Pro 31 describes the character of the ideal wife or mother. So wonderful are the characteristics of this woman, that sisters despair of ever being able to attain unto her standard, whilst brethren live in hope that they may find a wife that comes somewhere near the character described.

There is no doubt that the Virtuous Woman was no single personality, but the wise man’s estimation of the ideal woman, on account of which he elucidates the positive virtues of such a woman. It is also equally true that the woman in question was not as the ordinary housewife of today, but more the supervisor of a large household wherein she exercised control over her “maidens” (v 15), who would assist in the daily tasks of such an house, making possible her achievements as described.

Sisters in today’s society must learn to cope almost single-handed in the daily round of household chores and need not despair if they cannot reach unto the ideal spoken of here. Even so, ideals are set that we may aspire to be like them. If sisters give up in their attempts to emulate the virtues of this woman, there is little hope that they will ever aspire to be “like him” who is our heavenly Bridegroom.

In order then that sisters may better understand the virtues set out in Proverbs 31, we list them under various headings, and couch them in language more familiar to our generation.

As A Wife

  • She is faithful: Pro 31:11.
  • Her influence is for good: Pro 31:12.
  • She enhances her husband’s name: Pro 31:23.
  • She earns his love and respect: Pro 31:29.

As A Mother

  • She controls her household: Pro 31:27.
  • She gives careful regard to her children’s health: Pro 31:21.
  • She labours at night for her children: Pro 31:15.
  • She is a light sleeper ever ready in an emergency: Pro 31:18.
  • Her children love and respect her: Pro 31:28.

Her Home Management

  • She is a good knitter: Pro 31:13.
  • She is skilful in all the domestic arts: Pro 31:19.
  • She dresses her family sensibly not fashionably: Pro 31:21.
  • She dressmakes for others as well as herself: Pro 31:24.
  • She is attentive to the need of others, earning her every meal: Pro 31:27.

Her Economic Sense

  • She takes trouble to buy well: Pro 31:14.
  • She only buys quality goods: Pro 31:18.
  • She puts her purchase to good use: Pro 31:16.
  • She uses money wisely, and does what she can to improve her return: Pro 31:16.

Her Personal Character

  • She is not a weakling: Pro 31:17.
  • She has a firm, reliable, honorable character: Pro 31:25.
  • She dresses neatly and attractively: Pro 31:22.
  • She extends her kindness outside of her household: Pro 31:20.
  • She speaks with wisdom: Pro 31:26.
  • She speaks with kindness: Pro 31:26.
  • She fears Yahweh, her greatest asset: Pro 31:30.

Where among these virtues is there room for the demands of so called Women’s liberation? Where indeed? All the virtues here listed are opposed to that degrading spectacle of women trying to ape the opposite sex, and achieving nothing more or less than that which JT said would be the tragic result: “In proportion as they rise in assurance they sink in all that really adorns a Woman” (Elp 122).

Sisters who pattern their lives on the God-given ideal of Pro 31 will in no way feel degraded by their loving submission to their husbands, but will find in that subjection is the crowning fulfilment of God’s purpose with them. Indeed by their submission they will share the dominion allotted to the man in whom they lovingly and willingly lose their own identity. Again to quote JT: “They will then rule in the hearts of their rulers, and so ameliorate their own subjection, as to convert it into a desirable sovereign obedience” (Elp 122).

“A sovereign obedience.” What a wonderful expression. Queens by their very submission, and so to be enthroned by their influence in the practise of humility. May the ideal set forth in Pro 31 have its fruit in the lives of Sisters, by being translated into actions, so that it may be said of them: “Let her own works praise her in the gates” (Pro 31:31). (JMn)