Proverbs 31
Proverbs 31:1-9:
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
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Proverbs 31:10:
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. |
"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." The most important factor when determining a ruby's value is it's color. Large rubies of a high quality are extremely rare and the most prized. Clarity is also a very important factor, "crystal clear" is the ideal, meaning you should be able ...to see through the ruby without hindrance. A cut ruby should have good symmetry and shine. So, though a man may need to seek her, she is well worth the search. The ruby was a part of the High priests breastplate of which by it the priests revealed His will. So, one might say that the comparison to a ruby suggests that having found this woman, she will be an aid in his calling...an helpmate to discovering Gods will. The concept of "crystal clear" kind of goes without saying in that she is transparent or real...with no hidden agendas. God or the Bible has NEVER characterized a woman of God as a mindless subordinate.
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Proverbs 31:11-25:
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
2 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
2 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
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Proverbs 31:26:
She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. |
Her teaching of wisdom and the law is tempered with mercy.
Her speech conveys her wisdom and kindness. Her words build up and don't tear down. She is not a gossip or a slanderer. When she speaks, it is to help. Her wisdom instructs her children. |
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Proverbs 31:27:
She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. |
She "looketh well" or keeps watch. The verb means to look out or about, to spy, to keep watch. It is used in a bad sense in Psalm 37:32, "a wicked man spieth upon the righteous." It is used of a watchman in 2 Kings 9:17 and Ezekiel 3:17; 33:7. A watchman looks for enemies and for anything that may endanger the city. The godly woman is alertly watching over her household, looking for any danger that may hurt the family: evil companions, vile entertainment, dangers from the internet, etc.
The “bread of Idleness” literally means “eyes looking everywhere” as in the lazy man in Proverbs 6:6,9; 10:26; 19:15; 24:30. ; of who the same root word is used. Idleness is not on her diet. She avoids the carbohydrates of idleness, and does not indulge herself in slothfulness. |
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Proverbs 31:28:
Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: |
As they grow to any height, and consider their beholdingness, so they bless her, and bless God for her: they bless the time that ever they were born of her, and so virtuously bred by her; being ready to say of her, as once Deborah said of Jael, "Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber be; blessed shall she be above women in the tent." [ 5:24] Blessed be the womb that bare us, and the paps that gave us suck.
Her husband also.] Whom she commanded by obeying, as Livia did her husband Augustus. And he shall praise her.] Praise is due to virtue. And albeit, landis non indiga virtus, ilia sed est proprio plane contenta theatro; virtue is her own reward, and she is the best woman, and best to be liked, saith Thucydides, de cuius laude vel vituperio minimus sit sermo, of whose praise or dispraise there is least said abroad; yet forasmuch as praise is a spur. and virtue grows by it, why should it be denied to those who deserve it? (a) Is not a garland here made up by the hand of the Holy Ghost, and set upon the head of this excellent housewife? Neither is it any disparagement that her own husband and children commend her; for her business lying most within doors, who so fit to praise her as those that were ever present with her? and yet neither do they more praise her by their words than by their lives, formed by her to a right posture. --Trapps Complete Commentary |
Richard Pratt
In recent decades, Christian television has spread what many call the “prosperity gospel” — the misguided belief that if we have enough faith, God will heal our diseases and provide us with great financial blessings. Of course, most people reading this article scoff at the thought that faith can yield such benefits. But don’t laugh too hard. We have our own prosperity gospel for our families. We simply replace having enough faith with having enough obedience. We believe that we can lift our families out of their brokenness if we conform to God’s commands.
You’ve probably encountered this outlook at one time or another. Teachers and pastors tell wives that they will enjoy wonderful relationships with their husbands and children if they will become “an excellent wife” (Prov. 31:10). After all, Proverbs 31:28 says: “Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her.” At men’s conferences, fathers recommit themselves for the sake of their children because “the righteous who walks in his integrity — blessed are his children after him!” (Prov. 20:7). In much the same way, young parents are led to believe that the eternal destinies of their children depend on strict and consistent training. You know the verse: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). Passages like these have been taken as indicating that Christian families experience blessings and loss from God, quid pro quo. We believe that God promises a wonderful family life to those who obey His commands.
Now, we need to be clear here. The proverbs commend certain paths to family members because they reflect the ways God ordinarily distributes His blessings. But ordinarily does not mean necessarily. Excellent wives have good reason to expect honor from their husbands and children. Fathers with integrity often enjoy seeing God’s blessings on their children. Parents who train their children in the fear of the Lord follow the path that frequently brings children to saving faith. But excellent wives, faithful husbands, and conscientious parents often endure terrible hardship in their homes because proverbs are not promises. They are adages that direct us toward general principles that must be applied carefully in a fallen world where life is always somewhat out of kilter. As the books of Job and Ecclesiastes illustrate so vividly, we misconstrue the Word of God when we treat proverbs as if they were divine promises. --Richard Pratt; Key Life; Broken Homes in the Bible 12.5.19
You’ve probably encountered this outlook at one time or another. Teachers and pastors tell wives that they will enjoy wonderful relationships with their husbands and children if they will become “an excellent wife” (Prov. 31:10). After all, Proverbs 31:28 says: “Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her.” At men’s conferences, fathers recommit themselves for the sake of their children because “the righteous who walks in his integrity — blessed are his children after him!” (Prov. 20:7). In much the same way, young parents are led to believe that the eternal destinies of their children depend on strict and consistent training. You know the verse: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). Passages like these have been taken as indicating that Christian families experience blessings and loss from God, quid pro quo. We believe that God promises a wonderful family life to those who obey His commands.
Now, we need to be clear here. The proverbs commend certain paths to family members because they reflect the ways God ordinarily distributes His blessings. But ordinarily does not mean necessarily. Excellent wives have good reason to expect honor from their husbands and children. Fathers with integrity often enjoy seeing God’s blessings on their children. Parents who train their children in the fear of the Lord follow the path that frequently brings children to saving faith. But excellent wives, faithful husbands, and conscientious parents often endure terrible hardship in their homes because proverbs are not promises. They are adages that direct us toward general principles that must be applied carefully in a fallen world where life is always somewhat out of kilter. As the books of Job and Ecclesiastes illustrate so vividly, we misconstrue the Word of God when we treat proverbs as if they were divine promises. --Richard Pratt; Key Life; Broken Homes in the Bible 12.5.19
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Proverbs 31:29:
Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all. |
Many daughters have done virtuously,.... This, according to Aben Ezra and Gersom, is what was said by her husband and children, and which seems to be right; especially they may be thought to be the words of her husband. By these "daughters" may be meant false churches, such as the church of Rome and her daughters, who is the mother of harlots, Revelation 17:17. These are "many", when the true church of Christ is but one, to whom she is opposed, Sol 6:8. These may do many virtuous things externally; may make a great show of religion and devotion; may have a form of godliness, without the power of it; and a name to live, and be dead. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "many daughters have gathered riches"; or "have possessed riches", as the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, and so the Targum; and in this sense the phrase is sometimes used for getting riches and wealth; see Deuteronomy 8:17; and may well be applied to the false churches, the church of Rome and her daughters, who possess great riches and large emoluments, which yet in a short time will come to nothing, Revelation 18:17;
but thou excellest them all; in real beauty, in true riches, in purity of doctrine, in simplicity of worship, in holiness of life and conversation, in undefiled religion, in doing good works, properly so called. Christ's church is "the fairest among women", Sol 1:8. So Ambrose interprets the daughters of heresies and heretics. --Gills exposition |
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Proverbs 31:30:
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. |
Note the tense: Charm IS deceptive and Beauty IS fleeting. It is on these two tenets on which the world bases its relationships on and ESPECIALLY its marriages. It is no wonder that they fail at such a high rate. Its like building a house in the middle of a river and hoping it will survive. The wise man will seek the woman who fears God for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, knowledge & understanding.” For as high as the heavens are above the earth,so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.” (Ps 103:11). And, take note “to be praised.” If you have found a woman who fears God, certainly praise God for her, but also praise her. She is NEVER unworthy of your consideration. IMHO
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Proverbs 31:31:
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. |
One cannot help but note that, "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land" in the public place of honor and authority. (Pr. 31:23 NKJ). Scripture does not say that the woman ever sits there. Only her works, not her presence, is known there. "Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates" (Pr. 31:31). Who is it that gives a defense against her enemies? It is their children, the children of the covenant who speak within the gates, contending against evil.
What is her reward? She is blessed by her children and her husband praises her (Pr. 31:28). Praise? Only praise? Does he not help with the dishes? What about sending flowers or giving her a night out? We would appreciate that more than praise, unless our focus is truly upon God and we see Him in everything, knowing that it is He who has found us worthy to be praised. What shall we say of the woman to whom God has given the gift of singleness? Is she less of a woman because she does not have a husband or children? Were it not for our natures to always desire what we do not have we would more readily accept God's blessed gifts as He gives them. The woman who is not married, or not yet married, is under the authority of her parents, her elders. Her focus is the same, yet not as intimate. Because of this she must be careful to avoid the pitfalls of self-pity and self-indulgence. She must look to Christ to fulfill all her needs and rely upon Him. She must avoid making herself miserable by peering out the window of her soul, at the couples in the marketplace, imagining they have a perfect relationship. The single woman's first duty is the same as the married woman — seeking first the kingdom of God, reconciling all things under the dominion of her King, the Lord Jesus Christ. Her good works are to be to the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom. This virtuous woman shall also be praised and shall receive of the fruit of her hands. [SOURCE: Ina Manly Painter: Chalcedon: http://chalcedon.edu/research/articles/proverbs-31-part-2-of-2-give-her-of-the-fruit-of-her-hands/] |
