Proverbs 31

This is the final chapter of Proverbs. The preceding chapter, Proverbs 30, contains the sayings of Agur. This chapter follows with the instruction King Lemuel's mother gave her son and closes the book with a poem celebrating the virtuous woman.

Outline

• Verses 1–3: King Lemuel's mother addresses "the son of my vows." She urges him not to give his strength to women or his ways to that which destroys kings.
• Verses 4–7: The king is not to seek wine or strong drink, because drunkenness may cause him to forget the law and pervert the judgment of the afflicted. Strong drink is to be given to him who is ready to perish, and wine to those of heavy heart.
• Verses 8–9: The king is to open his mouth for the dumb and the desolate, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
• Verses 10–12: The virtuous woman's price is far above rubies. Her husband trusts in her, and she does him good all the days of her life.
• Verses 13–27: She works diligently with wool and flax and brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night to give food to her household, considers a field and buys it, plants a vineyard, and makes fine linen and sells it. She stretches out her hand to the poor and clothes her household in scarlet. Her husband sits among the elders in the gates.
• Verses 28–31: Her children and her husband praise her. Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD shall be praised.

Key Verses

• Proverbs 31:8 "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction": This verse speaks of a ruler's responsibility to speak on behalf of the weak.
• Proverbs 31:10 "Who can find a virtuous woman?": The opening line of the poem in verses 10–31 and the source of the expression "virtuous woman."
• Proverbs 31:30 "But a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised": This verse exalts faith above outward appearance. It is read as pairing with "the fear of the LORD" in Proverbs 1:7 to bring the book to its conclusion.

People and Places

• King Lemuel: A king who appears only in this chapter; his identity is unknown. Jewish tradition sometimes identifies Lemuel as another name for Solomon.
• Lemuel's mother: The speaker of the instruction in verses 1–9. Her name is not given.
• The gates: The place where elders gathered to judge cases and deliberate on matters (verses 23, 31).

Points for Reflection

• Some scholars read the Hebrew word translated "prophecy" in verse 1 as a place name, rendering the phrase "Lemuel, king of Massa."
• In the Hebrew text, verses 10–31 comprise twenty-two verses. The passage is known as an acrostic poem in which the first letter of each verse follows the order of the Hebrew alphabet.
• Many interpreters read this woman as a model for actual wives. Others connect her with the portrayal of Wisdom as a woman in Proverbs 1–9 and read the poem as closing the book with a personified picture of wisdom.
• Contemporary approaches differ in how they relate this passage to the role of women. Some emphasize devotion within the home, while others focus on the woman's economic activity in buying fields and engaging in trade.
• Verses 4–7 are cited in discussions of alcohol and tobacco, with emphases varying among denominations and churches.
• Ruth is also called "a virtuous woman" in Ruth 3:11, using the same Hebrew expression. In the New Testament, 1 Peter 3:1–7, which speaks of adorning the inner person rather than outward appearance, is read alongside verse 30.

In the Korean Church

"Virtuous woman" is a widely used expression in Korean churches. This chapter is frequently used as a sermon text for messages on mothers and the family, at wedding services, and at women's mission society dedication services.