Pro 31:10 | KingComments | STEP | Introduction to Much has been written in the previous chapters about woman Folly, about foolish, wrong women. Even in this last chapter we still hear the warning against her from the mouth of Lemuel’s mother to her son ( ). That is why it is so beautiful that the book concludes with a song of praise to woman Wisdom, to the woman in the full value she has for God, for her husband and for her children. Wisdom is personified by a woman because, because of the variety of applications, woman is an excellent example of wisdom. Everywhere she is, her wisdom is seen, and in everything she is involved with, we see how wise she is. We see her at home, in the marketplace, in proving charity and in business. By personifying wisdom, the author makes all the lessons concrete. We see her in action in everyday life. She is called “someone weaker” ( ). Yet she acts powerfully. The cause of this is her fear of God and her wisdom. As a result, she does her work diligently and at the same time quietly and in a controlled manner. We see these qualities in her commitment to her husband and children, in how she deals with her staff and in her business pursuits. She is decisive in her actions without abandoning her place as a wife next to her husband. She honors her husband, who is honored in the gate. Her behavior is such that he trusts her completely in everything she does. She is honored by her husband, her children and her works. This song of praise to the woman is an example or model for all women who want to develop a life of wisdom. But because it is about the essence of wisdom, what is said of her contains important lessons not only for women but also for men. This section teaches that the fear of the LORD inspires women as well as men to be faithful stewards of the time and talents God has given to them. This stewardship is best taught and lived out in the family atmosphere. The wisdom with which this stewardship is exercised is manifested in a balanced life, where attention is given both to household tasks and to business dealings and the rendering of charity. This tribute to the woman is written in the particular style form we find in the book of Psalms, among others: Psalms 9; 10; 25; 34; 37; 111; 112; 119; 145. That form is called ‘acrostic’. In an acrostic, the first word of each verse or group of verses begins with a subsequent letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The acrostic begins in with the first letter, the aleph, and ends in with the last letter, the taw. That the entire alphabet is used to sing of the excellent wife may symbolically indicate that we have a complete description of her, that nothing is missing. It is a completed whole. It has been pointed out that love is not mentioned. But would a commitment such as this wife shows be possible without love being the motive? We see a wife joyfully performing her duties. If we want a description of the relationship of love between husband and wife, we can turn to the book of Song of Songs. In Proverbs 31 it is about the wife’s commitment to her husband that is visible in everything she does. The description of this wife is not one that applies without question to every wife. The wife presented here is a wealthy and distinguished person with, like her husband, a high social position. She runs a house with an estate and servants. She deals in real estate, vineyards and merchandise. The domestic affairs are under her control and she is doing charity, for which she also has the means. There are not many wives in such a position with those circumstances. It is apparently more about the general idea, what a wife is capable of when fully guided by wisdom. The ideal wife is presented, the perfect wife, the committed help of her husband, upright, God-fearing, economical and wise. The characteristics mentioned will be found in every God-fearing woman according to the measure of her abilities. It is about making herself available to others. Therefore, this section also applies to the God-fearing man. Behind the description of this wife we see the picture of the church as the Lamb’s wife, or the church as the Lord Jesus sees it, in its perfection, without defect. In practice, He is working through His Word to present it to Himself in this way ( ). There is often an application of what is said about the excellent wife to the church. The introductory question in the first line of this verse assumes that the wife the mother is about to describe is not easy to find (cf. ; ). But when she is found, she is a treasure of great value. King Lemuel’s mother has warned him in above all not to give his strength to women. Now she is going to teach him about the wife who will be a real help to him. She describes of this wife the characteristics and qualities. This is what he should look for in his search for her. Her concern is for her son to look for “an excellent wife”. With this, she gives a “total description” at the beginning of the description of qualities. The word “excellent” means: meeting all requirements, reliable, tried and tested, of good quality, in a good, solid way. It means that this wife possesses and practices all the excellencies mentioned of her in this hymn of praise. This wife, like wisdom, is worth more than jewels, indeed, she “is far above” their value ( ). Spiritually, we can apply this to the church. The church is the Lamb’s wife, that is, Christ’s. It is to Him “one pearl of great value” for whom He gave and did all to possess it ( ).

‏ Proverbs 31:10

The Value of the Excellent Wife

Introduction to Pro 31:10-31

Much has been written in the previous chapters about woman Folly, about foolish, wrong women. Even in this last chapter we still hear the warning against her from the mouth of Lemuel’s mother to her son (Pro 31:3). That is why it is so beautiful that the book concludes with a song of praise to woman Wisdom, to the woman in the full value she has for God, for her husband and for her children.

Wisdom is personified by a woman because, because of the variety of applications, woman is an excellent example of wisdom. Everywhere she is, her wisdom is seen, and in everything she is involved with, we see how wise she is. We see her at home, in the marketplace, in proving charity and in business. By personifying wisdom, the author makes all the lessons concrete.

We see her in action in everyday life. She is called “someone weaker” (1Pet 3:7). Yet she acts powerfully. The cause of this is her fear of God and her wisdom. As a result, she does her work diligently and at the same time quietly and in a controlled manner. We see these qualities in her commitment to her husband and children, in how she deals with her staff and in her business pursuits. She is decisive in her actions without abandoning her place as a wife next to her husband. She honors her husband, who is honored in the gate. Her behavior is such that he trusts her completely in everything she does. She is honored by her husband, her children and her works.

This song of praise to the woman is an example or model for all women who want to develop a life of wisdom. But because it is about the essence of wisdom, what is said of her contains important lessons not only for women but also for men. This section teaches that the fear of the LORD inspires women as well as men to be faithful stewards of the time and talents God has given to them. This stewardship is best taught and lived out in the family atmosphere. The wisdom with which this stewardship is exercised is manifested in a balanced life, where attention is given both to household tasks and to business dealings and the rendering of charity.

This tribute to the woman is written in the particular style form we find in the book of Psalms, among others: Psalms 9; 10; 25; 34; 37; 111; 112; 119; 145. That form is called ‘acrostic’. In an acrostic, the first word of each verse or group of verses begins with a subsequent letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The acrostic begins in Pro 31:10 with the first letter, the aleph, and ends in Pro 31:31 with the last letter, the taw.

That the entire alphabet is used to sing of the excellent wife may symbolically indicate that we have a complete description of her, that nothing is missing. It is a completed whole. It has been pointed out that love is not mentioned. But would a commitment such as this wife shows be possible without love being the motive? We see a wife joyfully performing her duties. If we want a description of the relationship of love between husband and wife, we can turn to the book of Song of Songs. In Proverbs 31 it is about the wife’s commitment to her husband that is visible in everything she does.

The description of this wife is not one that applies without question to every wife. The wife presented here is a wealthy and distinguished person with, like her husband, a high social position. She runs a house with an estate and servants. She deals in real estate, vineyards and merchandise. The domestic affairs are under her control and she is doing charity, for which she also has the means. There are not many wives in such a position with those circumstances.

It is apparently more about the general idea, what a wife is capable of when fully guided by wisdom. The ideal wife is presented, the perfect wife, the committed help of her husband, upright, God-fearing, economical and wise. The characteristics mentioned will be found in every God-fearing woman according to the measure of her abilities. It is about making herself available to others. Therefore, this section also applies to the God-fearing man.

Behind the description of this wife we see the picture of the church as the Lamb’s wife, or the church as the Lord Jesus sees it, in its perfection, without defect. In practice, He is working through His Word to present it to Himself in this way (Eph 5:26-27). There is often an application of what is said about the excellent wife to the church.

Pro 31:10 The introductory question in the first line of this verse assumes that the wife the mother is about to describe is not easy to find (cf. Pro 20:6; Ecc 7:28). But when she is found, she is a treasure of great value. King Lemuel’s mother has warned him in Pro 31:3 above all not to give his strength to women. Now she is going to teach him about the wife who will be a real help to him. She describes of this wife the characteristics and qualities. This is what he should look for in his search for her.

Her concern is for her son to look for “an excellent wife”. With this, she gives a “total description” at the beginning of the description of qualities. The word “excellent” means: meeting all requirements, reliable, tried and tested, of good quality, in a good, solid way. It means that this wife possesses and practices all the excellencies mentioned of her in this hymn of praise. This wife, like wisdom, is worth more than jewels, indeed, she “is far above” their value (Pro 3:15 ; Pro 8:11).

Spiritually, we can apply this to the church. The church is the Lamb’s wife, that is, Christ’s. It is to Him “one pearl of great value” for whom He gave and did all to possess it (Mt 13:45-46).