For an odious [woman], when she is married,.... Odious for her person, her ugliness, and the deformity of her body; or rather for the ill qualities of her mind, which, while single, she endeavours to conceal, but, being married, hides them no longer; but becomes imperious, proud, scornful, and malicious, and behaves in an ill natured way to her husband and all about her, to such a degree, that there is no bearing the place where she is;and an handmaid, that is heir to her mistress; that has got so much into her affections that she leaves all she has to her when she dies, which makes her insufferably proud and vain; or she marries her master after the death of her mistress, and so coming into her place enjoys all she had, but only her wisdom and humility; which being wanting, she behaves in such a manner as to make the whole family uneasy.
Bible Commentary
Proverbs 30:23
Proverbs 30:23
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
The Daily Devotional
One devotional. Every morning.
The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.
We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.
Continue tomorrow
Turn Bible study into a daily habit
Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.
Recommended reading
More for Proverbs 30:23
Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.
Other commentaries
Proverbs 30 — OverviewProverbs 30 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis and the following chapter are an appendix to Solomon's proverbs;
but they are both expressly called prophecies in the first verses of
both, by which it appears that the penmen of them, whoever they were,…Proverbs 30 — OverviewProverbs 30 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeProverbs 30:1, Agur’s confession of his faith; Proverbs 30:7, The two points of his prayer; Proverbs 30:10, The meanest are not to be wronged; Proverbs 30:11, Four wicked generations; Proverbs 30:15, Four things…Proverbs 30 — OverviewProverbs 30 · Little Bible — for children and parentsProverbs 30 contains the words of Agur son of Jakeh — a man who begins by confessing his own ignorance and unworthiness before God. From that posture of humility he asks for two things: freedom from lies and just enough…Proverbs 30:18-23Proverbs 30:18-23 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleHere is, I. An account of four things that are unsearchable, too
wonderful to be fully known. And here,
1. The first three are natural things, and are only designed as
comparisons for the illustration of the…Proverbs 30:23Proverbs 30:23 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledgean odious: Proverbs 19:13, Proverbs 21:9, Proverbs 21:19, Proverbs 27:15
an handmaid: Proverbs 29:21Proverbs 30:23Proverbs 30:23 · Little Bible — for children and parentsThe final two disturbing scenarios: a hateful or odious woman whose marriage gives her new power she uses poorly, and a servant girl who supplants her mistress. Both involve the disruption of order through the wrong…