WHAT IS A PROVERBS 31 WOMAN?

* Warnings for a son from a godly mother! (Proverbs 31:1-9)

1. Don’t spend strength on a woman who will ruin you (v.3).
2. Don’t drink alcohol or you will do down the drain (v.5-6).
3. Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves (v.8).
4. Be a man of justice (v. 9).

* A godly woman is priceless!

Prov. 31:10 - Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than
precious rubies.
- The word for “virtuous” here means mighty, strong, valiant, powerful, efficient,
wealthy, and worthy. It refers to the fact that she is a woman who has force about
her. The same term is used in other books of the Bible when referring to “capable
men leaders” in Exodus 18:25. It is the same word that refers to men that fight
(warriors) in battle. It also is the same word that refers to Boaz being “a man of
standing” (Ruth 2:1).
- Later, Boaz told Ruth that she was a “woman of noble character (3:11). This means
that she was a Proverbs 31 woman. We can see that God put a man and a woman of
“noble character” together for His glory.
-We can see from the book of Ruth that she was a woman who:
Ruth 2:2,17,23
1. Desired to work (v.2).
2. Worked hard till evening (v.17).
3. She worked till she had to stop (v.23).
Prov.12:4- A worthy wife is her husband’s joy and crown; a shameful wife saps his
strength.

* A godly woman is faithful!

Prov. 31:11- Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 12 She will
not hinder him but help him all her life.
- This woman is a woman who does not trust in herself, but in God (Prov.3:5).

* A godly woman is good!

-Prov. 31:12- She will not hinder him but help him all her life.
- Apparently, Eve was not too good to Adam as she offered him the “fruit” that took
him to spiritual death (Genesis 2 and 3).
- It was Solomon’s pagan wives that turned his heart towards other “gods” (1 Kings
11:4).
- Yet, it was Abigail who saved her husband Nabal from death. Though he had
insulted King David, she prepared food for the King and his army. Then she
persuaded the King to spare her husband despite her husband’s guilt (1 Sam.25).
* A godly woman is diligent!
-Prov. 31:13- She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.
-Many translations refer to the “wool and flax” as a woman who works with willing
hands and heart.
- In 1 Samuel 2:18-19 we can see that Samuel’s mother made him a small coat each
year and would give it to her son when she came to the temple for sacrifice.
- In Acts 9:39, Dorcas enjoyed to make coats and garments.
-There is further evidence of this woman’s ability to work with her hands in
Proverbs 31. It was her hard work that helped then family to not fear the cold
winter ahead because she had prepared clothes for them in advance. She also
decorated her home with handmade quilts/bedspreads. She even portrayed herself
as royalty by making beautiful clothes for herself as well. Yet, this woman did not
just take care of her family, and home. She also have to the poor what they lacked
(Prov. 31:20-24).
-We should pray to be like this woman. For the Word says in Proverbs 28:19
that, “hard work brings plenty of food and playing around brings poverty.”

*A godly woman is enterprising!

Prov.31:14- She is like a merchant’s ship; she brings her food from afar.
-An enterprising woman is a woman who desires to be wise and store up for
her family.
- Prov. 9:1-2- Wisdom has built her spacious house with seven pillars. She has
prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table.
-Prov. 14:1- A wise woman builds her house; a foolish woman tears hers down with
her own hands.
- This wise woman desires to build her house by having a gentle spirit and
not complaining. She also watches her words to ensure that they do not discourage.
She watches her spending to make sure that it does not harm the family.
-Prov. 24:3-4 - A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.
Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and
valuables.
- A wise woman also seeks to know truth and shares it.
- In Genesis 24:15-20, Rebekah was an enterprising woman because she chose to
serve water to a complete stranger and to his animals. She did not ask for help. She
simply desired to serve.
- In Ruth 2:2-3, Ruth worked all day long for leftovers. She was humble and worked
not just for her own food, but also for her mother in law’s food as well.
Prov. 31:27- She watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night.
- A woman with an enterprising spirit is wise and also works late hours to
ensure the stability of her family.

* A godly woman is disciplined!

Prov. 31:15- She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and
plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
- We see many examples of people rising early in the Bible. Abraham rose in the
morning to stand in the Lord’s presence (Gen.19:27). David took his request to God
each morning (Ps.5:3). Even Jesus awoke and early to pray (Mark 1:35). The
women who came to Jesus’s tomb came early in the morning (Luke 24:1). This
indicates that they must have been up taking care of things early in the morning.
- A godly woman’s priority after Christ should be to take care of her family.
- We must daily decide to “commit our work to the Lord, so our plans will succeed”
(Prov.16:3).

*A godly woman is thrifty!

Prov. 31:16- She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants
a vineyard.
- Notice that she first inspects and then buys. She does not simply go out
and buy something. This indicates that we are to be women who spend
money on impulse.
- This woman also used the money that she made to “plant something. “ In
other words, she did not make money to spend it, but to invest it.
-
* A godly woman is energetic!
Prov. 31:17- She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
-Ps. 118:24- This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
- A woman of God must decide to live each day with the focus on Christ. With
all the “business” she must remember to trust in Christ as her strength (Neh.8:10).
- A godly woman also must chose to walk in the “fruit of the Spirit” daily
(Galatians 5:22). The pressure of so many daily tasks could boggle her down, but if
she does everything to the Lord she will be a blessing to her family.

* A godly woman is industrious!

Prov. 31:18- She watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night.
- A godly woman is a strong woman who gets her work done. If we scan across all of
Proverbs 31, we will see that this woman has many jobs. She works with wool and
flax. She prepares food for her family. She has to make daily plans. She inspects and
buys fields. She plants vineyards. She bargains with others. She makes clothes for
her family and takes care of the poor. She makes garments to sell (as an extra
income for her family). She ensures that her husband has a good reputation. She is
wise. Somehow with all her duties, she knows everything that goes on in her house.
She is involved deeply with her children. She is not a lazy woman ever. Above all,
her attitude is pleasant and she fears God!

* A godly woman is persistent!

Prov. 31:19- Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.
- When you see this woman she is demonstrating example. She is not one who lies
around and watches the day go by.
- Prov.31:27- She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does
not have to bear the consequences of laziness.
- When times get hard and she is working constantly, she learns to trust in God as
her source. She works hard persistently for God and her family.
 -Gal.6:9-10- So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged
and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever
we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian
brothers and sisters.
- She must learn that the source of “all her might power” comes from Christ alone.
-Col.1:28-29- So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ. We warn
them and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present
them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. I work very hard at this, as I
depend on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

* A godly woman is kind!

Prov. 31:20- She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the
needy.
- This woman’s natural reaction is to “open her arms” to others. She enjoys
being a helper and a giver.
- There are many Biblical principles about the God’s heart for the poor that a godly
woman understands.
1. Do not have a hard heart towards them (Deut.15:7-8).
2. We can refresh them (Prov. 11:25).
3. When we give to them, God will repay us (Prov.19:17).
4. Those that are truly generous will help the poor in one way or another
(Prov.22:9).
5. We must be merciful to them and humble towards them (Micah 6:8).
- A good example of a godly woman who gave is the widow of Zarephath;
who had a willing heart to give to Elijah though she did not have much (1 Kings
17:8-16).
- The Shunammite gave also gave to Elijah. She gave him a part of her own
home to lodge in when he was traveling through (2 Kings 4:8-11).

*A godly woman is farsighted!

Prov. 31:21- She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have
warm clothes.
- This woman looked ahead and knew that winter would bring many needs.
She prepared in advance by making clothes for her family.
-Prov. 6:6-8- Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their
ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make
them work, 8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.
- Prov. 10:5- wise youth works hard all summer; a youth who sleeps away the
hour of opportunity brings shame.
- Prov. 27:23-27- Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into
caring for your herds, for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be
secure for the next generation. After the hay is harvested, the new crop appears,
and the mountain grasses are gathered in, your sheep will provide wool for clothing,
and your goats will be sold for the price of a field. And you will have enough goats’
milk for you, your family, and your servants.
 - Though we plan ahead, our planning never is over. Just when one thing
ends, another begins. We can find strength and refuge in God during the hard and
busy times (Ps.46:1-2).

* A godly woman is elegant!

Prov. 31:22- She quilts her own bedspreads. She dresses like royalty in gowns of
finest cloth.
- A godly woman should care how she represents her home and herself.
- There are truths to balance in appearance.
1. Like this godly woman we must represent ourselves nicely.
2. Yet, we must be modest and moderate. We should not become obsessed with
fashion styles, jewelry, and hair. (1Tim.2:9-10) (1 Peter 3:3-4)
3. We must be concerned with our inward beauty as well; for our body outward
body is dying anyways (2 Cor. 4:16).
- Peter 3:4-6 says, “You should be known for the beauty that comes from
within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
That is the way the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God
and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her
husband, Abraham, when she called him her master. You are her daughters when
you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.

*A godly woman is helpful!

Prov. 31:23- Her husband is well known, for he sits in the council meeting with the
other civic leaders.
- In Ruth 4:1-5, Boaz was a good example of a man who was well respected in the
city. The matters of the town would take place in the council meetings. People would
purchase land, trade and be witnesses to particular events.
- A man needs a godly wife who will enrich his reputation among others and
not disqualify it.
- We can disqualify our husbands by being not being faithful, not being
respectable by others, being gossipers, not having self-control (1 Timothy 3:11).

*A godly woman is creative!

Prov. 31:24- She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.
- This woman was creative in her ways. She chose to make things with her
hands to help her family out financially. In the same way, we should use our natural
abilities and giftings in a creative manner to take care of our families.
- Prov. 12:11 - Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time.
-Prov. 28:19 - Hard workers have plenty of food; playing around brings poverty.

*A godly woman is confident!

Prov. 31:25- She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of
the future.
- A godly woman is confident because she has worked hard. She knows that
she is prepared for anything that may come. Her hard work has helped her family
out in many ways. She supplies their daily needs of a nice home, food and warm
clothes. She also works creatively to make an extra income; when necessary for her
family. She is faithful and her husband can trust her. This builds his confidence. She
helps out spiritually by being a woman who is wise and fears the Lord.
- Her mental strength comes from the Lord!
-Ps. 37:5 - Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help
you.
- Prov. 3:26 - for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being
caught in a trap.
- A Proverbs 31 woman does not fear her future because she trusts in God
and does her part to be prepared. She has joy in her heart regarding the future.

*A godly woman is wise!

Prov. 31:26- When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she
gives instructions.
-Prov. 10:11- The words of the godly lead to life; evil people cover up their
harmful intentions.
- Prov. 10:14- Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool
invites trouble.
- A true godly woman desires to use her words in a way that will direct others
in God’s ways.
-She also has a good sense about when to speak and what to speak.
- Prov. 4:24- Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech.
- Prov. 10:19- Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off
the flow!
- Prov. 12:18- Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise
bring healing.
-Prov. 15:23- Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right
thing at the right time!
- Prov. 16:23-24- From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise
are persuasive. Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the
body.
- Eph. 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and
slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
- We should desire to be like Mary who praised God (Luke 1:46-47) and Anna who
went around talking about Jesus all the time (Luke 2:38). We can also learn from
those who are older than us (Titus 2:3-4).

*A godly woman is prudent!

Prov. 31:27- She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not
have to bear the consequences of laziness.
- A prudent woman is one who is wise in practical matters.
- This woman demonstrates wisdom by doing things patiently. She gets up early to
make breakfast and plan. Then she “inspects a field” before buying it. She thinks
ahead in regards to winter clothing. She is creative in her ways to make money. Her
hands are always busy with “wool and flax” or “twisting fiber.” In other words, she
uses her practical means to take care of her family.
This woman is always practical and looking for things to do to serve her family and
others.
- Prov. 16:14- As a door turns back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns
over in bed.

*A godly woman is loving!

Prov. 31:28- Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her.
- A godly woman does everything to God. She remembers that her first aim in life is
to please God (Col. 3:23-24).
- Secondly, she desires to please her husband and take care of their children.
- Her husband can trust her because she desires to make him pleased and
also because she desires to be his helper who brings him good (Prov. 31:11-12).
- She also submits to him and respects him (Eph.5:22,33).
- A godly woman must desire to, “Teach your children to choose the right
path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it (Prov.22:6).
- Overall, the godly woman is a giving woman. All the “little things” that she does is
because of her love for God and for her family.

* A godly woman is excellent!

Prov. 31:29- There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you
surpass them all!”
- A Proverbs 31 woman is a woman who is “blessed by her children and praised by
her husband” (Prov. 31:28).
- There may be many women in the world that her husband could have married.
Yet, he will feel that his wife was the best choice for him, when he looks back at his
life. For in his eyes no other woman’s characteristics can compare to his wife’s.

*A godly woman is reverent!

Prov. 31:30- Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears
the LORD will be greatly praised.
- We can see clearly that our ability to be “beautiful” will vanish as years go by. Our
greatest desire should be to love God more deeply in our lives.
- Those who do not love God will never be content or have true joy.
-Prov. 5:3- The lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey and her
mouth is smoother than oil.
- Prov. 7:21- 23- So she seduced him with her pretty speech. With her flattery
she enticed him. 22 He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter or like a
trapped stag, 23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird
flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life.
- We should be aware that we can use our “feminine” ways to either help or hinder
others. We must choose to help them and to put Christ first in our lives.
- 2 Cor. 4:16- That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our
spirits are* being renewed every day.
*A godly woman is virtuous!
Prov. 31:31- Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her
praise.
- This woman can use her life to become this “virtuous” woman. We will not become
her overnight. Yet, we must allow God to build character into our lives and teach us
how to balance life. She must learn how to keep God first. She has to learn how to
love her husband and children. She has to learn how to prioritize and how to spend
money wisely. She must learn above all how to do everything to the Lord. Later in
life her example can “reward her for her deeds publicly” (Prov. 31:31). A true godly
woman does her duties with all of her heart and is surprised at those who gather
around and “praise her” (Prov.31:28-31).

*A godly woman is a treasure!!!

- When a woman submits to God and allows Him to mold her into whom He has
made her to be. She becomes a woman with beautiful character and her “spirit” is
addictive to others around her. Her husband, children, friends will all know that she
is a treasure because it is rare to find such a woman in today’s society!
- Prov. 31:10 - Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than
precious rubies.