Proverbs 31:16

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The praises of a virtuous woman; forming a Hebrew acrostic. The 22 years begin with the several 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet consecutively; M. Henry calls it, 'a locking-glass for ladies.' Lemuel's "mother" (Proverbs 31:1) suggested the model of "a virtuous woman" - Hebrew, chail: brave, strenuous, good. WHO CAN FIND? - it is a rare treasure (Ecclesiastes 7:28). Verse 11. THE HEART OF HER HUSBAND DOTH SAFELY TRUST IN HER - he can with implicit confidence leave to her the management of his household concerns, and devote himself to his public and weightier duties. Confidence reposed makes good wives the more diligent in their duties. Husband...

Verse Proverbs 31:16. _SHE CONSIDERETH A FIELD AND BUYETH IT_] 5. She provides for the growing wants of her family. More land will shortly be needed, for the family is growing up; and having _seen a field_ contiguous to her own, which was on sale, she estimates its worth, and purchases it a good bargain; and she pays for it by the _fruit of her own industry_. 6. She does not restrict herself to the bare _necessaries_ of life; she is able to procure some of its _comforts_. She plants a _vineyard_, that she may have wine for a _beverage_, for _medicine_, and for _sacrifice_. This also is procured of her own labour. Whatever _goes out_ brings its worth _in_; and _barter_, not _buying,_ is her chief mode of traffic....

The verse points to a large sphere of feminine activity, strikingly in contrast with the degradation to which woman in the East has now fallen....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 31:1 PART VIII. SECOND APPENDIX TO THE SECOND COLLECTION, containing "the words of Lemuel" on the subjects of impurity and intemperance. PROVERBS 31:1 _The_ _superscription. _THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL, THE PROPHECY WHICH HIS MOTHER TAUGHT HIM. Who is intended by "Lemuel king" is much disputed. Those who connect the following word _massa _("oracle") with the preceding _melek _("king"), translate "King of Massa," as Proverbs 30:1 (where see note). Of the country, or the ki

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 silver; and therefore will buy this field at any rate, and not sell it; will part with all they have before they will part with that; even life itself, which in an improper sense is called buying of it, though it is without money and without price; see Matthew 13:44; WITH THE FRUIT OF HER HAND SHE PLANTETH A VINEYARD; her own vineyard, whose plants are an orchard of pomegranates,...

VII. THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL TAUGHT HIM BY HIS MOTHER CHAPTER 31 The Virtuous Woman “The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him”; this is the superscription of this chapter. Who is King Lemuel? No king by that name is known. We do not hesitate in saying that it is Solomon. It means “unto God” one who is devoted to the Lord. In all probability Solomon's mother called her boy by this name, and here is the record therefore of the instruction given by Solomon's mother. The warning is once more, and that very earnestly (shown by the thrice asked “what?” What shall I say unto you?) against licentiousness, against wine and strong drink. The brief words of the mother's exhortation end with a request to act righteously as king, to stand up for those who are appointed to destruction, to plead the cause of the poor and needy. The final portion of the book of Proverbs is a...

THIRD DIVISION. THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN. Proverbs 31:10. This, the last division of the appendix, is in form an acrostic poem, each verse commencing with a letter of the Heb. alphabet in order. There are several more or less perfect specimens of such literary exercises in the OT_ e.g._ Psalms 111 f., Lamentations 1-4, and especially Psalms 119. Though some of the acrostics may, as their imperfect state suggests, have been early_ e.g._ Nahum 1:2 yet in general they belong to the latest period of OT literature. The ideal mistress of the house is represented as a shrewd manager and business woman, trusted by her husband, praised by her children, obeyed by her servants, caring for the poor, and admired by the people. The only religious note is in...

VIII. The Virtuous Woman. Chap. Proverbs 31:10-31 This short Appendix differs from the other Sections of the Book of Proverbs in having one subject throughout, and in being in form acrostic or alphabetical. Each verse begins with a letter, taken in order, of the Hebrew alphabet. There is nothing in the contents of the Section to throw light upon either its age or authorship. The alphabetical arrangement cannot safely be regarded as a proof of a late date of composition. A similar arrangement occurs in several Psalms and in the opening Chapter s of the Book of Lamentations; and some at least of these must be assigned to a comparatively early date. It is more probable that the arrangement in question, belonging as it does for the most part to didactic poems, was a device adopted to assist the memory. (See _The Book of Psalms_, Vol. i. Introd. p. xlviii. in this Series; and Bp

SHE CONSIDERETH, &C.— _With the fruit of her hands,_ means, _With the fruit of her works;_—her _oeconomy,_ her gain. She finds means by her industry and labour to make acquisitions of land, and to plant a vineyard. It is not without design, that Solomon says, _She considereth a field_ which she intends to purchase: herein he gives advice to those who apply themselves seriously to oeconomy, not to spare their pains in visiting and considering the land which they wish to purchase. "See it as often as you can," says Cato; "the oftener you go to it the more it will please, if it be good:" _Quoties ibis, toties magis placebit, quod bonum erit._ See Cato de Re Rustic. cap. II. who observes of the farmer, that he is the first of his family to arise from bed, and the last to go to it....

TEXT Proverbs 31:10-21 10. A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies. 11. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain. 12. She doeth him good and not evil. All the days of her life. 13. She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands. 14. She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar. 15. She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household. 16. She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17. She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms. 18. She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable; Her lamp goeth not out by night. 19. She laye