Unlearning The Proverbs 31 Woman | Dr. Randy White | May 14, 2023
The Standard View…and its problems
According to the standard view of the Proverbs 31 Woman, a woman is supposed to be trustworthy (v. 11), a strong businesswoman (vv. 13-14), hardworking (vv. 15, 16, 19), an agricultural and real estate expert (v. 16), a never-sleeping retailer of fine merchandise (v. 18, 24), a seamstress who spins her own thread and makes exquisite garments (v. 19, 22), charitable (v. 20), well-prepared (vv. 21-22), well-spoken, kind (v. 26), and praised. She is described as someone whose husband safely trusts in her (vv. 11, 23), and so much more!
In Hebrew, Proverbs 31:11-31 is an acrostic, going through each of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet to give the “A to Z” list of the virtuous woman.
The standard view of the Proverbs 31 Woman can be burdensome for women, as it sets an unattainable standard for almost every woman who has ever lived. It is unrealistic and unfair to expect women to achieve all the qualities and attributes of the Proverbs 31 Woman. This view of women can lead to feelings of guilt and inadequacy for those who are unable or unwilling to meet these unrealistic expectations.
Where Is The Man’s List?
It is important to note that there is no direct equivalent to Proverbs 31 for men in the Bible. While there are many passages that describe the characteristics of a godly man, there is no specific passage that provides a comprehensive description of a virtuous man like Proverbs 31 does for women. This absence of a direct equivalent raises questions about the role of men in the Bible and in the church, and whether the expectations for men are different from those for women. While there are many examples of godly men throughout the Bible, the lack of a direct equivalent to Proverbs 31 for men leaves one wondering why women got their own “impossible list” and men didn’t.
And it is true that there are many examples of godly men throughout the Bible, but isn’t this true for women as well? Would the absence of Proverbs 31 have led to an onslaught of immoral women ruining their lives and the lives of all around them?
All of this should cause us to say, “What is the real purpose of Proverbs 31?”
Another Proposal
Rather than looking at the Proverbs 31 woman as the ideal woman, what if “she” is “Ideal Israel?”
Proverbs 31 can be interpreted as a description of the ideal Israel, with the Proverbs 31 Woman representing the nation as a whole. This view suggests that the practical application of Proverbs 31 would involve striving for the nation to be virtuous and wise, and for all members of the community to be valued and cared for. The Proverbs 31 Woman serves as a positive example for Israel to follow, as she embodies the virtues of trustworthiness, hard work, charity, preparedness, wisdom, and praise. The text, in this light, provides a powerful message about the qualities God expects in the nation of Israel. Ultimately, this view of Proverbs 31 provides a framework for understanding God's relationship with Israel and the responsibilities that Israel has to God and to its people.
Give Me The Evidence!
To go against the “standard view,” one should have some pretty convincing evidence. Let me bring forth two “exhibits.”
In “Exhibit A,” we discover that the book of Proverbs does not a single record or description of any “real” woman whatsoever. Every “actual” woman in Proverbs is actually an “allegorical” woman who did not exist in history. Compare, for example, Proverbs 5-7.
In “Exhibit B,” we discover that Israel is often presented as a woman in the Scripture, both virtuous and immoral. For example, Isaiah 54:5-7 speaks of Israel as a woman forsaken (v. 6) whose Husband is the Lord. And in Jeremiah 3:20 Israel is being accused of a wife who treacherously departed from her husband. In Hosea 2:19-20 the Lord promises to take Israel as His wife. Indeed, the entire book fo Song of Solomon is a book describing the “virtuous woman” who is the bride.
Conclusion
The Proverbs 31 Woman sets an unattainable standard for women. Proverbs 31 can be interpreted as a description of the ideal Israel, with the Proverbs 31 Woman representing the nation as a whole, providing a framework for understanding God's relationship with Israel and its responsibilities to its people. This interpretation is more in line with a responsible reading of the text.
For standards of morality and virtue, a woman, like a man, should look to the overall teaching of Scripture, understanding it in its dispensational framework, and applying its truth to each situation at hand.
