New International Version Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. New Living Translation Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict. English Standard Version Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. Berean Standard Bible Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife. Berean Literal Bible Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife. King James Bible Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. New King James Version Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. New American Standard Bible Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife. NASB 1995 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife. NASB 1977 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife. Legacy Standard Bible Better is a dry morsel and tranquility with it Than a house full of feasting with strife. Amplified Bible Better is a dry morsel [of food served] with quietness and peace Than a house full of feasting [served] with strife and contention. Berean Annotated Bible Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting (sacrifices) with strife. Christian Standard Bible Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife. Holman Christian Standard Bible Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife. American Standard Version Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife. Contemporary English Version A dry crust of bread eaten in peace and quiet is better than a feast eaten where everyone argues. English Revised Version Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than an house full of feasting with strife. GOD'S WORD® Translation Better a bite of dry bread [eaten] in peace than a family feast filled with strife. Good News Translation Better to eat a dry crust of bread with peace of mind than have a banquet in a house full of trouble. International Standard Version Dry crumbs in peace are better than a full meal with strife. NET Bible Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting with strife. New Heart English Bible Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife. Webster's Bible Translation Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of sacrifices with strife. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBetter a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife. World English Bible Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBetter [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, "" Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife. Berean Literal Bible Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife. Young's Literal Translation Better is a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife. Smith's Literal Translation Good a dry morsel and peace with it, above a house full of sacrifices of contention. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBetter is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife. Catholic Public Domain Version A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict. New American Bible Better a dry crust with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. New Revised Standard Version Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBETTER is dry bread, and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Dry bread in quietness is better than a house full of the sacrifices of judgment. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife. Brenton Septuagint Translation Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house full of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness1Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife. 2A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.… Cross References Better a dry morsel in quietness Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind. Proverbs 15:16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. Proverbs 16:8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice. than a house full of feasting with strife. Proverbs 15:17 Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred. Proverbs 21:9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife. Proverbs 21:19 Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife. Psalm 37:16 Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked. 1 Timothy 6:6 Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ / For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. / But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Philippians 4:11-12 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. / I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need. Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” 1 Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, / but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. James 3:16-18 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. / But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. / Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness. Proverbs 25:24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife. Proverbs 15:27 He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live. Treasury of Scripture Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. an house Proverbs 7:14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. sacrifices Proverbs 21:9,19 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house… Jump to Previous Behaviour Better Bit Bread Crust Dry Feasting Full House Morsel Peace Quiet Quietness Rest Sacrifices Strife Therewith ViolentJump to Next Behaviour Better Bit Bread Crust Dry Feasting Full House Morsel Peace Quiet Quietness Rest Sacrifices Strife Therewith ViolentProverbs 17 1. Contrasts between the Righteous and the WickedBetter a dry morsel in quietness A simple meal shared in a peaceful home is better than abundance surrounded by tension. Contentment, security, and harmony within the household are greater blessings than outward prosperity. Ecc 4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls… than a house full of feasting with strife. Wealth and celebration cannot overcome the misery caused by anger, rivalry, and conflict among family members. A home’s true well-being rests not in its provisions but in peace. Pro 15:17 Better a dish of vegetables where there is love… Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His proverbs often provide practical insights into living a life that honors God. 2. Ancient Israel The cultural and historical context of Proverbs is ancient Israel, where family and community life were central, and meals were significant social and religious events. 3. Feasting In the context of ancient Israel, feasting was a time of celebration and abundance, often associated with religious festivals or significant life events. 4. Strife This term refers to conflict or discord, which can disrupt peace and harmony within a household or community. 5. Quietness Represents peace and tranquility, a state of being that is highly valued in biblical wisdom literature. Teaching Points Value of Peace Over ProsperityTrue contentment and peace are more valuable than material abundance. Strive for a peaceful home environment rather than one filled with conflict, even if it means having less materially. Contentment in Simplicity Embrace simplicity and find joy in the small things. A simple life with peace is more fulfilling than a life of luxury filled with discord. Guarding Against Strife Be vigilant in maintaining peace in your relationships. Address conflicts early and seek reconciliation to prevent strife from taking root. Wisdom in Prioritizing Relationships Prioritize relationships over material wealth. Invest time and effort in building harmonious relationships with family and community. Spiritual Riches Over Earthly Wealth Focus on spiritual growth and the riches of a relationship with God, which bring true peace and contentment. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Proverbs 17:1?2. How can we prioritize peace over abundance in our daily lives? 3. What does Proverbs 17:1 teach about the value of a peaceful home? 4. How does this verse connect with Jesus' teachings on peace in Matthew 5:9? 5. In what ways can we cultivate contentment with less in our households? 6. How can Proverbs 17:1 guide our decisions during family conflicts? 7. How does Proverbs 17:1 challenge our understanding of peace versus material wealth? 8. What historical context influenced the writing of Proverbs 17:1? 9. How does Proverbs 17:1 reflect the values of ancient Israelite society? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 17? XVII. (1) A house full of sacrifices.--Possibly the same as the "peace offerings" of Proverbs 7:14 (where see note). The consumption of these may have at times degenerated into licence (comp. 1Samuel 1:13), and quarrelling have ensued. Verse 1. - (Comp, Proverbs 15:16, 17; Proverbs 16:8.) Better (sweeter) is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith. Dry bread was soaked in wine or water before it was eaten. Thus Boaz bid Ruth "dip her morsel in the vinegar" (Ruth 2:14); thus Jesus gave the sop to Judas when he had dipped it (John 13:26). The Septuagint is pleonastic, "Better is a morsel with joy in peace." Aben Ezra connects this verse with the last two of ch. 16, confining the application to the patient man; but the sentence seems rather to be independent and general. Than an house full of sacrifices with strife. Of the thank or peace offerings part only was burnt upon the altar, the rest was eaten by the offerer and his family; and as the victims were always the choicest animals, "a house full of sacrifices" would contain the materials for sumptuous feasting (see on Proverbs 7:4). The joyous family festival often degenerated into excess, which naturally led to quarrels and strife (see 1 Samuel 1:5, 6, 13; 1 Samuel 2:13, etc.). So the agapae of the early Church were desecrated by licence and selfishness (1 Corinthians 11:20, etc.). Septuagint, "than a house full of many good things and unrighteous victims with contention." With this verse compare the Spanish proverb, "Mas vale un pedazo de pan con amor, que gallinas con dolor." Proverbs 17:1 affirms that a simple meal enjoyed in peace is preferable to luxurious abundance tainted by conflict. God’s scale weighs inner harmony, contentment, and righteous relationships far above material plenty. Pursuing peace—first with Him, then with one another—turns even a dry crust into a banquet, while strife turns the grandest feast into famine of the soul.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Betterט֤וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good a dry חֲ֭רֵבָה (ḥă·rê·ḇāh) Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 2720: Parched, ruined morsel פַּ֣ת (paṯ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 6595: Fragment, bit, morsel in quietness וְשַׁלְוָה־ (wə·šal·wāh-) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 7962: Quietness, ease than a house מִ֝בַּ֗יִת (mib·ba·yiṯ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1004: A house full of מָלֵ֥א (mā·lê) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 4392: Full, filling, fulness, fully feasting זִבְחֵי־ (ziḇ·ḥê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 2077: A slaughter, the flesh of an animal, a sacrifice with strife. רִֽיב׃ (rîḇ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7379: Strife, dispute Additonal Resources Proverbs 17:1 Blue Letter BibleProverbs 17:1 Bible Gateway Proverbs 17:1 Bible.com Proverbs 17:1 NIV |
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