With all those good qualities she lacks not that one thing needful; she is truly pious, and, in all she does, is guided and governed by principles of conscience and a regard to God; this is that which is here preferred far before beauty; that is vain and deceitful; all that are wise and good account it so, and value neither themselves nor others on it. Her own works will praise her; if her relations and neighbours altogether hold their peace, her good works will proclaim her praise. Many have undone themselves by buying without considering; but those who would make advantageous purchases must consider, and then buy. She, too, laughs at the time to come (31:25; cf. The wife in Proverbs 31 is not in the kitchen scrubbing dishes and biting her tongue! Whether or not that is so is a matter of argument among the theologians, of which I have no desire to enter into. 15 16 17-31 Proverbs 10 - Contrasting Lives, Contrasting Destinies Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother. 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. ", "She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms. September 23, 2018 View Bible Text Commentary on Proverbs 31:10-31 James Limburg It was a retired Rabbi in our town who gave me an insight into Proverbs 31:10-31. Although the question is still on the lips of many today: "Who can find a virtuous woman? She is very careful to recommend herself to her husband's esteem and affection, to know his mind, and is willing that he rule over her. He trusts in her fidelity to his interests, and that she will never betray his counsels nor have any interest separate from that of his family. But the word is the same, whether applied to men or women. She is very careful to recommend herself to her husband's esteem and affection, to know his mind, and is willing that he rule over her. for her price is far above rubies. She does what she does with all her might, and does not trifle in it (Proverbs 31:17; Proverbs 31:17); She girds her loins with strength and strengthens her arms; she does not employ herself in sitting work only, or in that which is only the nice performance of the fingers (there are works that are scarcely one remove from doing nothing); but, if there be occasion, she will go through with work that requires all the strength she has, which she will use as one that knows it is the way to have more. As I will suggest below, the poem valorizes daily life and the real economic contributions of women in the ancient world. And it's so true. Play Audio: Only a few favored men find a virtuous wife, for they are very rare. 1. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. (1.) The lips of the righteous know Namely . In the original language this section is an acrostic poem. The worthy woman in view here was wealthy, having servants of her own, money to purchase a field; and her husband was one of the "city fathers," sitting in the gates; and she stands as a paradigm of the Old Testament ideal of womanhood. They did not use particular individuals as examples, positively or negatively. The context here shows that she is a wife. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 2012 by the Theology of Work Project, Inc. Her price is far above rubies, and all the rich ornaments with which vain women adorn themselves. He doesn't want anything to cloud your judgment. This is the third week of our What if? approach to texts from Mark. Every resource on our site was made possible through the financial support of people like you. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. They give her their good word, they are themselves a commendation to her, and they are ready to give great commendations of her; they pray for her, and bless God that they had such a good mother. She also gets good warm clothing for her children, and her servants' liveries. She can be trusted, and he will leave such a wife to manage for him. The concluding passage in the book of Proverbs characterizes this woman of strength as a wise worker in five sets of practices in her workplace. , Proverbs 11:16) and culture (cf. 1. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. Some think that Bathsheba gave the materials, the sum and substance of this beautiful description, to Solomon; who put it in the artificial form it is, each verse beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order till the whole is gone through; though rather it seems to be a composition of Solomon's, describing the character and virtues of his mother Bathsheba. She not only takes prudent measures herself, but gives prudent advice to others; and this not as assuming the authority of a dictator, but with the affection of a friend and an obliging air: In her tongue is the law of kindness; all she says is under the government of that law. She makes it her constant business to do him good, and is afraid of doing any thing, even through inadvertency, that may turn to his prejudice, Proverbs 31:12; Proverbs 31:12. It is a brilliant description, not only of the ideal Jewish wife of Israel's ancient history, but also of the typical wife of those American pioneers who built our nation, for this ideal was generally adopted by that whole generation of Bible-reading, God-fearing people who built a civilization in the wilderness of North America. Of the preference of moral duties before ceremonial. Those are none of the truly virtuous women that love to hear themselves commended. . 1. 3. Proverbs Bible Study Commentary. 1128.]. It should come as no surprise, then, that the word capable (ayil) in verse 10 is the same word translated strength in 31:10 and excellently in 31:29. for her price is far above rubies." Her husband is known in the gates. Proverbs 31 - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org 31:10-31 This is the description of a virtuous woman of those days, but the general outlines equally suit every age and nation. Virtue will have its praise, Philippians 4:8. Her many wonderful qualities are thrift, industry, kindness, compassion, efficiency, business sense, discretion, discernment, true love, faithfulness and all the other graces and virtues of true womanhood. It is not in a scholar's business, or statesman's business, or husbandman's business, that she employs herself, but in women's business: She seeks wool and flax, where she may have the best of each at the best hand, and cheapest; she has a stock of both by her, and every thing that is necessary to the carrying on both of the woollen and the linen manufacture (Proverbs 31:13; Proverbs 31:13), and with this she does not only set the poor on work, which is a very good office, but does herself work, and work willingly, with her hands; she works with the counsel or delight of her hands (so the word is); she goes about it cheerfully and dexterously, lays not only her hand, but her mind to it, and goes on in it without weariness in well-doing. In such a story, 31:10-31 can be seen as a picture of the child of chapters 1-9 back home, all grown up and done good. Most (!) She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She is very industrious to recommend herself to her husband's esteem and affection. (4.) She is invaluable; her price is far above rubies-no quantity of precious stones can be equal to her worth. 5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. 1. She is an entrepreneur who works late into the evening (verse 18), who plans ahead (verse 21), and who is not idle (verse 27). 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.". "The woman here presented is a wealthy aristocrat who runs a household estate with servants and conducts business affairs-real estate, vineyards, and merchandise-domestic affairs, and charity. Nay, by his appearing clean and neat in his dress, every thing about him decent and handsome, yet not gaudy, one may know he has a good wife at home, that takes care of his clothes. I mean, she is just a very industrious woman indeed. Chapter 31:10-31 however is written in acrostic form that is the first letter of each verse is identical with the sequence of the Hebrew alphabet. Who can find a virtuous woman? She excels them all. Anyone in the ruling capacity. She is a good wife that is fit to be trusted, and he is a good husband that will leave it to such a wife to manage for him. Aaron's sons were destroyed because of the false fire that they offered unto God, strange fire that they offered. Nay, she shall rejoice in an eternity to come; she shall be recompensed for her goodness with fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore. Proverbs 31 is the 31st and final chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones. Here we are told that wine is not for kings. Her children grow up in her place, and they call her blessed. She can be trusted, and he will leave such a wife to manage for him. I love so much the clear ability to reason, to think, to see things clearly. For it is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; or for princes strong drink ( Proverbs 31:2-4 ): Now in the scriptures, in the New Testament we find that wine was forbidden for a man who was an overseer in the church. She is discreet and obliging in all her discourse, not talkative, censorious, nor peevish, as some are, that know how to take pains; no, she opens her mouth with wisdom; when she does speak, it is with a great deal of prudence and very much to the purpose; you may perceive by every word she says how much she governs herself by the rules of wisdom. Those families are likely to thrive that sell more than they buy; as it is well with the kingdom when abundance of its home manufactures are exported. She is one that makes what she does to turn to a good account, by her prudent management of it. The Hebrew word translated "excellent" (Proverbs 31:10, hayil) means noble, virtuous, and fine. You just listen to them talk and you find out how empty and shallow they are. Nor does she relieve her poor neighbours only, and those that are nigh at hand, but she reaches forth her hands to the needy that are at a distance, seeking opportunities to do good and to communicate, which is as good housewifery as any thing she does. Despite the fact that God gave the gift of work to men and women equally (Genesis 1 and 2), womens work has often been denigrated and treated with less dignity than mens. (5.) 7. 1. Although it is not a narrative, one can read the rest of Proverbs as a story about this child who has been instructed at home by his parents about the ways of wisdom and folly. She is very careful to recommend herself to her husband's esteem and affection, to know his mind, and is willing that he rule over her. 10 Who can find a virtuous woman? from: Wikipedia. Some scholars believe this chapter does not describe women at all but deals with wisdom personified as a woman. How are the faithful to respond in times of pressing difficulty? Guys, aren't we lucky that all of us have found these beautiful women? However, the Hebrew text implies that Lemuel wrote the whole chapter since it connects these two sections. In 10b there is given to the thought which underlies the question a synonymous expression. Part of passing that life through the fire of thought is to think critically and theologically about such patriarchy, including such patriarchy in the biblical world. The spindle and the distaff are here mentioned as her honour, while the ornaments of the daughters of Zion are reckoned up to their reproach, Isaiah 2:18, c. And they've never had to really develop character. He did not mention her relationship to God or to her husband. You see, everybody is always flattering them and all. And each one of you men, as you think of that wife that God has given to you, a precious jewel indeed.We are told in the scriptures, cherish her, nourish her, love her, even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. ", "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue. 15 She gets up while it is still night; She is a . This Old Testament ideal needs the enhancement of New Testament values, in which the poor widow who cast her last two mites into the treasury was awarded the praise of the Head of our holy religion, and in which the destitute woman with the issue of blood, a Gentile dog in the eyes of her contemporaries, exhibited a faith which Christ found, "No, not in Israel.". 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. So as the king, wine wasn't for the king because it has the possible altered conscious state.
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