the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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New Revised Standard
Proverbs 31:10
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Who can find a wife of noble character?She is far more precious than jewels.
Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
An excellent wife, who can find her? For her worth is far above jewels.
It is hard to find a good wife, because she is worth more than rubies.
An excellent woman [one who is spiritual, capable, intelligent, and virtuous], who is he who can find her? Her value is more precious than jewels and her worth is far above rubies or pearls.
Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.
Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
An excellent wife, who can find?For her worth is far above pearls.
Who can find a wife of noble character? She is far more precious than rubies.
A truly good wife is the most precious treasure a man can find!
א Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far beyond that of pearls.
Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
How hard it is to find the perfect wife. She is worth far more than jewels.
Who can find a diligent woman? For her price is far above rubies.
How hard it is to find a capable wife! She is worth far more than jewels!
A woman of excellence, who will find? For her worth is far more than precious jewels.
Who can find a woman of virtue? For her value is far above jewels.
Who so fyndeth an honest faithful woma, she is moch more worth the perles.
A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
A woman of valour who can find? for her price is far above rubies.
Who can finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue Rubies.
Who so fyndeth an honest faythfull woman, she is much more worth then pearles.
Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
A virtuous woman who can find? for her price is far above rubies.
Who schal fynde a stronge womman? the prijs of her is fer, and fro the laste endis.
A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.
Who can find a wife of noble character? For her value is far more than rubies.
Who Psalms 31:10-31 are an alphabetic acrostic in Hebrew (compare Psalms 119).">[fn] can find a virtuous [fn] wife?For her worth is far above rubies.
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.
Who can find a good wife? For she is worth far more than rubies that make one rich.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
Who shall find a valiant woman? far, and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: "Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!" Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of- God . Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!
An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Who: This is the commencement of an alphabetical poem, each verse beginning consecutively with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet; in which we are presented with an admirable picture of a good wife, according to the primitive manners of the East.
can: Proverbs 12:4, Proverbs 18:22, Proverbs 19:14, Ruth 3:11, Ecclesiastes 7:28, Song of Solomon 6:8, Song of Solomon 6:9, Ephesians 5:25-33
her: Proverbs 3:15, Proverbs 8:11, Proverbs 20:15
Reciprocal: Genesis 2:24 - cleave Exodus 28:17 - a sardius Deuteronomy 21:11 - desire Ruth 4:10 - have I 1 Samuel 25:39 - to take her 2 Kings 4:9 - she said Job 28:18 - rubies Psalms 144:12 - as corner stones Proverbs 7:11 - loud Proverbs 14:1 - wise John 2:1 - a marriage Philippians 4:8 - virtue Titus 2:5 - keepers 1 Peter 3:5 - the holy 2 Peter 1:3 - virtue
Cross-References
Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; furthermore it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.
And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
the flocks bred in front of the rods, and so the flocks produced young that were striped, speckled, and spotted.
But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night, and said to him, "Take heed that you say not a word to Jacob, either good or bad."
And he said, "Hear my words: When there are prophets among you, I the Lord make myself known to them in visions; I speak to them in dreams.
If prophets or those who divine by dreams appear among you and promise you omens or portents, and the omens or the portents declared by them take place, and they say, "Let us follow other gods" (whom you have not known) "and let us serve them," you must not heed the words of those prophets or those who divine by dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you indeed love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. The Lord your God you shall follow, him alone you shall fear, his commandments you shall keep, his voice you shall obey, him you shall serve, and to him you shall hold fast. But those prophets or those who divine by dreams shall be put to death for having spoken treason against the Lord your God—who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery—to turn you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. If anyone secretly entices you—even if it is your brother, your father's son or your mother's son, or your own son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your most intimate friend—saying, "Let us go worship other gods," whom neither you nor your ancestors have known, any of the gods of the peoples that are around you, whether near you or far away from you, from one end of the earth to the other, you must not yield to or heed any such persons. Show them no pity or compassion and do not shield them. But you shall surely kill them; your own hand shall be first against them to execute them, and afterwards the hand of all the people. Stone them to death for trying to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Then all Israel shall hear and be afraid, and never again do any such wickedness. If you hear it said about one of the towns that the Lord your God is giving you to live in, that scoundrels from among you have gone out and led the inhabitants of the town astray, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods," whom you have not known, then you shall inquire and make a thorough investigation. If the charge is established that such an abhorrent thing has been done among you, you shall put the inhabitants of that town to the sword, utterly destroying it and everything in it—even putting its livestock to the sword. All of its spoil you shall gather into its public square; then burn the town and all its spoil with fire, as a whole burnt offering to the Lord your God. It shall remain a perpetual ruin, never to be rebuilt. Do not let anything devoted to destruction stick to your hand, so that the Lord may turn from his fierce anger and show you compassion, and in his compassion multiply you, as he swore to your ancestors, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God by keeping all his commandments that I am commanding you today, doing what is right in the sight of the Lord your God.
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you."
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Who can find a virtuous woman,.... This part of the chapter is disjoined from the rest in the Septuagint and Arabic versions; and Huetius t thinks it is a composition of some other person, and not Lemuel's mother, whose words he supposes end at Proverbs 31:9; but it is generally thought that what follows to the end of the chapter is a continuance of her words, in which she describes a person as a fit wife for her son. Some think that Bathsheba gave the materials, the sum and substance of this beautiful description, to Solomon; who put it in the artificial form it is, each verse beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order till the whole is gone through; though rather it seems to be a composition of Solomon's, describing the character and virtues of his mother Bathsheba. But, be this as it will, the description is drawn up to such a pitch, and wrote in such strong lines, as cannot agree with any of the daughters of fallen Adam, literally understood; not with Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon; nor with the Virgin Mary, as the Papists, who, they fancy, was immaculate and sinless, of which there is no proof; nor indeed with any other; for though some parts of the description may meet in some, and others in others, yet not all in one; wherefore the mystical and spiritual sense of the whole must be sought after. Some by the "virtuous woman" understand the sensitive soul, subject to the understanding and reason, as Gersom; others the Scriptures, as Lyra, which lead to virtue, contain much riches in them, far above rubies; in which men may safely confide as the rule of their faith and practice; and will do them good, and not evil, continually. Others, "Wisdom", who in the beginning of this book is represented as a woman making provision for her household, and said to be more precious than rubies; and is to be understood of Christ; which I should have readily given into, but that this virtuous woman is said to have a husband, Proverbs 31:11; which cannot agree with Christ, who is himself the husband of his church and people, which church of his, I think, is here meant; nor is this a novel sense of the passage, but what is given by many of the ancient Christian writers, as Ambrose, Bede, and others; and whoever compares Proverbs 31:28, with Song of Solomon 6:8, will easily see the agreement; and will be led to observe that Solomon wrote both, and had a view to one and the same person, the church of Christ, who is often represented by a "woman",
Isaiah 54:1; a woman grown and marriageable, as the Gospel church may be truly said to be, in comparison of the Jewish church, which was the church in infancy; a woman actually married to Christ; a woman fruitful, bringing forth many children to him; a woman beautiful, especially in his eyes, with whom she is the fairest among women; a woman, the weaker vessel, unable to do anything without him, yet everything through him: a "virtuous" one, inviolably chaste in her love and affection to Christ, her husband; steadfast in her adherence, to him by faith, as her Lord and Saviour; incorrupt in doctrine, sincere and spiritual in worship, retaining the purity of discipline, and holiness of life; and holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience: or a "woman of strength" u, valour, and courage, as the word signifies, when used of men, 1 Samuel 16:18; The church is militant, has many enemies, and these powerful and mighty, as well as cunning and crafty; yet, with all their power and policy, cannot overcome her; the gates of hell cannot prevail against her; she engages with them all, and is more than a conqueror over them; she is of great spiritual strength, which she, has from Christ, to fight the Lord's battles, to withstand every enemy, to exercise grace, and do every good work; and all her true members persevere to the end: or a "woman of riches" w; that gets wealth and, riches by her wisdom and prudence, so Aben Ezra; a woman of fortune, as is commonly said: such is the church of Christ, through his unsearchable riches communicated to her; riches of grace she now possesses, and riches of glory she is entitled to. But "who can find" such an one? there is but one to be found x; though there are many particular churches, there is but one church of the firstborn, consisting of God's elect, of which Christ is the head and husband, Song of Solomon 6:9; and there is but one that could find her: even her surety, Saviour, and Redeemer; compare with this Revelation 5:3. This supposes her lost, as she was in Adam; Christ's seeking of her, as he did in redemption, and does in effectual calling; and who perfectly knows her, and all her members, and where they are; and whom he finds out, and bestows on them the blessings of grace and goodness;
for her price [is] far above rubies; showing the value Christ her husband puts upon her, the esteem she is had in by him; who reckons her as his portion and inheritance; as preferable to the purest gold, and choicest silver; as his peculiar treasure; as his jewels, and more valuable than the most precious stones: this appears by his undertaking for her; by doing and suffering what he has on her account; the price he has paid for her is far above rubies; she is bought with a price, but not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ; the ransom price paid for her is himself, who is more precious than rubies, and all the things that can be desired, 1 Peter 1:18.
t Demonstrat. Evangel. Prop. 4. p. 234. u אשת חיל "mulierem fortem", V. L. Pagninus, Mercerus; "mulierem virtutis", Montanus, Vatablus; "strenuam", Junius & Tremellus, Piscator, Cocceius, Schultens. w "Mulierem opum", so Aben Ezra. x "Conjux dea contigit uni", Ovid. Metamorph. l. 11. fol. 6. v. ult.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
See the introduction to Proverbs.
Rubies - Better, pearls. See the Proverbs 3:15 note.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Proverbs 31:10. Who can find a virtuous woman? — This and the following verses are acrostic, each beginning with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet: Proverbs 31:10, א aleph; Proverbs 31:11, ב beth; Proverbs 31:12, ג gimel; and so on to the end of the chapter, the last verse of which has the letter ת tau. From this to the end of the chapter we have the character of a woman of genuine worth laid down; first, in general, Proverbs 31:10-12; secondly, in its particular or component parts, Proverbs 31:13-29; and, thirdly, the summing up of the character, Proverbs 31:30-31.
I. Her general character.
1. She is a virtuous woman - a woman of power and strength. אשת חיל esheth chayil, a strong or virtuous wife, full of mental energy.
2. She is invaluable; her price is far above rubies-no quantity of precious stones can be equal to her worth.
