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John337
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Can someone explain to me the meaning of proverbs 31 10;31?
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pianistclare
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From Haydock’s Commentary (which I highly recommend reading, it’s online)
Gates, before all the judges (Haydock) and people. (Menochius) — Good works shall be rewarded at God’s tribunal, (Worthington) when the vain worldly beauty shall be covered with confusion. (Haydock) — This idea of a perfect woman is best verified in the Catholic Church, (St. Augustine; Ven. Bede) though the blessed Virgin [Mary], &c., may also be designated. (Worthington) — The use of the alphabet herein denotes, that we must begin with a moral good life, if we would penetrate the greater mysteries of the Scriptures. (St. Jerome) (Lam.[Lamentations?])
Gates, before all the judges (Haydock) and people. (Menochius) — Good works shall be rewarded at God’s tribunal, (Worthington) when the vain worldly beauty shall be covered with confusion. (Haydock) — This idea of a perfect woman is best verified in the Catholic Church, (St. Augustine; Ven. Bede) though the blessed Virgin [Mary], &c., may also be designated. (Worthington) — The use of the alphabet herein denotes, that we must begin with a moral good life, if we would penetrate the greater mysteries of the Scriptures. (St. Jerome) (Lam.[Lamentations?])
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TheLittleLady
Guest
We once did a birthday party for a lady where each guest took one of the Proverbs 31 qualities and told how it related to the guest of honor. It was a beautiful celebration.
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jcrichton
Guest
Hi, John!
Do you mean Proverbs 10:31?
Maran atha!
Angel
Do you mean Proverbs 10:31?
If this is the verse, it is speaking to what Jesus state (‘a good tree gives good fruit; a bad tree bad fruit’ and 'it is not what enters man that contaminates him, but that which comes from his heart…); a person who is obedient to God will produce goodness and will promote goodness (things according to God’s Will); a person who rejects God will spew out perversion–he/she will promote evil.31 The mouth of the just shall bring forth wisdom: the tongue of the perverse shall perish.
Maran atha!
Angel
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TheLittleLady
Guest
I believe the OP is asking about the “Virtuous Woman” passage in Proverbs 31
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John337
Guest
@TheLittleLady yes proverbs 31 is what I am asking about.
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Mintaka
Guest
The whole section of Proverbs 31 is the advice of a queen mother to her son. Some identify her with Bathsheba and the king with Solomon; this is the ancient interpretation. (Others identify her with some kind of Hittite proverbs tied to a Hittite queen. I forget the whole argument. Anyway, Bathsheba’s first husband was a Hittite and she may have been one, too; so it’s not all that far off.)
Anyway, she advises her son on how to be a good king, and then moves to the important question of what kind of woman he should marry. This generalizes as advice to all men looking for good wives, and to all women trying to be good wives. It also generalizes to a description of the sort of thing that Israel is supposed to do, what the Church does, and what Mary did and does.
The queen mother says that her son should be looking for a “valiant” woman. It’s an interesting word, because it basically means somebody enterprising and bold, taking the initiative, either in war or in business. It gets used a lot as a descriptor for male warriors, like David’s heroic guys. (Sometimes it’s associated with the “giants” or nephilim.) Elsewhere in the Bible, Ruth is called “valiant” by the people of the town where she settles.
The valiant woman is enterprising, taking care of her household by not just hard work, but by taking the initiative. Her husband can trust her judgment and her care, and she builds wealth and security for everyone in the household.
Naturally such a woman is not easy to find, but she is worth it.
The Venerable Bede wrote an entire book of Proverbs commentary, but the section on Proverbs 31 was often copied out as a separate work for the convenience of medieval readers. There’s an English translation of it available on Amazon.
Anyway, she advises her son on how to be a good king, and then moves to the important question of what kind of woman he should marry. This generalizes as advice to all men looking for good wives, and to all women trying to be good wives. It also generalizes to a description of the sort of thing that Israel is supposed to do, what the Church does, and what Mary did and does.
The queen mother says that her son should be looking for a “valiant” woman. It’s an interesting word, because it basically means somebody enterprising and bold, taking the initiative, either in war or in business. It gets used a lot as a descriptor for male warriors, like David’s heroic guys. (Sometimes it’s associated with the “giants” or nephilim.) Elsewhere in the Bible, Ruth is called “valiant” by the people of the town where she settles.
The valiant woman is enterprising, taking care of her household by not just hard work, but by taking the initiative. Her husband can trust her judgment and her care, and she builds wealth and security for everyone in the household.
Naturally such a woman is not easy to find, but she is worth it.
The Venerable Bede wrote an entire book of Proverbs commentary, but the section on Proverbs 31 was often copied out as a separate work for the convenience of medieval readers. There’s an English translation of it available on Amazon.
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jcrichton
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Hi, John!
Consider the whole of the passage… it addresses the behavior and character of the “king;” it starts off by warning against vices that debilitate and corrupts and it warns against using his power/influence to oppress (specially) indigent; then it turns to the pursuit of “happiness.” Here the “king” is advised about the pursuit of empty relations and is counseled to seek a woman that is “valiant.” The description of this woman is more to the affect of her character and her abilities and while these place her above other women, the final descriptive verse (30) is the true secret/essence of her valor/nobility: she fears (is obedient to) the Lord–that is the reason why her works (valor and abilities) allow her to surpass all others and commands the blessings and praises given her. This woman, this Servant of the Lord, will bring joy, happiness and fulfillment to her husband, her family and her home.
Maran atha!
Angel
Consider the whole of the passage… it addresses the behavior and character of the “king;” it starts off by warning against vices that debilitate and corrupts and it warns against using his power/influence to oppress (specially) indigent; then it turns to the pursuit of “happiness.” Here the “king” is advised about the pursuit of empty relations and is counseled to seek a woman that is “valiant.” The description of this woman is more to the affect of her character and her abilities and while these place her above other women, the final descriptive verse (30) is the true secret/essence of her valor/nobility: she fears (is obedient to) the Lord–that is the reason why her works (valor and abilities) allow her to surpass all others and commands the blessings and praises given her. This woman, this Servant of the Lord, will bring joy, happiness and fulfillment to her husband, her family and her home.
Maran atha!
Angel
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