Proverbs 31:10

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 31:10

Who can find . . . ? This heading is the Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . The twenty-two verses which follow, each begin with the twenty-two successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The acrostic cannot be reproduced in English, because the letters of the two alphabets vary in their number, order, and equivalents. This is to emphasize the great lesson King Solomon was to learn. Note the warnings against foreign women (p. 865), which, alas! Solomon failed to heed. This is why the book... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 31:10

THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN'aleph='"A worthy woman who can find, For her price is far above rubies."beth=b,v"The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain."gimel=g,gh"She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life."daleth=d"She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands."he=h"She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar."waw=w"She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 31:10

Proverbs 31:10. Who can find a virtuous woman, &c.— The versions in general agree in reading this, a strong woman. The word חיל chaiil, signifies firmness of body or mind; and is applied to strength of different kinds, agreeably to the context; and therefore may with great propriety be rendered, a virtuous woman, or a woman of a strong and excellent mind. See on chap. Proverbs 12:4. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 31:10

10-31. This exquisite picture of a truly lovely wife is conceived and drawn in accordance with the customs of Eastern nations, but its moral teachings suit all climes. In Hebrew the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in order (compare Introduction to Poetical Books). Who . . . woman—The question implies that such are rare, though not entirely wanting (compare Proverbs 18:22; Proverbs 19:14). virtuous—literally, "of strength," that is, moral courage (compare Proverbs 12:4; Ruth... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 31:1-31

VII. COLLECTION 7: THE WISDOM OF LEMUEL CH. 31Some commentators have regarded only the first nine verses of this chapter as Lemuel’s writing. One reason for this is that the Septuagint translators separated Proverbs 31:1-9 from Proverbs 31:10-31 by five chapters (chs. 25-29). However, the Hebrew text implies that Lemuel wrote the whole chapter since it connects these two sections. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 31:10-12

The Hebrew word translated "excellent" (Proverbs 31:10, hayil) means noble, virtuous, and fine. It denotes strength, wealth, ability, valor, and dependability. The sense of Proverbs 31:10 is "a good wife is not easy to find, but, when found, she is of inestimable value." [Note: Toy, p. 543.] She will not bring her husband to ruin by overspending (Proverbs 31:11 b). Furthermore she is not contentious (Proverbs 31:12; cf. Proverbs 27:15). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 31:10-31

C. The wise woman 31:10-31There is much in Proverbs about unwise women. Solomon personified both wisdom and folly as women earlier (chs. 8-9). Perhaps God wanted us to finish reading this book-assured that women are not essentially evil or foolish-but that they can be very good, wise, and admirable. Jewish husbands and children traditionally recited this poem at the Sabbath table on Friday evenings. [Note: Y. Levin, "’The Woman of Valor’ in Jewish Ritual [Proverbs 31:10-31]," Beth Mikra 31... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 31:1-31

The Mother of Lemuel. The Excellent Woman1-9. An exhortation addressed to king Lemuel by his mother, urging him to avoid women and wine. The latter leads to slackness and unfairness in the administration of justice.’1. Read the title thus: ’The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, which his mother taught him.’ It is possible that the Massa of Genesis 25:14 is meant. 2. The repeated What? appears to point to an inclination towards these excesses. Son of my vows] see 1 Samuel 1:11.3. Read, ’Give not... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Proverbs 31:10

APPENDIX (c).—THE PRAISE OF A GOOD WIFE. (Proverbs 31:10, sqq.)This is written in the form of an acrostic, the twenty-two verses composing it each commencing with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This may have been done, as in the case of several of the psalms, which are of a didactic character (e.g., 25, 34, 37, 119), to render it more easy for committal to memory. By some writers the acrostic form has been supposed to argue a late date for the poem, but there is no evidence for this. One... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:1-31

CHAPTER 32A GOOD WOMAN"O woman-hearts, that keep the days of old In living memory, can you stand back When Christ calls? Shall the heavenly Master lack The serving love, which is your life’s fine gold?""Do you forget the hand which placed the crown Of happy freedom on the woman’s head And took her from the dying and the dead, Lifting the wounded soul long trodden down?""Do you forget who bade the morning break, And snapped the fetters of the iron years? The Savior calls for service from your... read more

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