Proverbs 31

Proverbs is a canonized book of the Christian Bible. Proverbs is considered part of the wisdom literature. Proverbs is a book for people to use to find wisdom in situations. Proverbs is honorarily authored by Solomon and reflects the worldview of the intellectual elite. This book was written in the southern kingdom during the fifth and third century. The southern kingdom is where most of the Bible was written due to its affiliation with Jerusalem.

Proverbs 31 is two stories combined into one chapter. The first story is verses 1-9 which encapsulate the teachings of King Lemuel’s mother. Throughout the book of Proverbs, a woman wisdom is portrayed as is King Lemuel’s mother. Her teaching coincides with both women wisdom and also the capable

This is translated to mean: strength, might, efficiency and wealth. The woman described in Proverbs 31 is by definition, strong, mighty, efficient and wealthy. Capable, the interpretive choice of the Harpercollins study bible, by definition of the Merriam Webster dictionary, means, “having or showing general efficiency and ability a capable lawyer a capable performance”(Webster). I define capable with a secular dictionary because this is how the modern reader will interpret the word. Capable does not encompass what chayil means; capable is an ability to meet the mark, chayil is going above and beyond as well as being wealthy. Being a capable wife is obtainable for most if not all women, however, being a chayil wife is not so. Valiant is the translation used in the New King James Translation. Secular society defines valiant as, “boldly courageous, heroic, worthy, excellent” (Dictionary.com). Although this translation does not include wealth it is closer to what I feel Solomon was trying to say. To be mindful of the modern interpreter who will look at this text without knowledge in Hebrew, I will be referencing the New King James Version of the

She is a source of revenue for her household. “She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants,” (Proverbs 31:24). This woman is a hard worker, she is able to make things and sell them to the public. Yet at the same time, her value is related to her husband, “For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain,” (Proverbs 31:10b-11). This shows that she is worth rubies because she is the kind of woman a husband can trust. Although some of her value comes from her own abilities, part of her value is directly related to how her husband perceives