The Foolish Woman Plucks Down Her House

Proverbs 14:1, “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”

I read this Old Testament passage of Scripture today and pondered over its meaning. I think I know what it means, by God's grace. To build anything requires time, a process. A house takes months, if not years, to complete building. Building a jumbo jet takes time (unless you work for Boeing where they skip steps and don't finish their planes and doors fall off in the air).

It took me 8 years to finish taking my courses at Hyles-Anderson College (1985-1993). I remember in my second year thinking that I only have a few more years to go! Amen that I finally finished my journey. I graduated with honors in 1993. I was on the Dean's List. Praise God! By the way, attending Hyles-Anderson College was the greatest privilege and opportunity of my life, being a part of Pastor Jack Hyles' (1926-2001) ministry. I love and miss Brother Hyles so much!!!

Nothing gets built in a moment of time, including a marriage, family and home. A wise woman knows that every step she takes, every meal she cooks, every word she speaks, every book she reads to her child, everything that she does, in some small or big way contributes to either the building or the destruction of her marriage, family and home.

I humbly think this is what Solomon means in Proverbs 14:1, “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” You pluck something down one item at a time, one piece at a time, one pluck at a time. She doesn't take a match and burn her home to the ground in a second. That would be an insane woman! No, the Bible says that the foolish woman plucks down her house one piece at a time. The Hebrew word for the phrase “plucketh it down” is haras, which means, “to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy.”

The Hebrew word for “foolish” in this Bible verse is ivveleth, which means, “silliness.” The Hebrew word for house is bayith which is a broad word implying her family. That is, a silly woman piece by piece destroys her own family! With her angry words and abusive behavior she discourages and traumatizes her children. With her rebellion, sassy mouth and nagging at her husband day by day, she wears him down and discourages him. She is a horrible wife and mother! She is lazy and a lousy cook. She lies and deceives her husband continually. She irresponsibly loses the mail, and then hides letters from collection agencies from him when they arrive. She gossips on the phone with other rebellious women, tearing her husband down behind his back. She is a rotten apple! She is rottenness in his bones! Proverbs 14:1, “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”

The Bible teaches that women are either building up, or tearing down, her family by her every word and choice that she makes. How's your attitude ladies?