What does the Bible say about a contentious or quarrelsome woman?

Next we have the vivid sketch of one who has to do with a helpmate whose wilful temper is the source of continual chagrin and shame. Yet the word of wisdom gives good counsel to relieve and comfort, notwithstanding such a calamity.

"Better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a contentious woman in a wide house [or, house of society]. "The soul of the wicked desires evil, his neighbour finds no favour in his eyes. 'When the scorner is punished, the simple becomes wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. "The righteous considers the house of the wicked; the wicked are overthrown to ruin. "Whoso stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry and not be heard. "A gift in secret pacifies anger; and a present in the bosom, vehement wrath. "[It is] joy to the righteous to do justice, but destruction to the doers of iniquity." vv. 9-15.

A contentious woman is of necessity a trial to every member of the household, but most of all to her husband. The house may be roomy, but only jars follow her; and if visitors call, it is but to increase his pain. No better place is there for him than to find a corner in the housetop; there can quiet be found, and, for piety, access to the Highest.

The next words take up the afflictions of family life, and give us salutary judgment. It is not merely a fool here, but "a foolish son," and he surely is "the calamity of his father." There is another who brings the calamity nearer still and more constantly, a contentious wife. Her cross and fractious spirit is a continual dropping. Not a spot in the house is safe from her turmoil.

Hence the importance of so looking to the Lord for a gracious and faithful counterpart. If house and wealth are an inheritance of fathers, as it generally was in Israel, a prudent wife was from Jehovah. What were the rest, however choice or abundant, where the meekness of wisdom failed in her who shared it all? If all else materially lacked, what comfort and happiness in having one from Jehovah who had His light within and around her!

"A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike."

This has been considered to be a dropping through a leaking roof, which is not uncommon in a land of flat roofs if rain should be unusually heavy. Only those who have experienced it know how irritating and wearying this can be. But such is the character of an argumentative woman. She is out of her place, not displaying the godly qualities of submission and of a meek and quiet spirit. This kind of contention is to have no place in the assembly of God: it is of the world. Timothy is strongly warned against allowing any such spirit among the saints of God.

The next verse expresses the wretchedness of having to share a house with a contentious woman, which made a corner of the housetop an agreeable escape from such a din.

It is better to (dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house." This may appear startling just in this place but it is in thorough keeping with the subject of the chapter. Backbiting, if not judged, may become a habit, a veritable chronic disease that renders the guilty offender unmanageable and quarrelsome. How much better to dwell in quietness in a small and despised place than in large and imposing circumstances with such a woman. But there is a most striking analogy here. if we compare 2 Timothy 2:20-22. "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, prepared unto every good work." That which, in 1 Timothy 3 is called "the house of God, the Church of the Living God" has in 2 Timothy so degenerated as to include not only true believers (vessels of gold and silver), but of wood and of earth. Vessels to dishonor! Who can deny this unseemly public character of the professing church today? It is as though a beautiful mansion, once prepared for one family only, has fallen into a state of disrepair and ruin, and has become a rooming house for not only the family, but for strangers also, with a contentious woman occupying a large amount of space, who may want everyone boarding at the same table, agreeing to disagree, attempting a show of unity while only discord and loud words prevail. How sad, but true, a description of the public state of that which professes to be the church today,-"a brawling woman" instead of "a chaste virgin," espoused to the Lord Jesus.

Further, we hear of the sad hindrance to peace and comfort in the home from the presence of a contentious and irritable woman. Who has not seen the misery of having to do with such a one presiding? To dwell with a termagant of this kind is worse than living in a desert land (v. 19).

"Better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious and angry woman" (v. 19). It is sad if a woman has not learned to control herself, and a man must be greatly lacking in discernment if he marries such a woman.

Solomon had sad reason to write that "a foolish son is the ruin of his father (v. 13), for his son Rehoboam certainly acted foolishly after taking the throne. Perhaps Solomon felt himself to be a ruined man before he died. In fact, it is most likely that he wrote from experience when adding, "the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping." For it seems certain that in his having 700 wives, at least some of them were contentious. Does it not seem that a home would hardly be a home if a man had both a contentious wife and a foolish son?

The opening word contrasts the immense superiority of a peaceful household with hard fare, over one where plenty is found, embittered by contention, or, as is here energetically said, "full of the sacrifices of strife." Love and peace may abound through Christ where is little else; only unhappiness abides where He is unknown, were all there that wealth can supply.

"If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; "For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head; and Jehovah shall reward thee. "The north wind brings forth rain; and an angry countenance a secret (or, backbiting) tongue. "Better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman and a house in common. "Cold waters to a thirsty soul — so good news from a far country. "A troubled fountain and a defiled well [is] a righteous one that totters before the wicked. "To eat much honey [is] not good; and to search weighty things [is] a weight. "He that [has] no rule over his own spirit [is] a city broken down, without wall."