Proverbs 11 · Verse 22

Proverbs 11:22

As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
Proverbs 11:22, King James Version

Proverbs 11:22 in other translations

BSBLike a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
WEBLike a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
ASVAs a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a fair woman that is without discretion.
YLTA ring of gold in the nose of a sow--A fair woman and stubborn of behaviour.
DARBYA fair woman who is without discretion, is as a gold ring in a swine's snout.
BBELike a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.
WebsterAs a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman who is without discretion.

What does Proverbs 11:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
22. Jewels were often suspended from the nose (Ge 24:47; Is 3:21). Thus adorned, a hog disgusts less than a fair and indiscreet woman.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 A jewel of gold in a swine's snout - That is, beauty in a woman destitute of good breeding and modest carriage, is as becoming as a gold ring on the snout of a swine. Coverdale translates thus: "A fayre woman without discrete maners, is like a ringe of golde in a swyne's snoute." In Asiatic countries the nose jewel is very common: to this the text alludes.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Beauty is abused by those who have not discretion or modesty with it. This is true of all bodily endowments.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 11:22 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

נֶ֣זֶםNe.zema ring ofH5141
זָ֭הָבza.hogoldH2091
בְּאַ֣ףbe.'Afin [the] nose ofH639
חֲזִ֑ירcha.Zira pigH2386
אִשָּׁ֥ה'i.Shaha womanH802
יָ֝פָ֗הya.FahbeautifulH3303
וְסָ֣רַתve.Sa.ratand [who] turns aside fromH5493
טָֽעַם\׃Ta.'am<of> discernmentH2940

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 11:22

  • 1 Peter 3:3-4

    Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

  • Proverbs 31:30

    Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

  • Nahum 3:4-6

    Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts. Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.

  • Proverbs 7:10

    And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

  • 2 Peter 2:22

    But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

  • Proverbs 9:13

    A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

  • Genesis 24:47

    And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

  • Ezekiel 16:15-22

    But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was. And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so. Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them, And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a jewel.
31:30; Eze 16:15-22; Na 3:4-6; 1Pe 3:3,4; 2Pe 2:22
is without. Heb. departed from.
7:10; 9:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 11:21

    Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

  • Proverbs 11:22

    As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

  • Proverbs 11:23

    The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Read all of Proverbs 11

Proverbs 11:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Zarcillo de oro en la nariz del puerco, es la mujer hermosa y apartada de razón.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Une femme belle et dépourvue de sens, c’est un anneau d’or au nez d’un pourceau.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ein goldener Ring in der Nase eines Schweines, so ist ein schönes Weib ohne Anstand.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Circulus aureus in naribus suis, mulier pulchra et fatua.