10 Who can find a virtuous [thrifty and devoted] woman? For her price is far above rubies.
31:10. Who can find. While a virtuous woman might be difficult to find, it is not an impossible task. God has many daughters of grace whose value is far above rubies. These great ladies become the mothers of Israel (the church). The virtuous woman is a woman who can be depended upon. She is capable, has a high energy level, maintains a high sense of dignity, and is capable of handling her household duties.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil [prey, booty].
31:11. The heart of a good husband will have total confidence in the love, loyalty and unselfish affection of a good woman. Despite his position in life he will never be poor.

12 She will do him good and not evil [injurious behavior] all the days of her life.
31:12. The virtuous woman will use all of her influence for the good of her husband. She will not speak evil of him or do anything to cause him harm. She will not embarrass him in any way all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
31:13. As Eve was made to be a help mate for Adam, so the virtuous woman finds joy in acts of service. Her mental attitude regarding service is one of delight and not drudgery. She seeks to serve and works willingly.

14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
31:14. The ancient ships would bring treasures from distant lands. In like manner the virtuous woman is constantly like the merchant’s ships as she brings forth things old and new to surprise and delight those whom she serves with love.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat [prepares food] to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
31:15. The virtuous woman will rise early if necessary to accomplish the work that needs to be done. Her thoughts on not on herself or having others serve her. Rather, she serves others.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
31:16. The virtuous woman is not only industrious but looks to enlarge the possessions of the family through wise investments.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
31:17. The virtuous woman exerts herself and her physical strength increases. She is able to accomplish much through proper planning and organization.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
31:18. The virtuous woman has confidence in what she produces and she diligently works at what her hand finds to do. He candle does not go out by night for she toils until her task is done.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold [pull] the distaff [the prepared fibers from the spindle].
31:19. It is possible to hold a distaff in one hand and twirl the long wool spindles with the other then pausing to wrap the thread around a spindle.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
31:20. By diligent work the virtuous woman is able to help the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet [the best].
31:21. As the virtuous woman looks after the needs of the poor she does not neglect her own. Some parents are so busy doing good for others they neglect their own family, and that is wrong. The virtuous woman clothes her family with the best garments possible for her economy.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry [cloth]; her clothing is silk [fine white linen] and purple.
31:22. Silk was not brought to Israel until the time of Justinian (AD 483 – 13 or 14 November 565). Fine white linen is probably referred to. The virtuous woman does not mind dressing well and that is important. Far too many women let their personal appearance dissipate after they are married. That should not be done.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
31:23. The virtuous woman will be patient and marry well. She will marry someone of like faith and temperament. As a result, the marriage will allow her to enhance her husband’s reputation and promote him so that he is honored among others. He is known in the gates, the place of public gathering for important discussions.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
31:24. The diligence and hard work of the virtuous woman has produced enough for her to make linen and sell it for profit. Spiritually, there is an application from this section. The virtuous one is filled with practical godliness so that she is a blessing to her family and a blessing to others as well.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
31:25. A person is more than the substance of material matter. Every person has a soul and thus a character. Spiritual strength and personal honor characterize the virtuous woman bringing her peace of mind and inner joy for time and eternity. There is much joy in having a good conscience toward God that is undefiled (1 Peter 3:21).

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law [governing principle] of kindness.
31:26. Wisdom is the right application of bible doctrine to a given situation. The virtuous woman is known for being wise and expressing her thoughts with kindness according to gospel terms. Violent verbal language, sarcasm, emotional outbursts and dark thoughts are not to be found in the virtuous woman. Aesop (620-560 BC), the ancient storyteller, told this fable: Once upon a time, a donkey found a lion's skin. He tried it on, strutted around, and frightened many animals. Soon a fox came along, and the donkey tried to scare him, too. But the fox, hearing the donkey's voice, said, "If you want to terrify me, you'll have to disguise your bray."

Aesop's moral: Clothes may disguise a person, but words will give a person away. Blessed (and rare) is the man who has found a woman characterized by kindness in her conversation.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
31:27. The virtuous woman is not an idle woman. She puts her family and not herself first. Others are her priority and in serving them she finds personal fulfillment. The virtuous woman does not let the hours slip away in idle behavior that is unproductive and self destructive of her time and character. The Spanish philosopher Miquel Unamuno (1864-1936) once illustrated how destructive idleness is in all of nature. He told about the Roman aqueduct at Segovia, in his native Spain. It was built in 109 A.D. For eighteen hundred years, it carried cool water from the mountains to the hot and thirsty city. Nearly sixty generations of men drank from its flow. Then came another generation, a recent one, who said, "This aqueduct is so great a marvel that it ought to be preserved for our children, as a museum piece. We shall relieve it of its centuries-long labor." They did; they laid modern iron pipes. They gave the ancient bricks and mortar a reverent rest. And the aqueduct began to fall apart. The sun beating on the dry mortar caused it to crumble. The bricks and stone sagged and threatened to fall. What ages of service could not destroy, idleness disintegrated (Resource, Sept./ Oct., 1992).

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
31:28. The virtuous woman does not crave self attention and she certainly does not demand it. Nevertheless, if she will be virtuous and forget herself and serve her family and others, she will be rewarded. One day her children and her husband will rise up and call her blessed. They will do this out of a deep appreciation for who and what a good woman is. Any woman who demands attention and affection and honor will not find it. That is not the gospel way. God’s way is for a woman to serve others and in that service she will find her glory. If this is a biblical concept hard to believe, it is because a generation of women has arisen more interested in looking out for number one than in having a meek and gentle spirit. Study 1 Peter 3:1. "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously [well], but thou excellest them all.
31:29. Many types of women can excel in life but the virtuous women is said to remain pre-eminent. Brains, beauty, an attractive figure, and a large bank account are commendable assets but the spiritual woman is the most honored in the kingdom of God.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31:30. The virtuous woman may not be the most physically attractive woman but her spirituality and tremendously kind personality makes her a beauty to all. Men by nature are initially attracted to outward beauty but most do value much more a godly and virtuous woman. She is the one who shall be praised. Shame, decay, sorrow and death awaits those who live for the sake of personal vanity and do not cultivate an inward spiritual life that fears the LORD.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
31:31. The final listed characteristic of a virtuous woman reflects the sum total of her life. The works of a woman will either condemn or praise her. How can a man recognize a virtuous woman? Jesus has provided the answer in Matthew 7:20. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

31:11-27.  

Characteristics of a Virtuous Woman
What a Christian Woman will Do

• A Christian woman will not give her husband any cause for behavioral concern (31:11).
• A Christian woman will not engage in injurious behavior towards her husband (31:12).
• A Christian woman will work diligently with the tasks set before her (31:13).
• A Christian woman will be wise in matters of commerce (31:14).
• A Christian woman will prefer the needs of others before her own interests (31:15).
• A Christian woman will be able to successfully engage in expanding her household resources (31:16).
• A Christian woman will not avoid hard work (31:17).
• A Christian woman will not be bound to a strict time schedule but will do all that is necessary to bring many projects to a good conclusion (31:18).
• A Christian woman will be accomplished in practical matters within her sphere of endeavor (31:19).
• A Christian woman will be compassionate and reach out her hands to help others in need (31:20).
• A Christian woman will make sure her family is seasonably comfortable (31:21).
• A Christian woman will be careful about her personal appearance (31:22).
• A Christian woman will marry wisely an honorable man (31:23).
• A Christian woman will be able to be industrious when the opportunity arises and seek out ways to improve the household income (31:24).
• A Christian woman will be characterized by moral and spiritual strength and honor (31:25) so there is nothing she will be ashamed of.
• A Christian woman will be gracious in her speech, dispensing words of wisdom with kindness (31:26).
• A Christian woman will not be slothful but diligent in her labors (31:27).

Self Evaluation

• I do not give my husband any cause for behavioral concern (31:11).
• I do not engage in injurious behavior towards my husband (31:12).
• I work diligently on the tasks set before me (31:13).
• I am wise in matters of money (31:14).
• I prefer the needs of others before my own interests (31:15). Yes ___ No ___
• I successfully engage in expanding my household resources (31:16). Yes ___ No ___
• I do not avoid hard work (31:17). Yes ___ No ___
• I am not bound to a strict time schedule but do all that is necessary to bring projects to a good conclusion (31:18). Yes ___ No ___
• I am accomplished in practical matters in my sphere of endeavor (31:19). Yes ___ No ___
• I am compassionate and reach out to help others in need (31:20). Yes ___ No ___
• I make sure my family is seasonably comfortable (31:21). Yes ___ No ___
• I am careful about my personal appearance (31:22). Yes ___ No ___
• I married wisely an honorable man (31:23). Yes ___ No ___
• I am industrious when the opportunity arises and seek out ways to improve the household income (31:24). Yes ___ No ___
• I am characterized by moral and spiritual strength and honor (31:25). There is nothing I am ashamed of. Yes ___ No ___
• I am gracious in my speech and try very hard to dispense words of wisdom with kindness (31:26). Yes ___ No ___
• I am diligent in my daily labors (31:27). Yes ___ No ___