Proverbs 31:23 - Exposition

NUN . Her husband is known in the gates. Such a woman advances her husband's interests, increases his influence, and, by attending to his domestic concerns, enables him to take his share in public matters, so that his name is in great repute in the popular assemblies at the city gates ( Proverbs 31:31 ; Proverbs 8:3 ). She is indeed "a crown to her husband" ( Proverbs 12:4 ). When he sitteth among the elders of the land. Homer introduces Nausikaa speaking to her father of her duty to see that he is honourably clad when he goes to the council—

καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ ἔοικε μετὰ πρώτοισιν ἐόντα

βουλὰς βουλεύειν καθαρὰ χροί εἵματ ἔχοντα .

('Odyssey,' 6.60.)

"For our costly robes,

All sullied now, the cleansing stream require;

And thine especially, when thou appear'st

In council with the princes of the land,

Had need be pure."

(Cowper.)

St. Gregory sees here an adumbration of the day of judgment: "For the Redeemer of mankind is the "Husband" of holy Church, who shows himself 'renowned' ( nobilis, Vulgate) in the gates. Who first came in sight in degradation and in mockings, but shall appear on high at the entering in of his kingdom; and 'he sitteth among the elders of the land,' for that he shall decree sentence of condemnation together with the holy preachers of that same Church, as himself declares in the gospel ( Matthew 19:28 )" ('Moral.,' 6.9).