A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
Parallel translations
- WEB A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.
- BSB A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
- 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 31:30–31Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
- Luke 10:42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
- Acts 16:14–15And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
- Acts 9:39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
- 1 Sam 25:32–33And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
- 2 Sam 20:16–22Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
- Esth 9:25But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
- Rom 16:2–4That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
- Luke 11:21–22When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
- Matt 26:13Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
- 2 Jn 1:1The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
- Luke 8:3And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
- Luke 21:2–4And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
- Rom 16:6Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.