Proverbs 31:10-31
The ABCs [1] of the godly household [2]

 

 

Aleph 10 An excellent wife, who can find?

For her worth is far above jewels.

Beth 11 The heart of her husband trusts [3] in her,

And he will have no lack of gain.

Gimel 12 She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

Daleth 13 She looks for wool and flax

And works with her hands/palms in delight.

He 14 She is like merchant ships;

She brings her food from afar.

Vav 15 She rises also while it is still night

And gives food to her household

And portions to her maidens.

Zayin 16 She considers a field and buys it;

From her earnings [the fruit of her palms] she plants a vineyard.

Heth 17 She girds herself with strength

And makes her arms strong.

Teth 18 She senses that her gain is good;

Her lamp does not go out at night.

 

 

Yodh 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

And her hands/palms grasp the spindle.

Kaph 20 She extends her hand to the poor,

And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

Lamedh 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,

For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Mem 22 She makes coverings for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Nun 23 Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.

Samekh 24 She makes linen garments and sells them,

And supplies belts [4] to the tradesmen.

Ayin 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,

And she smiles at the future.

Pe 26 She opens her mouth in wisdom,

And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Tsadhe 27 She looks well to the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Qoph 28 Her children rise up and bless [5] her;

Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

Resh 29 “Many daughters have done nobly,

But you excel them all.”

Sin/ Shin 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

But a woman who fears Yahweh, [6]

she shall be praised.

Tav 31 Give her the product/fruit of her hands,

And let her works praise [7] her in the gates.

 

 

 


[1] Proverbs 31:10-31 is an alphabetic acrostic meaning that each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  The following are also alphabetic acrostics: Psalm 9; 10; 25; 34; 37; 111; 112; 119; 145; Lamentations 3; Nahum 1; cf. Sirach 51:13-20.

 

[2] The best commentary I’ve read on Proverbs 31 is the marriage of Martin Luther to Katharina von Bora.  Many people don’t realize it, but Luther helped reform the institution of marriage just as much (if not more) as he contributed to reformation of the church.  See Katharina von Bora in Wikipedia; Paul Thigpen, “A Family Album” and Steven Ozment, "Re-Inventing Family Life" in Christian History: Martin Luther, later years.

 

[3] “In human relations, only one area of trust is commended: a husband in a wife of noble character (Prov 31:11)” (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, 102).

 

[4] The “belt” (chagorah) was a valuable ornamented sash like the Japanese obi (Isa 3:24; Prov 31:24) (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament p.263). 

 

[5] See also how this verb is used in Genesis 30:13; Job 29:11; Psalm 72:17; Song of Solomon 6:9; Malachi 3:12; cf. Psalm 41:2; Proverbs 3:18.

 

[6] The book of Proverbs begins and ends on the note of fearing Yahweh (Prov.1:7; 31:30; cf. 9:10; 16:6):

 

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.

 

The emphasis upon the household and fearing Yahweh resonates with the ending of Joshua,

 

Joshua 24:15
“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve Yahweh, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”

 

The fear of Yahweh is a common theme in several acrostics: Psalm 25:12,14; 34:7,9,11; 111:5,10; 112:1; 145:19; Proverbs 31:30.

 

[7] The book of Psalms ends with all creation and everything that has breath praising Yahweh, Hallelu-yah.  The book of Proverbs ends with the godly household praising the excellent wife, Hallelu-hah.  Just as God’s house is a place of praise and celebration so too our homes are to be places of praise and celebration.

 

previous page

 

 

Contact Us