Gift to be simple
Posted by Henry on February 27, 2004
In Reply to: Proverbs 15:17 posted by Bob on February 27, 2004
: : : : You might wish to include this proverb, meaning of which is not clear
: : : : Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith
: : : Nice one.
: : I find the meaning clear enough. The writer preferred a vegetarian meal with loved ones over a roast from a grain-fattened animal where enmity prevailed at the table.
: But the right wine might even the odds.
Stalled (?), a. Put or kept in a stall; hence, fatted. A stalled ox." Prov. xv. 17. A dinner of herbs would be a simple meal; in fact, herbs were once known as simples. A meal with an oxen would be a large banquet. It means that a simple gift made with love is better than an extravagant gift without love.
- Douay-Rheims translation Brian from Shawnee 27/February/04
- "The Message" translation ESC 27/February/04