Proverbs 18:22 [Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Ver. 22. Whoso findeth a wife, &c.] Whoso, after much seeking, by prayer to God, and his own utmost industry - as Gen 24:1-9 Isaac went forth to pray, and his servant went forth to seek - findeth a fit and faithful yoke fellow - called here "a wife," that is, "a good wife," as Ecclesiastes 7:1. A name is put for a good name, and as Isaiah 1:18, wool is put for white wool: every married woman is not a wife; a bad woman is but the shadow of a wife; a according to Lamech's second wife's name, Zillah. "He findeth a good thing," a singular blessing, and such as should draw from him abundance of thanks. He may well say, as they were wont to do at Athens when they were married, εφυτον κακον, ευρον αμεινον. I have left a worse condition, and found a better. b If any be the worse for a wife, for a good wife especially, it is from his own corrupt heart, that, like a toad, turns all it takes into rank poison.
a Hilbah: id est, umbra ipsius, quomodo. - Menander, φιλου σκιαν dixit.
b Zenodo. Prov.