A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Parallel translations
- WEB A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.
- KJV A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
- NKJV A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.
- NASB A gracious woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches.
- NLT A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A gracious woman gains honor, as ruthless men gain only riches. Character that wins lasting honor is contrasted with mere force that grasps wealth.
Overview
This proverb sets honor earned through graciousness against wealth seized through aggression, suggesting that godly character secures something more valuable than ruthless gain. It elevates the dignity of grace over the hollow rewards of force. The contrast points toward the kingdom values Jesus taught, where the gentle and gracious are truly honored by God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Prov 31:30–31Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
- Luke 10:42But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”
- Acts 16:14–15Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
- Acts 9:39So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
- 1 Sam 25:32–33Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day!
- 2 Sam 20:16–22a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”
- Esth 9:25But when it came before the king, he commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which Haman had devised against the Jews should come back upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
- Rom 16:2–4Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.
- Luke 11:21–22When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.
- Matt 26:13Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
- 2 Jn 1:1The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth—
- Luke 8:3Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.
- Luke 21:2–4and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
- Rom 16:6Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 11:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.