getting a husband, but because her past struggles or inner disposition (perhaps bitterness, resentment, or a haughty spirit developed from her prior condition) often lead her to abuse her new, elevated status through pride, vindictiveness, or overbearing behavior. This creates an oppressive atmosphere for those around her, including the husband who elevated her.
• when she gets a husband: This phrase כִּי תִבָּעֵל (ki tībā‘ēl) implies obtaining or possessing a husband. This refers to a significant social promotion and securing a respected position previously denied. The issue isn't the marriage itself, which is ordained by God, but the disruptive way in which such a woman might wield her newfound social standing.
• and a maidservant: Hebrew וְשִׁפְחָה (wĕšiphchah). A maidservant was a female slave, usually acquired or born into a household. Her status was at the very bottom of the social hierarchy. The mention of her emphasizes a drastic and disruptive reversal of established order.
• who displaces her mistress: Hebrew כִּי תִירַשׁ גְּבִרְתָּהּ (ki tīraṣ gĕbirātāh).
  • תִירַשׁ (tīraṣ) comes from the root יָרַשׁ (yarash), which means "to inherit," "to possess," "to take possession of," or "to dispossess." Here, it signifies the act of taking over the position, authority, or privileges of. This displacement could occur through various means: usurpation, illicit sexual relationship with the master (as in the case of Hagar and Sarah, Gen 16), bearing children for the master, or even by outliving the mistress and gaining control.
  • גְּבִרְתָּהּ (gĕbirātāh) means "her mistress," or "her lady," referring to the principal wife or the woman who is the head of the household's female servants.The imagery is of an inferior supplanting a superior, leading to significant discord, arrogance on the part of the new 'mistress,' and profound resentment or humiliation for the dispossessed.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "an unloved woman when she gets a husband": This highlights a reversal of social misfortune into fortune, which, while seemingly good, often leads to pride, vindictiveness, and harshness from the one previously marginalized. Her previous "unloved" status may have cultivated bitterness that now finds an outlet in her new position of relative power.
• "and a maidservant who displaces her mistress": This is a direct social inversion of hierarchy. It speaks to chaos, injustice, and a violation of expected roles and positions. This creates not merely annoyance but systemic disruption and injustice within the household and broader society, as an individual not trained or suited for leadership acts without wisdom or compassion.

Proverbs 30 23 Bonus section

• Numerical Saying: The "three, yes, four" pattern (found in Prov 30:15-16, 18-19, 21-23, 29-31) is a common poetic and instructional device in ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature. It helps to structure thoughts, indicates a complete set, and draws attention to the final item as climactic or summarizing the preceding ones, reinforcing the "unendurable" nature.
• Emphasis on Character over Status: The Proverb implicitly teaches that a person's character, not merely their social standing or power, determines their suitability for leadership and their contribution to societal well-being. Positions of authority require humility, wisdom, and graciousness, which are often absent in those highlighted in these examples.
• Reflection of God's Order: The "unendurable" nature of these scenarios subtly points to God's desire for order (Prov 14:34, 1 Cor 14:33). When divine or natural order is inverted by human folly, chaos and suffering ensue. These situations are unbearable because they violate a divinely implanted sense of justice and appropriateness.

Proverbs 30 23 Commentary

These two situations in Proverbs 30:23 describe individuals who gain power or status disproportionate to their character or previous standing. The "unloved woman" who secures a husband might become arrogant or bitter, abusing her new position out of spite or insecurity. The "maidservant" who supplants her "mistress" introduces an unnatural and disruptive hierarchy, often leading to tyrannical behavior due to a lack of preparation for leadership, or from previous resentment over her lowly status. Both scenarios reveal that when an ill-equipped or prideful individual ascends to a position of authority, especially through unexpected or undeserved means, the outcome is social instability, injustice, and disruption of peace, making the situations "unendurable" for those affected and society at large. They are examples of how a disordered human heart creates societal disorder.