Depending on where you are in your Christian journey, you must have heard of this woman – The Proverbs 31 Woman. Preachers have shared wonderful sermons about her, typically during marriage seminars or weddings. She is indeed a model but why is that so?
The book of Proverbs is known to have been written by a few authors. King Solomon wrote most of it but the last chapter (our focus) was written by King Lemuel. There are many women characters in Proverbs. There is the adulteress (strange, immoral woman), the quarrelsome woman, the loud woman, the wise woman, and the virtuous or excellent woman (in chapter 31).
Let’s delve right in. The chapter opens up with an introduction of the writer. These are the lessons King Lemuel’s mother taught him.
31 The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3 Do not spend your strength on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Verse 3 is an admonition to Lemuel to refrain from sexual entanglements. There, she advises him to avoid loose women because that promiscuous lifestyle destroys kings. She goes on to tell Lemuel to not drink wine or strong drink as it distorts memory and perverts judgment. She also counsels him to speak up for those in society who can’t speak for themselves (the poor, oppressed, vulnerable) and defend their rights.
And now we get to the highpoint of this advice (v 10-31)
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
The question ‘who can find?’ means this type of woman is rare; hard to come by. Her worth is much more than precious jewels. The heart of her husband is at peace because he relies on her securely to make decisions and execute plans that only bring him good. This woman is an asset. Her husband can go out of the house and be at ease because he has absolute trust in her wisdom and discretion. These verses indicate that she is in charge of the home. By all means, do not misconstrue what I’m saying. I am not a preacher of extreme display of rights but, scripture here reveals that this woman is not a passive member of the home, who is handed money for cooking in the morning and has to submit food by afternoon when the breadwinner aka husband gets home. No. This woman is a manager. She is in charge of using the resources of the home (from his work and hers). The husband is not insecure or threatened by that either.
Let’s get to verse 13. There is no display of laziness. The Proverbs 31 woman looks for resources. Wool and flax are raw materials which she spins into clothing for herself (v22), her household (v21), and business (v24).
Verses 14 – 15 still glorify her devotion to her home; how she works and feeds her household. Verse 16 shows entrepreneurship. The Proverbs 31 woman considers (weighs, assesses) a new field before buying it. She is wise enough to know what to invest in and what is not profitable.
I love verses 17 and 22. Let’s skip for now as we focus on v18-21. The goodness of her labor fuels her efforts. She is a giver, a nurturer. The poor and needy benefit from her existence. Seasons do not take her by surprise as she is always prepared for a recession, school re-opening, exam fees, etc.
Now v17 and 22. Of course, she takes care of herself! This woman does not look almost dead and undesirable. She draws strength from God and keeps her head up high. Her clothing is made of fine linen (not just ordinary linen) and purple. She is beautiful and elegant. Imagine the weight of all she does and she still recognizes the importance of self-care. Her husband adores her.
Verse 25; Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. Her priorities are right. She clothes herself with virtues that set her apart. She is not afraid of the future.
Verse 26 reveals that wisdom is the language she talks in and her tongue brings kindness. The Proverbs 31 woman brings life to dead situations, clarity to confusion. V27 tells us her household is well catered to.
V28 – the people that are closest to her, who see her flaws and humanness are still able to call her blessed. She is the standard of the best (noble) women – v29.
V30-31; the Proverbs 31 woman is one who fears God. How else could she have been so excellent? The fear of God allows God to lead her. She is famous for her godliness; her good works speak for her in the gates (where she is not physically present).
That is the picture of The Proverbs 31 Woman.
