Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a WIFE..

[LittleNipper]

The Bible says: He who finds a WIFE finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

Does that mean the the alternative is the opposite? I would say so...

HE who finds a MALE MATE finds what is evil and receives disfavor from the LORD.

 

[FlamingFemme]

Do you have a way of knowing whether the original language was translated properly? For example, what if the word was actually meant to be 'spouse', rather than the sex-specific 'wife'?

 

[brightmorningstar]

One could question every word in the Bible that way. What do you want it to say?

 

[Freodin]

Ah, the one-sided sexist eye of old patriachalic cultures!

Take not that is only a man who finds a wife who finds favour in God´s eyes... the women who finds a husband is not provided for.

Or perhaps this verse isn´t as literal as it seems at all?

 

[brightmorningstar]

Incidentally if it was spouse other verses wouldnt make sense. Gen 2:23 its woman/wife/feamle as opposed to man.

 

[FlamingFemme]

One could question every word in the Bible that way. What do you want it to say?

I don't want it to say anything. I do want to know what it says, and in many cases, we can't really be sure. Therefore, it's probably best to not be a Biblical literalist.

 

[Fenny the Fox]

I fail to see why this could lead to the only option being that if the opposite is done, the opposite shall be received.

And, as a proverb, it is not a blanket, every man should do this, statement - but a general piece of wisdom to a group. So, it is not meant to apply to all men.

 

[brightmorningstar]

To FlammingFemme,

I don't want it to say anything. I do want to know what it says, and in many cases, we can't really be sure. Therefore, it's probably best to not be a Biblical literalist.

How can one not be sure hat it says when it has been quoted?
What I think you mean is you doubt the translation. The translation isn’t difficult, if something is taken from man to created something new it isnt man is it, basic logic. If the only two sexes are male and female then what isn’t male will be female.
What you mean by a Biblical literalist I am not sure, it seems you wanting to know what it says is an example of that as well.

 

[Sojourner1]

The translations of this verse all say basically the same thing. I think this verse demonstrates that God views marriage as being between a man and a woman. I don't think the verse goes as far as to say that the opposite is true. I personally don't think God is pleased with a marriage between two people of the same sex, but I wouldn't say that they have found "evil".

 

[TheOtherHockeyMom]

The Bible says: He who finds a WIFE finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

Does that mean the the alternative is the opposite? I would say so...

HE who finds a MALE MATE finds what is evil and receives disfavor from the LORD.

Or maybe, he who stays single finds what is evil and receives disfavor from the LORD. How do we know that the opposite of finding a wife is finding a male mate, and by what type of logic does that passage say that not finding a wife leads to the opposite result?

A few years ago I put a statement on my syllabus (in addition to the usual grading scale) that said that anyone who received an A on the final would get an A in the class. I thought it was a clear statement, but some interpreted it as meaning that if you got a B on the final you would get a B in the class, if you got a C on the final you would get a C in the class, etc...and other thought that the only way you could get an A in the class is to get an A in the final. Neither misinterpretation was correct....if you got other than an A on the final, all your grades were averaged.

 

[LittleNipper]

Do you have a way of knowing whether the original language was translated properly? For example, what if the word was actually meant to be 'spouse', rather than the sex-specific 'wife'?

Read it in Hebrew.

 

[Brieuse]

HE who finds a MALE MATE finds what is evil and receives disfavor from the LORD.

It doesn't say that.

 

[LittleNipper]

One could question every word in the Bible that way. What do you want it to say?

I don't want Bible to say anything. I wish the Bible to be understood without distortion.

 

[LittleNipper]

It doesn't say that.

The Bible has NOTHING good to say concerning ANYTHING about homosexuality --------------- I wonder why?

 

[LittleNipper]

Ah, the one-sided sexist eye of old patriachalic cultures!

Take not that is only a man who finds a wife who finds favour in God´s eyes... the women who finds a husband is not provided for.

Or perhaps this verse isn´t as literal as it seems at all?

The young lady might just say, "NO!" Besides, the wife runs the Jewish household. Have you never seen Fiddler on the Roof?

 

[LittleNipper]

I don't want it to say anything. I do want to know what it says, and in many cases, we can't really be sure. Therefore, it's probably best to not be a Biblical literalist.

It is better to take the Bible literally, than not to take it at all...

 

[FlamingFemme]

It is better to take the Bible literally, than not to take it at all...

Ok, that is your opinion - But I am in vehement disagreement with that statement.

 

[Freodin]

The young lady might just say, "NO!" Besides, the wife runs the Jewish household. Have you never seen Fiddler on the Roof?

I though we were talking about the Bible here... now it´s Hollywood (or Broadway) as well?

Strange bedfellows...

 

[OllieFranz]

Read it in Hebrew.

OK:

מצא אשה מצא טוב ויפק רצון מיהוה׃

Find a woman [and if you] find pleasure (or "pleasantness"); [you will] bring forth(or "produce") the favor of the LORD

​

So, a good woman can produce "the favor of the LORD." What is the "favor of the LORD" that a woman produces?

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Psalm 127:3
​

So basically what the proverb is saying is that if you find pleasure with an attractive, fertile woman, she may get pregnant.

 

[wanderingone]

The Bible says: He who finds a WIFE finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

Does that mean the the alternative is the opposite? I would say so...

HE who finds a MALE MATE finds what is evil and receives disfavor from the LORD.

So what if SHE finds a wife?

Or what if HE finds NO wife?