Proverbs 31:30
Bible verses · Also called: Prov 31:30, Virtuous woman, Woman of valor, A woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised, Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain
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Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
The text is the New Korean Revised Version (1998), shown under a licence from the Korean Bible Society. Wording may differ slightly from the Korean Revised Version and the Revised New Korean Standard Version. Read in the Korean Revised Version
A verse declaring that charm and beauty are vain but that a woman who fears the LORD shall be praised; it forms the conclusion of the poem of the "virtuous woman" at the end of Proverbs. It is frequently cited as a model of the woman of faith, and interpreters differ on how that portrait should be understood.
Context
Proverbs 31 opens with "The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him" (verse 1). The poem of the "virtuous woman" in verses 10–31 is an acrostic (alphabetic poem) in which each verse begins with a successive letter of the twenty-two-letter Hebrew alphabet. The poem portrays this woman caring for her household, buying a field, trading, and helping the poor, and then concludes in verse 30 that the foundation of all of this lies in the fear of the LORD: "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." This forms an inclusio with the theme of Proverbs 1:7.
Interpretation
- As a portrait of the ideal wife: The passage is read as a model of the wise, faithful wife and mother. Its heart is verse 30, which holds that faith and character matter more than outward appearance.
- As a personification of wisdom: This reading connects the poem with the personification of Wisdom as a woman in Proverbs 1–9 (notably chapters 8–9) and holds that the poem offers a portrait of wisdom itself. On this view, the book is framed at its beginning and end by "Woman Wisdom."
- As a model for all believers: Some read it as a portrait of the godly life to be imitated not by women alone but by men and women alike.
Debates
Some use this passage as grounds for emphasizing roles within the home, while others draw attention to the woman's vigorous economic activity, such as buying land and engaging in trade. Both sides cite the passage in discussions of women's roles in the church and of women's ordination, though it is also noted that the passage itself does not address church offices.
In the Korean Church
The passage is frequently read at installation services for kwonsa (deaconess), dedication services of women's mission societies, Parents' Sunday services, and funeral services for women members. In the church, "virtuous woman" is used as a term of praise for a woman of deep faith.
Related Passages
- Proverbs 31:10–29
- Proverbs 1:7
- 1 Peter 3:3–4
See also 5
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