I have been over this passage (Prov. 31:10-31) countless times, but this time I’m combing over it with scrutiny. I am convinced that there are clues here – hiding in plain sight – that tell us about her and our task is to find it!
Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.
(Prov. 31:10; NKJV, now and throughout.)
The passage opens with a question, drawing our attention to what we know about the virtuous woman (VW). Do you know what to look for? Could you spot a VW instantly in a crowd? Maybe. I guess. Dipping into a quick word study of “virtuous” brought me to two other Scripture verses.
And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. (Ruth 3:11)
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. (Prov. 12:4)
What I found most interesting was the usage of “virtuous” in Hebrew, it being utilized as a masculine noun.
Her first attribute is her worth. Wow. Her worth is far above rubies, far above the value of precious stones. She is a valuable individual, beyond what money could ever offer.
Verse 11 explains her value.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. (Prov. 31:11)
The very first clue is that her husband totally trusts her, his heart is safe enough to trust her. That means she’s never betrayed him, not even for fun. She’s a dependable woman that he can count on all the time. His heart includes his feelings, his mind, and his will, that is, his decisions. He is confident in her, so much that he has no needs, lacks, or wants for anything in life.
Verse 12 supports that.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. (Prov. 31:12)
Here is another bold clue about the Virtuous Woman. She has a heart to do only that which is best for him, in kindness, in pleasantness, in wealth, welfare, in relationship. She invests into their relationship so much that he can relax his defenses, knowing that she won’t ever turn on him. She won’t distress him, afflict him, be mischievous towards him, give him trouble, or wrong him. It’s not in her heart.
Examples of VW in Scripture That Came to Mind
Ruth taking care of Naomi, was explempified in the book of Ruth. (Ruth 1:1-4:22)
Abigail and Nabal. This story intrigued me because Abigail had all the virtuous characters, but her husband was a churlish and foolish man. (1 Sam. 25:2-38)
Interesting Clues I Found
The virtuous woman never wears a name tag, “I AM VIRTUOUS.” She is busy doing her thing, but she doesn’t credit herself. She is someone who is busy taking care of her affairs and can easily get lost in the marketplace.
I recently reached out to a local sister whom I thought was very virtuous and asked her the awkward question, “Do you consider yourself virtuous?” Her answer suprised me, but it made sense.
She aims for excellence in the virtuous women qualities, but to label herself that is too close to being prideful and she seeks to please Father Yah in every area of her life. That made me stop and think.
It is possible that we are all virtuous women, but we don’t see it because if we did, pride could become a problem (and it usually does). I liked her answer. I prefer to aim for the excellence of virtuous living, but not to claim the title as mine.
Key Takeaway
After reviewing everything, I noticed one thing. The VW uses selflessness in a very efficient manner. She never looks for self-glory or acknowledgment. She doesn’t fish for compliments. She is busy doing what she does best.
That made me think of all the times in the past (early in my walk), how I looked to see who was watching what I did instead of serving with a full heart. It saddened me that I was too busy looking to be acknowledge than to be doing Yah’s work.
0 Comments