Proverbs 31:21

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 31:21. _SHE IS NOT AFRAID OF THE SNOW_] 12. She is not anxious relative to the health and comfort of her family in the winter season, having provided _clothes sufficient_ for each in the cold weather, in addition to those which they wore in the warm season. _FOR ALL HER HOUSEHOLD_ ARE _CLOTHED WITH SCARLET._] Not _scarlet_, for the _colour_ can avail nothing in keeping off the cold; nor would it be a proper colour for the bogs and dirt of winter. But שנים _shanim_, from שנה _shanah_, to _iterate_, to _double_, signifies not only _scarlet_, so called from being twice or doubly dyed, but also _double garments_, not only the _ordinary coat_ but the _surtout_ or _great-coat_ also, or a _cloak_ to cover all. But most probably double garments

SCARLET - Probably some well-known articles of dress, at once conspicuous for their color, or, as some think, for their double texture and warmth....

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 IS NOT AFRAID OF THE SNOW FOR HER HOUSEHOLD,.... That her family should suffer through the rigour of a cold season, when it is frost and snow; FOR ALL HER HOUSEHOLD [ARE] CLOTHED WITH SCARLET: the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "with double" u, that is, with double garments; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions, joining the words to a following verse; and this, by some, is thought to be the better rendering of the words; since the scarlet colour is no fence against cold, no more than any other, whereas double garments are; and which may be applied to the garment of justification, or the robe of Christ's righteousness, as one; and to the garment of sanctification, internal and external, as the other; the one, even the righteousness of Christ, or Christ the Lord our righteousness, is an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the storm; a sufficient shelter from the cold...

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...

IS NOT. will not. SCARLET. double change of garments....

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

FOR ALL HER HOUSEHOLD ARE CLOTHED WITH SCARLET— This seems an inconsistent translation; for, will _scarlet_ keep a person warmer than any other colour? Would it not have been more consistent with the context to have said, _Because they are clothed in warm raiment?_ The margin of our Bible, agreeably to this remark, reads, _double garments;_ and I think it is universally agreed, that the marginal readings are always nearer the original; and so I find it in the present case. For the word שׁנים _shanim,_ is not only plural, but comes from the root שׁנה _shanah,_ which signifies to _repeat,_ to _do again,_ to _double;_ and is often rendered by the LXX, διπλουν and διβαφον _double-died,_ and by the Vulgate, _bistinctum;_ and in this place the Vulgate renders it by _duplicibus,_ or _double garments._ Schultens and Houbigant agree in the above translation. We may observe, that in consequence of...