| Geneva Study Bible Whoever findeth a {p} wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour from the LORD. (p) He who is joined with a virtuous woman in marriage is blessed by the Lord, as in Pr 19:14. Wesley's Notes 18:22 A wise - A good wife; one that deserves the name, and performs the duty of that relation. Favour - Obtains her not by his own diligence, but by God's good providence. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 22. The old versions supply "good" before the "wife," as the last clause and Pr 19:14 imply (compare Pr 31:10). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 18:19. Great care must be taken to prevent quarrels among relations and those under obligations to each other. Wisdom and grace make it easy to forgive; but corruption makes it difficult. 20. The belly is here put for the heart, as elsewhere; and what that is filled with, our satisfaction will be accordingly, and our inward peace. 21. Many a one has caused his own death, or the death of others, by a false or injurious tongue. 22. A good wife is a great blessing to a man, and it is a token of Divine favour. 23. Poverty tells men they must not order or demand. And at the throne of God's grace we are all poor, and must use entreaties. 24. Christ Jesus never will forsake those who trust in and love him. May we be such friends to others, for our Master's sake. Having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto the end; and we are his friends if we do whatever he commands us, Joh 15:14. Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary Verse 22 Note, 1. A good wife is a great blessing to a man. He that finds a wife (that is, a wife indeed; a bad wife does not deserve to be called by a name of so much honour), that finds a help meet for him (that is a wife in the original acceptation of the word), that sought such a one with care and prayer and has found what he sought, he has found a good thing, a jewel of great value, a rare jewel; he has found that which will not only contribute more than any thing to his comfort in this life, but will forward him in the way to heaven. 2. God is to be acknowledged in it with thankfulness; it is a token of his favour, and a happy pledge of further favours; it is a sign that God delights in a man to do him good and has mercy in store for him; for this, therefore, God must be sought unto. |