Sister Verla just called me and talked for about an hour. I sure needed that little talk today. Sometimes God knows just who to use to brighten our day. I love you Sister Verla. God is still using these wonderful women through prayer and encouragement.
The Bible speaks of the “virtuous woman”. Who is she? How does God in His Word describe her? Does she pray faithfully each day? Is she used in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Does she consistently do daily Bible study and have regular devotional times? The answer? — None of these traits is listed in God’s most extensive Scriptural description of virtuous women.
Now please understand me, there is no doubt that the excellent attributes listed above are valuable aspects of the lives of every Christian woman (and man). However, God devotes almost an entire chapter of the Bible (Proverbs 31) to His description of the “virtuous woman”. And the favorable traits that God lists are, surprisingly to some readers, of a substantially different nature. Please go with me to the Bible’s grand description of the godly woman in the eyes of God — that is, Proverbs 31:10-31, quoted from the NIV and, where so noted, from the King James Version (KJV).
Proverbs 31:10, KJV Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
•• A virtuous woman inspires absolute confidence in her husband. He can “safely trust in her” (KJV). She is not impetuous, scatterbrained, or unpredictable. Rather, she can be trusted. Her husband can be confident in her. She will never deliberately let him down.
•• The husband of a biblical, virtuous woman “lacks nothing of value”. That is illustrated by some of her remarkable traits in the succeeding verses.Vs. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
•• The Proverbs 31 woman “brings him good” — that is, her husband. She is not a “liberated” woman as defined by modern feminists. She is God-fearing (vs. 31), a woman of God, and also very much husband- and family-oriented. And these are seen throughout this chapter as positive traits.
• Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.
•• She brings him good. There does seem to be biblical wisdom in the modern-day axiom that “behind every good man stands a good woman”. She is an asset to her husband. She will never intentionally bring harm his way.Vs. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
•• This godly woman is skilled and capable in working with fabric. The modern counterpart would be skill in things like quilting and sewing.
Vs. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
•• She understands that the duties of a wife and mother include ensuring that her family is well fed.
Vs. 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
•• This virtuous woman, this praiseworthy woman of God, is not given to “sleeping in” in the mornings. No! Rather, she is up before dawn to make sure that her household is well fed.
Vs. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
•• Amazing! The Proverbs 31 woman is no wimp! She has the intelligence and business sense to evaluate a piece of property and to buy it. She has her own “earnings”, with which she buys the field and plants a vineyard.
Vs. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
Vs. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
•• Like the virtuous woman of the Bible, many modern women have their own home-based businesses. The woman in Proverbs 31 seems to have been a seamstress who sold garments and sashes (vss. 19, 24).
•• She apparently did her business well, working well into the evening, because “her trading [was] profitable”.Vs. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
Vs. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
•• Her home-based skills have earned her a profitable income. She is ever willing to share this blessing with the poor and needy.
Vs. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
Vs. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
•• Not only do the skills of this woman of God earn her an income from the merchants, she also makes sure that her own home’s needs are well cared for. The bed coverings referred to here could be similar to the quilts.
•• The Proverbs 31 woman does not neglect her own appearance. She uses her skills to provide attractive clothing for herself.Vs. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
Vs. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
•• Already mentioned earlier, this woman of God seems to have had a home-based business. The surrounding verses make it clear, though, that she did not do this at the expense of the well-being of her household.Vs. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
•• The virtuous woman has a sense of dignity. She is not frivolous or embarrassing in her conduct.
•• She looks to the future and makes sure that her household is well supplied, so that she can “laugh at the days to come”.Vs. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Vs. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
•• The bible defines the husband as the head of the home (1 Timothy 3:4-5; 1 Corinthians 11:3). However, his daytime responsibilities are outside the home, at “the city gates” (vs. 23). The wife-and-mother is at home, as this chapter clearly indicates. So it is her daily responsibility (not his) to “watch over the affairs of her household” (vs. 27). This is consistent with the apostle Paul’s counsel to the younger widows to “marry, to have children, to manage their homes...” (1 Timothy 5:14).
Vs. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
•• Children raised by an involved, dedicated, loving, at-home mom rarely grow up feeling estranged from her. Rather, they bless her!
•• Likewise, the husband of such a virtuous woman will overflow with praise for her from his heart.
Vs. 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
•• That is the sentiment that a biblical, Proverbs 31 woman as described in this chapter will evoke in her husband’s heart — “You are the best!”Vs. 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
•• God is reminding us that beauty and charm are fleeting, temporal things. But that which earns genuine praise for a woman is that she is a God-fearing woman.
Vs. 31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
•• Virtuous women have a great reward coming from the Lord in eternity, along with the great fulfillment they will experience in this life for a “job well done”.
•• And the Proverbs 31 woman's virtues will not only be known and blessed by her husband and children (vs. 28), but also her reputation will precede her to the “city gates”. The godly woman, whose life is patterned after Proverbs 31:10-31, will be well known and highly respected in her community.
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Some concluding thoughts — Is Proverbs 31 the only place in the bible that describes the desirable traits of a woman of God? Of course not. There are other Scriptures that speak of women of prayer, women manifesting spiritual gifts, women sharing their testimonies, and much more.However, there is no other Scripture portion that even remotely gives such a detailed description of the “virtuous woman” as does Proverbs 31:10-31. Repeating some of the highlights, the woman that God’s Word describes as praiseworthy:
• is of noble character
• is fully trustworthy
• is an asset to her husband
• is domestically skilled
• is concerned that her household be well and nutritiously fed
• is diligent, arising before dawn and busy until after dark
• is endowed with a good business sense, even to the point of buying a field and planting a vineyard
• may have her own profitable home-based business
• is a hard worker
• is generous to and aware of the poor and needy
• is wise in preparing her household for the needs of the days to come
• is wise in ensuring that she and her family are well and appropriately clothed
• is in proper relationship to her husband, who is out conducting his business affairs at the city gates
• is a woman of wisdom
• shows dignity and strength
• is a faithful instructor to her children
• is diligent to watch over her household
• is the recipient of blessing and praise from her children and her husband
• is above all a God-fearing, godly woman!Such a godly woman has been enshrined in the Scriptures for several thousand years as God’s role model for the virtuous woman of God. To the older women I say, teach these things to the younger women. To the younger women, I exhort you to resist the enticements of the antifamily feminist teachings of our day. Reach out, rather, to embrace God’s vision for you, His “virtuous women”. To such a woman God says (vs. 31), “Let her works praise her at the city gates.”
Postscript: This study is written with much deference and respect to those single women and widows who serve the Lord. They too may be deemed to be “virtuous women” in the light of the verses that apply to them in their unmarried state, both in Proverbs 31 and elsewhere in the Scriptures. In this bible study I have simply attempted to focus on the Proverbs 31 expression of God’s “virtuous woman” without trying to cover every possible marital situation. I extend my deepest respect to you virtuous ladies among the godly single women and widows!
