Proverbs 31:10-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:10

Who can find a virtuous woman ,.... This part of the chapter is disjoined from the rest in the Septuagint and Arabic versions; and Huetius F20 Demonstrat. Evangel. Prop. 4. p. 234. 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:11

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her ,.... Christ her Maker is her husband, who has asked her in marriage, and has betrothed her to himself in righteousness; and of whose chaste love, and inviolable attachment to him, he is fully satisfied, as well as of her fidelity in keeping what he commits unto her; he trusts her with his Gospel and ordinances, which she faithfully retains and observes; and with his children born in her, who are nursed up at her side, to whom she gives the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:12

She will do him good, and not evil ,.... Or, repay good unto him, give him thanks for all the good things bestowed by him on her; will seek his interest, and promote his honour and glory to the uttermost; all the good works she does, which she is qualified for, and ready to perform, are all done in his name and strength, and with a view to his glory; nor will she do any evil willingly and knowingly against him, against his truths and ordinances; or that is detrimental to his honour, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:13

She seeketh wool and flax ,.... To get them, in order to spin them, and work them up into garments; she stays not till they are brought to her, and she is pressed to take them; but she seeks after them, which shows her willingness to work, as is after more fully expressed. It was usual in ancient times for great personages to do such works as these, both among the Grecians F26 Vid. Homer. Iliad 3. v. 125. & 6. v. 490, 491. & 22. v. 440. Odyss. l. v. 357. & 5. v. 62. and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:14

She is like the merchant ships ,.... Not like a single one, but like a navy of them, that cross the seas, go to foreign parts, and come back laden with rich goods: so the church of Christ, and her true members, like ships of burden, trade to heaven, by prayer and other religious exercises, and return with the riches of grace and mercy, to help them in time of need; and though they have often difficult and dangerous passages, are tossed with tempests, and covered with billows; yet, Christ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:15

She riseth also while it is yet night ,.... That is, before the ascent of the morning, as Aben Ezra explains it, before break of day; a great while before day, as Christ is said to rise to pray, Mark 1:35 ; while it was yet dark; so the church here: which shows her affection for her family, her care of her children, and fervent zeal for her husband's interest and good; a different frame of spirit this from that of hers in Song of Solomon 5:2 ; and giveth meat to her household, and a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:16

She considereth a field, and buyeth it ,.... The field are the Scriptures, in which are hid the rich treasures of Gospel doctrines and promises; and the church, and all truly enlightened persons, consider to what use this field may be put, to what account it will turn; how profitable the Scriptures are, for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness; what a rich mine and valuable treasure is in them; things more desirable, and of greater worth, than thousands of gold and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:17

She girdeth her loins with strength ,.... Showing her readiness to every good work; and with what cheerfulness, spirit, and resolution, she set about it, and with what dispatch and expedition she performed it: the allusion is to the girding and tucking up of long garments, wore in the eastern countries, when any work was set about in earnest, which required dispatch; see Luke 17:8 ; the strength of creatures being in their loins, Job 40:16 ; the loins are sometimes put for strength, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 31:18

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good ,.... That it turns to good account; that her trading to heaven is of great advantage; that she grows rich hereby; that her merchandise with Wisdom, or Christ, is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereby than fine gold; and though her voyages are attended with trouble and danger, yet are profitable, and therefore she is not discouraged, but determined to pursue them; she is like the merchant man, seeking goodly pearls, who... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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... read more

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