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Tag: Virtuous woman

More precious than rubies

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in Proverbs, What’s new?.

What does it mean to be more precious than rubies (Proverbs 31:10)?

Two things in the Bible are considered more precious than rubies: the virtue of wisdom (Proverbs 3:15) and a woman of noble character: “Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies” (Proverbs 31:10, NLT). A woman who is more prized than rubies is one with godly traits that are rare and valuable.

The book of Proverbs was written to teach young men how to obtain wisdom and build moral character. It is packed with practical guidelines and ethical principles for developing integrity and making wise and beneficial decisions in life. The question in Proverbs 31:10, “A wife of noble character who can find?” indicates that the reader ought to look long and hard to find such a wife for himself.

“A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones,” warns Proverbs 12:4. For the sake of his future happiness, success, and well-being, a young man ought to choose his wife wisely and carefully. Thus, Proverbs 31 goes into great detail describing the attributes of a wife who is more precious than rubies—the kind of woman the wise young man should seek.

The first qualities mentioned are trustworthiness and devotion: “Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:11–12, NLT). A virtuous wife is an asset to her husband and not a liability. She is supportive and encouraging, not like the quarrelsome and nagging wife who is like the “constant dripping of a leaky roof” (Proverbs 19:13; see also Proverbs 21:9, 19).

A worthy woman is diligent and hard-working: “She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar” (Proverbs 31:13–14, NLT). She carefully manages her household: “She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls” (Proverbs 31:15, NLT). Like the wise woman of Proverbs 14:1, she works hard to build up her home. She’s not like the foolish one who tears it down with her own hands.

A woman who is more precious than rubies is also intelligent and capable: “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard” (Proverbs 31:16). She is strong and energetic, with a healthy work ethic (Proverbs 31:17). She has good business sense, her “trading is profitable,” and she increases her family’s wealth (Proverbs 31:17–18, 24). The description that “her lamp does not go out at night” in verse 18 implies that she has the foresight to plan for the future. In the parable of the ten virgins, the five whose lamps did not go out had thought ahead to buy oil and were praised for their prudence and forethought (Matthew 25:1–13).

A woman who is more precious than rubies is generous and kind: “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy” (Proverbs 31:20). She spares no expense to protect her family (verses 21–22). “Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land,” says verse 23. A virtuous woman brings honor and respect to her husband and family. Verses 25–26 applaud her dignity, wisdom, kindness, and strength of character. Her family members, who are at the center of her devotion, adore and express their fondness for her with blessings and praise (verses 27–28).

The chapter concludes with the writer recognizing the significance of such a woman: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all” (Proverbs 31:29). While she may be physically beautiful and charming, her crowning achievement is that she fears the Lord (verse 30). Such a woman is more precious than rubies because of her godly character—a rare and priceless jewel.

Ruth is an excellent example of a woman in the Bible who is more precious than rubies. Boaz described her as a virtuous woman (Ruth 3:11). She was devoted and faithful; she worked hard and took the initiative; and, like the Proverbs 31 woman, she was praised in the gates (Ruth 2:2; 4:11; cf. Proverbs 31:31).

Proverbs 31 woman

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in Proverbs, What’s new?.

What should we learn from the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31?

Proverbs is a book based on metaphor. It is packed with word-pictures of universal truths. Throughout Proverbs, wisdom is anthropomorphized as a woman. As early as Proverbs 1:20, wisdom is compared to a woman who shouts in the streets, chastising fools and scoffers. Proverbs 31 provides a detailed metaphor of feminine wisdom in the context of a family and a community.

The most quoted section, verses 10–31, is a chiastic poem, that is, a poem that cycles through repeated thoughts in a particular order. The chapter speaks of the worth of a good wife to her husband, the manual labor that she does, her fulfillment of responsibilities to those who need her, her ability to provide for her family, and her wisdom in caring for herself so she can share her strength with others. These ideas are presented in a kind of circular pattern throughout the section.

The chapter begins with King Lemuel recounting advice his mother had given him. She exhorted him to not fall to weaknesses that would compromise his position as king, but to care for the poor. One of the weaknesses the king’s mother mentioned was the susceptibility of his strength—or “noble character” (31:10)—to be harmed by improper relationships with women. Although verses 10-31 do not directly follow this warning in the original, they do illustrate a fitting description of what kind of woman Lemuel should seek.

10 An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

A good, supportive, trusting wife is a blessing to a man. A woman who partners with her husband, who is reliable and looks out for his interests, gives a man a security that is greatly lacking in the world. She is worth more than a substantial paycheck. To bring in the metaphor, wisdom provides the same benefits—it is worth more than money, you can always trust it to make the right decision, and it provides blessings for those who have it.

13 She looks for wool and flax,
And works with her hands in delight…
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle…
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

The wife of Proverbs 31 isn’t afraid of work. She gets up in the morning and gets things done. In the time of Solomon, this involved making fabric and sewing clothes, but verse 27 certainly applies directly to us today—taking care of our responsibilities is a characteristic of wisdom.

15 She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens…
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

Another characteristic of wisdom is the grace to help others. The Proverbs 31 wife ensures that those under her care receive what they need—food, clothing, protection. And she is able to serve others out of the excess of her work and the leaning of her heart. She has so internalized her role as a provider that it extends past her immediate responsibilities and into the community.

14 She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar…
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard…
18 She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night…
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.

Beyond that, she’s savvy. She’s educated about the world and the world of business. She knows how to use her skills to provide for her family, and she’s not afraid to go interact with that world, whether it be as a merchant or a buyer. She knows how to use her strengths to her best advantage, and she fully realizes how valuable her efforts are.

17 She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong…
22 She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

The Proverbs 31 woman not only knows her worth, she knows her responsibilities to herself. She would not be able to provide for others if she neglected her needs—both physical and spiritual. She makes sure her appearance reflects her respected position as an influence in her community. Her greatest strength is her wisdom—her accurate judgment about the world and her influence in it. And she is quick to share the wisdom she has gained to encourage others to reach their potential.

23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land…
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

She knows that, as a partner in her marriage, she has a tremendous influence on her husband’s ministry. She can integrate her life—both domestic and professional—with her ministry in such a way that her husband has the freedom to serve. In fact, her reputation is so established, that it bleeds off onto him.
The Proverbs 31 wife is a fierce provider and protector for those she cares about. She is wise to the ways of the world, but lives by the wisdom of God. As in the rest of the Proverbs, these specific examples provide a metaphor for the larger truth. How any individual woman exemplifies these characteristics will depend on her situation, gifts, and abilities. The key is in verse 30, just as it is in the beginning of Proverbs, in 1:7:
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Virtuous woman a crown to her husband

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in Proverbs, What’s new?.

How is a virtuous woman a crown to her husband (Proverbs 12:4)?

A good marriage is one of life’s greatest blessings, but a strained one can be a curse. A man who marries a supportive woman will be strengthened by her love rather than weakened. He might even say, “She makes me feel like a king!” Essentially, this was the sentiment King Solomon expresses in Proverbs 12:4: “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones” (KJV 1900).

The Hebrew phrase Solomon used in Proverbs 12:4 for “virtuous woman” (KJV), “wife of noble character” (NIV), or “excellent wife” (ESV) is the same one Boaz used to describe Ruth, a “worthy woman” (ESV) of extraordinary loyalty and goodness (Ruth 3:11). It refers mainly to a woman’s strength of character and moral fortitude.

A wife’s character can help make or break her husband. A crown is an ornate, jeweled headdress worn by kings, queens, and other royalty. It represents dignity, honor, blessing, favor, status, and strength. A virtuous woman of solid, godly disposition will crown her husband with these attributes. Lemuel describes such a woman in Proverbs 31:10–31: “She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life” (verses 10–12, NLT). A virtuous woman is trustworthy, diligent, hardworking, generous, skillful, wise, capable, and kind.

The writer observes, “Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders” (Proverbs 31:23). This stately man’s wife “is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household. . . . Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her” (verses 23, 25–28). Her strength of character shines forth in the admiration of those who know her most intimately.

A sister verse to Proverbs 12:4 is Proverbs 14:1: “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” Like a jeweled crown that wins respect and distinction, a virtuous woman is a treasure to her husband. Not only does she build up her household, but she also raises her husband to a king’s stature. By contrast, a foolish woman drags down her whole family and weakens her husband.

Solomon tells the young man reading his book to “get wisdom” even “though it cost all you have.” Wisdom personified should be cherished, for “she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown” (Proverbs 4:7–9). A wise man who chooses a virtuous wife will discover that he has been given a valuable prize and a blessing from the Lord (Proverbs 18:22). The Good News Translation highlights this idea in Proverbs 12:4: “A good wife is her husband’s pride and joy; but a wife who brings shame on her husband is like a cancer in his bones” (GNT).

“Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the Lord can give an understanding wife,” reveals Solomon (Proverbs 19:14, NLT). Not just any woman is a gift from the Lord, cautions Ecclesiastes 7:26: “I discovered that a seductive woman is a trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a snare, and her soft hands are chains. Those who are pleasing to God will escape her, but sinners will be caught in her snare” (NLT).

Scripture reveals that choosing the wrong woman to marry can make a man’s life miserable, destroy his reputation, and even bring him down to death. But a virtuous woman—one who is wise, God-fearing, and of strong moral character—can raise him to his full, God-ordained stature. She will be like a crown to her husband, a blessing from God to enrich his life. Thus, a man must use wisdom and care to look past a woman’s external beauty to examine her “inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3–4; see also 1 Timothy 2:9).