Proverbs 19:13 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 19:13 mean?

Proverbs 19:13 warns that having a foolish son brings disaster to his father, and living with a quarrelsome wife is like enduring the constant annoyance of water dripping without end. The verse highlights two sources of ongoing personal distress within a family: a child’s foolishness and a spouse’s contentiousness.

This proverb comes from the book of Proverbs, a collection of wise sayings attributed mainly to Solomon, aimed at teaching practical wisdom for daily life. The verse uses vivid imagery to show how certain family problems—specifically, a son who acts foolishly and a wife who is always argumentative—can deeply trouble a person and wear them down over time.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 19:13

• "foolish" (כְּסִיל, kesil): This word describes someone who rejects wisdom and acts without understanding, emphasizing that the son's behavior is not just immature but stubbornly unwise.
• "calamity" (הַוָּה, havvah): Often refers to disaster or ruin, showing that the father's suffering is not minor irritation but a significant hardship caused by his son’s actions.
• "contentions" (מִדְיָנִים, midyanim): This word points to ongoing disputes or quarrels, highlighting that the wife's arguments are not occasional but persistent.
• "continual" (דֶּלֶף, delef) and "dropping" (טֶרֶד, tered): Together, these words describe the relentless, nagging nature of the wife’s arguments, likened to the steady, bothersome drip of water.

Why Proverbs 19:13 matters

• Proverbs 19:13 clarifies that family troubles can be a major source of suffering, not just outside threats or enemies.
• The verse uses strong, relatable images to help readers grasp the emotional toll of ongoing conflict at home.
• By pairing the foolish son and the contentious wife, the proverb shows that both children’s and spouses’ actions can deeply affect a person’s well-being, connecting to the larger theme in Proverbs about the importance of wisdom in all relationships.