Proverbs 31

The chapter moves from the negative and positive commands given to a king to a sustained, poetic illustration of those commands lived out in the daily life of a diligent woman. It creates a bridge between the duty of civil leadership and the responsibility of private industry.

• She shall rejoice in time to come (Proverbs 31:25).
• She shall be praised (Proverbs 31:30).

• Give not thy strength unto women (Proverbs 31:3).
• Open thy mouth for the dumb (Proverbs 31:8).
• Judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:9).

• Lest they drink, and forget the law (Proverbs 31:5).
• Ways that destroyeth kings (Proverbs 31:3).

• The text identifies the speaker as Lemuel, often understood as a symbolic name for Solomon, or perhaps a king of an otherwise unknown tribe.
• The emphasis on 'gates' (v. 23) reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of holding court and conducting business at the city gate, the center of public life.

• Alcohol in ancient contexts (wine and strong drink) had medicinal and recreational uses, but the text specifically highlights the danger of impairment for those responsible for legal 'rights' (din - H1779).
• The description of the woman as a merchant reflects a household economy where the wife was often the primary manager of production, trade, and estate security.

• This chapter concludes the book of Proverbs, which began with the call of 'Lady Wisdom' (Proverbs 1-9). This woman serves as the concrete, incarnational realization of the wisdom personified earlier in the book.
• Matthew Henry observes that while this is a description of a woman of her day, the 'general outlines equally suit every age and nation.' He also notes the allegorical reading common in historical Puritan theology, which views the virtuous woman as a representation of the Church, though he clarifies the text's primary application to individuals.

• The call to 'open thy mouth' (v. 8) mirrors the prophetic tradition of speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves (cf. Isaiah 58:6-7, Psalm 82:3-4).
• The 'fear of the Lord' (yir'ah) is the recurring theme of the entire book, introduced in Proverbs 1:7 and serving as the climax of the book here in 31:30.

• Proverbs 31:10 ('price is far above rubies') echoes the value of wisdom found in Job 28:18 and Proverbs 3:15.

• The Hebrew term 'hayil' (H2428), translated as 'virtuous' (v. 10) and 'strength' (v. 3, v. 25), denotes a robust quality of strength, capacity, and valor, rather than just moral purity.
• The phrase 'law of kindness' (v. 26) literally refers to the 'Torah of kindness' (Torah H8451), suggesting that for the wise woman, her speech is directed by a standard as binding and instructive as the Law itself.

• Modern readers often focus on the woman's domestic tasks, but the text highlights her as an economic agent—she buys fields, trades with merchants, and manages staff (v. 16, 24).
• The poem is framed by the 'gates'—the woman's work impacts the public reputation of her husband in the city's highest leadership circles (v. 23, 31).

• The identity of 'King Lemuel' is debated; some suggest a variant of Solomon's name, while others argue he is a distinct historical figure, though the text provides insufficient data to resolve this definitively.