Pentecost Season · Proper 20 · Year B
Proverbs 31:10-31
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
September 19, 2027
Overview & Insights
“A woman of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” (Proverbs 31:10)
An acrostic poem (vv. 10–31) is a rather surprising ending to a book that consists mainly of collections of sayings and it adds to the intriguing nature of this work. The Hebrew phrase, ʾēšetḥayil (cf. Ruth 3:11), “wife of noble character,” has been rendered in many ways: mulier fortis (Vulgate), etc. Her qualities are described from a male point of view. But the description of the woman is such that no human being could possibly possess all these qualities. Hence many look to another level of meaning in the poem; cf. T. P. McCreesh, “Wisdom as Wife: Proverbs 31:10–31,” RB 92 (1985), pp. 25–46; C. V. Camp, Wisdom and the Feminine in the Book of Proverbs (Sheffield; Almond, 1985), pp. 90–97. 31:10–12 Who can find ? is a rhetorical question that suggests the answer—no one. Compare Job 28:20, where the question is used of personified Wisdom that is known only to God. Yet this woman is clearly “found.
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Commentary
Working Preacher: Commentary on Proverbs 31:10-31 Working Preacher
Lutheran lectionary commentary on the capable woman for the complementary track.
Enduring Word: Proverbs 31 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the whole chapter.
Precept Austin: Proverbs Commentaries Precept Austin
Collected verse-by-verse resources and commentators for Proverbs.
BibleHub: Commentaries on Proverbs 31:10 BibleHub
Parallel classic commentaries keyed to the poem of the capable wife.
CEP: Proverbs 31 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary reading the capable woman as an image of Woman Wisdom.
Background & Word Study
Enter the Bible: Proverbs Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's scholarly introduction to the book of Proverbs.
BibleProject: Proverbs Overview BibleProject
Animated overview of the design and themes of Proverbs.
Sefaria: Proverbs 31 (Hebrew) Sefaria
Hebrew text with English and classical Jewish commentary on the acrostic poem.
BibleHub: Proverbs 31 Interlinear BibleHub
Hebrew-English interlinear for word-level study of the chapter.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Who is the woman of Proverbs 31?
The book closes with an acrostic poem praising the valiant, industrious woman who works with willing hands and fears the Lord: “Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).
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