A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 27:15
What does Proverbs 27:15 mean?
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Proverbs 27:15
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The verse doesn't just compare a nagging wife to rain, but specifically to the continual, unavoidable dripping through a leaky roof on a day when you're already stuck inside. This isn't about a brief, annoying shower, but a persistent, inescapable discomfort that ruins the sanctuary of home itself.
A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings in Proverbs that offer practical advice for daily life. It's a comparison meant to highlight a persistent source of irritation, drawing a parallel between the discomfort of a leaky roof during a downpour and the unending annoyance caused by a quarrelsome spouse. The verses immediately following expand on this idea, suggesting that trying to suppress such a person's contentious nature is as impossible and frustrating as trying to hold back the wind.
Imagine a stormy day, the kind where you just want to stay inside and be cozy. But what if your shelter wasn't quite up to the task? A constant drip, drip, drip starts to fall, making your supposed sanctuary feel anything but.
The first part of this verse paints a vivid picture of a leaky roof during a heavy rain. This isn't just a minor inconvenience; it's a relentless nuisance.
A Troublesome Sanctuary
Now, picture the opposite scenario. You need a place to escape the world's troubles, but what if the greatest trouble resides within your own walls? This verse doesn't just stop at the dripping roof; it draws a powerful parallel.
The verse links the unsettling drip with a 'quarrelsome wife.' This comparison isn't just about noise; it's about the fundamental disruption of peace and comfort, specifically within the home.
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Home's Unsettled State
Understand the original words
madon · Hebrew Noun
A dispute, contention, or conflict between people. It often implies a argumentative, irritable, or unrestrained temper.
This verse directly parallels Proverbs 27:15, stating 'A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike,' highlighting the persistent annoyance of both.
Proverbs 21:9This passage speaks to the difficulty of living with a contentious person, stating 'It is better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife,' emphasizing the desire for escape from such an environment.
Proverbs 11:22While not about a quarrelsome wife specifically, this verse describes a similarly unpleasant and jarring characteristic: 'Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion,' showing that undesirable traits can ruin even outwardly pleasing qualities.
This apocryphal book echoes the sentiment, describing 'An ill-conditioned wife is like a cart that is jarring to carry, and a load that is difficult to trundle.' This reinforces the idea of constant discomfort and difficulty caused by a difficult spouse.
pooleProverbs 27:15: "A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike."
Are equally troublesome, the first not suffering a man to go abroad with comfort, the latter not permitting him to stay at home with quietness.
bensonProverbs 27:15: "A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike."
Proverbs 27:15-16 . A continual dropping, &c., and a contentious woman are alike — Are equally troublesome; the first not suffering a man to go abroad with comfort; the latter not permitting him to stay at home with quietness. Whosoever hideth her — That is, attempts to smother her passion, that it may not break forth to her shame, and to her husband’s discomfort and reproach; hideth the wind — Underta…
The verse doesn't just compare a nagging wife to rain, but specifically to the continual, unavoidable dripping through a leaky roof on a day when you're already stuck inside. This isn't about a brief, annoying shower, but a persistent, inescapable discomfort that ruins the sanctuary of home itself.
This verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings in Proverbs that offer practical advice for daily life. It's a comparison meant to highlight a persistent source of irritation, drawing a parallel between the discomfort of a leaky roof during a downpour and the unending annoyance caused by a quarrelsome spouse. The verses immediately following expand on this idea, suggesting that trying to suppress such a person's contentious nature is as impossible and frustrating as trying to hold back the wind.
This verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings in Proverbs that offer practical advice for daily life. It's a comparison meant to highlight a persistent source of irritation, drawing a parallel between the discomfort of a leaky roof during a downpour and the unending annoyance caused by a quarrelsome spouse. The verses immediately following expand on this idea, suggesting that trying to suppress such a person's contentious nature is as impossible and frustrating as trying to hold back the wind.
"A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;" — The verse doesn't just compare a nagging wife to rain, but specifically to the continual, unavoidable dripping through a leaky roof on a day when you're already stuck inside. This isn't about a bri…
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Last reviewed October 2026