Matthew Poole and continuators on Proverbs 18:22

22 Whoso findeth a Wife , findeth a good thing , and obtaineth favour of the LORD .

Either 1. Simply a Wife; for a Wife, though she be not the best of kind, is to be esteemed a blessing, being useful both for society of life, Gen. 2. 18. and for the mitigation of a mans cares and troubles, and for the prevention of sins. Or 2. Good Wife, one that deserves the Name, and performs the duty of that Relation, a wise and worthy Wife, as this word may seem to imply, being deduced from the Hebrew word, isch, which somtimes notes a man of Eminency. And this limitation and explication of the word may be gathered both from the following commendations, which would hardly be given to a bad Wife, and from the usage of Scripture in which this Ellipsis is frequent, as a path or way is put for a good path or way, Psal. 119. 1. Prov. 15. 10. an answer for a good answer, Prov. 15. 23. a King for a good King, Prov. 16. 10. & 29. 4. a name for a good name, Prov. 22. 1. Eccles. 7. 1. &c.

A singular Blessing.

Obtaineth her not by his own Wit, or Art, or Diligence, but by Gods good Providence towards him, which ordereth that and all other events as it pleaseth him.

Marginal references: Ch. 19. 14.