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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.

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