Proverbs 12:4

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

Cross-references

Proverbs 14:1 contrasts the wise woman who builds her house with the foolish one who tears it down — same theme of a wife's impact as in Proverbs 12:4.

Proverbs 14:30 uses the same 'rottenness of the bones' imagery for envy — a direct verbal parallel to the effect of a shameful wife here.

Proverbs 19:13 compares a quarrelsome wife to continual dripping — a vivid parallel to the 'rottenness in his bones' image of a shameful wife in Proverbs 12:4.

Proverbs 31:10-25 expands on the virtuous woman — the 'crown' from 12:4 is detailed here as a capable, trustworthy wife.

Proverbs 31:23 shows the husband honored in the gates because of his virtuous wife, illustrating the crown.

Proverbs 18:22 declares finding a wife a good thing from the Lord, reinforcing the blessing of a virtuous wife here.

In Proverbs 19:14, a prudent wife is from the LORD — parallels the virtuous wife as a crown here, both highlighting a wife's value as a divine gift.

Proverbs 21:9 reinforces the negative side — a contentious wife makes life miserable, similar to 'rottenness in his bones' here.

Proverbs 21:19 similarly describes the misery of living with a contentious wife, aligning with the shameful wife image here.

Proverbs 27:15 compares a contentious woman to constant dripping — analogous to 'rottenness' here as a persistent annoyance.

Ruth 3:11 Allusion

Ruth 3:11 uses the same 'virtuous woman' term, directly linking Ruth's character to the crown described here.