Proverb 31: 10-31

KJV
Who can find a virtuous
woman? for her price is
far above rubies.
Becoming a Proverb 31 The heart of her husband
Woman doth safely trust in her, so
that he shall have no need
Lesson 1: Clothed in Strength of spoil.

and Dignity She will do him good and

not evil all the days of her
life.

She seeketh wool, and

flax, and worketh willingly
The Proverb 31 woman is sometimes misrepresented. At times, with her hands.
she has be described as nothing more than a glorified maid.
She is like the merchants'
But that is not who God says is more valuable than precious ships; she bringeth her
jewels. food from afar.

That is not the standard that He has given you to aspire to. She riseth also while it is
yet night, and giveth meat
to her household, and a
portion to her maidens.

Who Can Find a "Chayil" Woman? She considereth a field,

and buyeth it: with the
fruit of her hands she
planteth a vineyard.

She girdeth her loins with

strength, and strengtheneth
her arms.

She perceiveth that her

merchandise is good: her
candle goeth not out by
night.

She layeth her hands to the

spindle, and her hands
hold the distaff.
The word "chayil" is what God uses to describe His idea of a
real woman. She stretcheth out her hand
to the poor; yea, she
You have probably always heard it translated as the "virtuous reacheth forth her hands to
woman." the needy.

But it means so much more. She is not afraid of the

snow for her household:
for all her household are
clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself

coverings of tapestry; her
clothing is silk and purple.
The Amplified Bible gets a bit closer to the heart of the matter by describing her as a
"capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman" (Proverb 31:10 AMP).

That sounds better, but, it is still not quite what God has in mind for the woman He has
destined you to become.

The Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary explains that the term "chayil" was used to describe great
forces and armies. A woman said to be "chayil" would possess a certain strength, might, and
power!

If you were a man going out to fight the good fight of faith, doesn’t that sound like someone
you would want fighting on your side?

The Proverb 31 Woman is no wimp. She is a woman of great strength!

A Strong Christian Woman-

Isn't that An Oxymoron?

Living in the 21st century, we can sometimes get a skewed idea of what a strong woman is.Is
she the woman who always speaks her mind and doesn't need anyone's help? The one who
runs her household and is convinced that if she let her husband do it, he would just mess
everything up? Or is she the corporate tycoon who only has one child because she refuses to
be distracted from her career?

Proverb 31 reveals what your Heavenly Father considers to be true strength.

As He describes this woman, He says that:

Strength and dignity are her clothing

and her position is strong and secure...
- Proverb 31:25 (AMP)
Wouldn't you love for your Heavenly Father to say that about you. That is what we all want,
right?

But, we are not fighting against flesh and blood in this life. So the strength that you will need
to accomplish God's will is not carnal (Ephesians 6:12).

Being able to work 60+ hours and still make time to keep the house clean and cook dinner is
not where your true strength and value lies.

Jesus taught this same truth to Martha over two thousand years ago. But it is just as true
today.

...a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s
feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was
preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just
sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me."But the Lord said to her, "My
dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth
being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."
- Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)

The woman God describes in Proverb 31 understands this.

She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given
task]...

- Proverbs 31:17 (AMP)

How much time do you spend girding yourself spiritually for the daily tasks that God gives
you? Time sitting at His feet, just like Mary did.

Sometimes, it is easy to be so busy running around doing things for God, that you forget all
He really wants is your heart.

You hear many wives complain that their husbands spend so much time at work trying to
provide for them, that they have little to no time to spend with the family. These wives say
they would rather have time alone with the one they love, than have them constantly working
- Even though they are working for them.

God feels the same way about you. He would rather have time alone with the one He loves,
than all of your work - Even when the work you are doing is really for Him.

It is only in that time alone communing with you that He can give you the strength that you
will need to be the woman He designed you to be.

It is in the time you spend laying at His feet that your Father can truly clothe you in strength and
dignity.

Proverb 31 Bible Study Lesson 1

Reflection Questions
1. Does understanding the true meaning of "chayil" change the way that you see God's plan
for you as a woman?

2. Do you ever fall into the trap of striving for the world's idea of a Strong Woman? Why or
why not? If so, how can you safeguard yourself from doing this?

3. Do you feel that the example God gives you in Proverb 31 is attainable? Why or why not?

4. What are a few ways that you personally could make more time to be like Mary and sit at
Jesus' feet?

Charm and grace are deceptive,

and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting],
but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord,
she shall be praised!
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!
- Proverb 31:30-31 (AMP)

We have established that the real strength of a woman does not lie in her physical
accomplishments, but her spiritual ones.

The Virtuous Woman of Strength that God reveals in Proverb 31 exemplifies the importance
of allowing everything that you do daily to flow out of your inner life with God. Doing
everything each day as if it is unto your Lord. You will learn more about this in Lesson 2 of
your Proverb 31 Woman Bible Study.

Becoming a Proverb 31 Woman:

Lesson 2: Let Her Works Praise Her

Will A Real Proverb 31 Woman Please Step Forward?

 The Proverb 31
Woman
Who can find a virtuous
woman?

for her price is far above

rubies.

The heart of her husband

doth safely trust in her, so
that he shall have no need
of spoil.

She will do him good and

not evil all the days of her
life.

She seeketh wool, and flax,

and worketh willingly with
her hands.
I can still remember the first time I truly understood what God
She is like the merchants'
created women to be. I had finally met a real Proverb 31 woman.
ships; she bringeth her food
from afar.
Sure, I had met other Christian women who thought they were.
But, this woman was different.
She riseth also while it is
yet night, and giveth meat
God had clothed her in something I had never seen before in the
to her household, and a
flesh - Gentle strength.
portion to her maidens.
In her was a perfect earthly example of Jesus – The lion and the
She considereth a field, and
lamb.
buyeth it: with the fruit of
her hands she planteth a
She wasn’t mousy. But, she wasn’t bossy.
vineyard.
She exuded the very love of God. And everything that she did,
She girdeth her loins with
flowed out of that love.
strength, and strengtheneth
her arms.
Whatever may be your task,
work at it heartily (from the soul),
She perceiveth that her
as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,
merchandise is good: her
Knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not
candle goeth not out by
from men]
night.
that you will receive the inheritance
which is your [real] reward.
She layeth her hands to the
[The One Whom] you are actually serving
spindle, and her hands hold
[is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah).
the distaff.
- Colossians 3:23-24 (AMP)
She stretcheth out her hand
Everything that the Proverb 31 Woman does flows out of her
to the poor; yea, she
inner life with God. That time alone sitting at His feet that we
reacheth forth her hands to
discussed in Lesson 1. It gives her the strength and power that
the needy.
she needs to do everything each day as if it is unto her Lord.
She is not afraid of the
snow for her household: for
all her household are
clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself

coverings of tapestry; her
 Side Note:
If you have not completed
Lesson 1 of the Proverb 31 Woman Bible Study,
you may want to do so before you complete lesson 2. That lesson is definitely the foundation
that we will be building on here

A Servant’s Heart Begins at Home

Whether she is serving the needy or preparing meals for her children, the Proverb 31 woman
realizes that it is not a menial task. It is one of honor and dignity because it brings glory to her
Father that sent her.

This is one of the things that we have lost in this generation. Many woman no longer
recognize the dignity and honor of keeping a home for their families.

Somehow, women have begun to believe that their life outside of the home is more important
than their life inside of the home. That serving our families is somehow insignificant or just
an inconvenient hassle.

But, God tells us that a real woman "Looks well to how things go in her household, and the
bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat" (Proverb 31:27 AMP).

I’ve always wanted God to give me a ministry to bless His people. One day, as I was seeking
Him for a way to serve others, He brought to my mind this very revealing question: How can
I give you people to serve, when you won’t even serve the husband I’ve given you with a
good attitude?
Where was my servant's heart towards him? No, I did not complain out loud. But, my heart
was full of self-pity.

I allowed thoughts like 'I have to work outside of the home too!' and 'Why doesn't he help out
more?' to flood my mind.

Little did I know that these negative thoughts were very quickly robbing me of two of God's
most important rewards for servant-hood – His joy and His peace.

Answering God's Call

She opens her hand to the poor,
yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy
[whether in body, mind, or spirit].
-Proverb 31:20 (AMP)

I love how the Amplified Bible specifies that a Proverb 31 Woman opens her "filled hands to
the needy whether in body, mind, or spirit" (Proverb 31:20 AMP).

As God's Proverb 31 Woman, you can not afford to let your cup get empty. You must be
continually strengthened physically, mentally, and spiritually in order to reach out and fill the
cups of those around you.

She girds herself with strength

[spiritual, mental, and physical fitness
for her God-given task]...
-Proverb 31:17 (AMP)

Each of us has a specific task that God has called us to. Sometimes it can be easy to hide
behind our femininity and pretend that God has not given us a calling. But that is just not so.

There are needy people out there. Some are needy physically. Others are struggling mentally
and spiritually. But, regardless of their pain, God loves them.

And He wants to work through you to reach out to them.

This is why it is so important that you make time to spend alone seeking the face of God. This
allows Him to fill your hand, so that you can open it and bless His children.

The Proverb 31 Working Woman?

 She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them...
-Proverb 31:24 (AMP)

Did I read that right - The Proverb 31

Woman works?

She can. But there is a huge difference between the way that we see working women today
and the woman described in Proverb 31.

God’s woman understands that contributing to the Family’s Finances is not her first priority.

She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it

[expanding prudently
and not courting neglect of her present duties
by assuming other duties]...
-Proverb 31:16 (AMP)

This is what many of us have lost.

Most women, Christian and non, who work outside of the home begin to put their job before
the needs of their families. It is not purposeful. But, there is only so much of you to go
around.

If we are honest, by the time many of us working women finally get home, we are totally
spent!

Then there are still meals to be made and chores to be done.

A Proverb 31 Woman’s gentle strength brings order and peace to her home. But, an exhausted
woman often has none of that left to give.

Yes, a Proverb 31 Woman can provide a financial contribution to her family. But it should not
be at the family’s expense.
Would you rather get a promotion, or here your family call you:

...blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied);

and your husband boasts of and praises you, [saying],
Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well
[with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness],
but you excel them all.
-Proverb 31:28-29 (AMP-bold words altered)

Becoming a Proverb 31 Woman is not easy. But, then again, you are not really the one who
does most of the work.

All you do is take yourself before the Lord, and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. You
humble yourself before Him and ask Him to show you what areas He wants to mold and
change.

And, you walk in obedience to His leading.

In the end, you will taste and see that the fruit of your work with and for God is good
(Proverb 31:18 AMP).

And your Father in Heaven will smile and say:

Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!
-Proverb 31:31 (AMP).

Proverb 31 Woman Lesson 2

Reflection Questions

1. Do you feel like you are reaching the standard set by the Proverb 31 woman? If not, what
areas do you need God's help in?

2. What is one thing that God has really brought before your heart through this study? Write
it down so that you can reflect on it later on.

3. If you work outside of the home, or even have a work at home business, are there any
areas where you know in your heart that your family needs more than you are able to give?
Pray and ask God to show you how to meet those needs of those most important to you.