True love shared among people is far greater than any material abundance.
Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, Than a fattened ox served with hatred. (Proverbs 15:17) When King Solomon, who reigned approximately from 971 to 931 BC, wrote these words, he was contrasting the profound value of relationships built on love with the superficial nature of lavish provisions that hide bitterness. Though a “dish of vegetables” may seem humble, its true worth is elevated when it is shared with genuine affection and harmony. In ancient Israel, which was located in the region known today as the Middle East and included cities like Jerusalem, sacrifices of oxen were considered quite costly. No matter how extravagant an offering might be, if the meal is cloaked with hatred or conflict, its outward grandeur cannot replace the peace that love fosters.
Better is a dish of vegetables where love is (v.17) emphasizes that even a modest meal, provided in a setting of care and mutual respect, surpasses the best meal served with contempt. The dish’s simplicity invites us to reflect on the heart’s condition rather than the table’s extravagance. This underscores a principle seen throughout Scripture: true richness cannot be measured by material abundance but by whether God’s love is manifest among His people (1 John 4:7-8).
Than a fattened ox served with hatred (v.17) continues the contrast by showing how wealth or plenty can be overshadowed by discord. A “fattened ox” was a luxurious feast in Solomon’s time, yet it is rendered meaningless if served in an atmosphere of bitterness. The lesson here connects powerfully to the New Testament teaching that without love, even strong acts of generosity lack eternal value (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
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Proverbs 15:17 meaning
Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, Than a fattened ox served with hatred. (Proverbs 15:17) When King Solomon, who reigned approximately from 971 to 931 BC, wrote these words, he was contrasting the profound value of relationships built on love with the superficial nature of lavish provisions that hide bitterness. Though a “dish of vegetables” may seem humble, its true worth is elevated when it is shared with genuine affection and harmony. In ancient Israel, which was located in the region known today as the Middle East and included cities like Jerusalem, sacrifices of oxen were considered quite costly. No matter how extravagant an offering might be, if the meal is cloaked with hatred or conflict, its outward grandeur cannot replace the peace that love fosters.
Better is a dish of vegetables where love is (v.17) emphasizes that even a modest meal, provided in a setting of care and mutual respect, surpasses the best meal served with contempt. The dish’s simplicity invites us to reflect on the heart’s condition rather than the table’s extravagance. This underscores a principle seen throughout Scripture: true richness cannot be measured by material abundance but by whether God’s love is manifest among His people (1 John 4:7-8).
Than a fattened ox served with hatred (v.17) continues the contrast by showing how wealth or plenty can be overshadowed by discord. A “fattened ox” was a luxurious feast in Solomon’s time, yet it is rendered meaningless if served in an atmosphere of bitterness. The lesson here connects powerfully to the New Testament teaching that without love, even strong acts of generosity lack eternal value (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).