«مِرَاةِ الْأَب سُخْطَهْ من الرَّب»

The proverb casts a father's new wife as divine anger sent upon a household; the key word means wrath here, not deformation. It reflects a traditional attitude that a stepmother will feel little affection for her husband's children, a stereotype reported rather than endorsed.

By framing her presence as God's anger rather than ordinary misfortune, and pairing 'father' with 'Lord' in rhyme, the saying stresses how heavy the hardship seems. It works as a sweeping generalization about the stepmother's role, not a judgment based on any individual's conduct.

Used to voice suspicion or complaint about a stepmother, typically when a father remarries and his children from an earlier union are thought to suffer neglect. Its blunt, rhyming form suits informal, emotional remarks; it reflects a traditional stereotype and may offend if applied to a specific person.