Proverbs 31, in the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible, describes how a "virtuous woman" should behave. The text of the chapter directs women to be industrious and faithful to their husbands. The passage is important among many Christian groups.
The 10th to 31st verses of the chapter is called Eishes Chayil. It is a praise of the good wife, a definition of a perfect wife or "ideal woman" in Judaism. Traditionally, the Eishes Chayil was viewed as written by King Solomon and many prominent theologians continue to hold this belief.
However there is a more recent branch of critical scholarship which suggests it was added to Proverbs later. This chapter is recited on Friday night, before Shabbat dinner in some Jewish homes. Some see this as a praise directed from the husband to his wife.
It has also been suggested that the son in Proverbs 31 is King Solomon, receiving advice from Bathsheba, herself the wife of a king. The word חיל (chayil) appears in verse 10 and 29 of the passage, thought as the summary of the good woman's character. Traditionally it has been translated "virtuous" or "noble." Some scholars have suggested that it rather means "forceful," "mighty," or "valiant" because the use of the word in the Tanakh is almost exclusively used regarding warfare..
There are 20 verses describing God's picture of a beautiful woman. Only one verse mentions her outward appearance. If you were to spend 1/20 of your time on outward beauty and the other 19/20 on... more
There are 20 verses describing God's picture of a beautiful woman. Only one verse mentions her outward appearance. If you were to spend 1/20 of your time on outward beauty and the other 19/20 on developing the other qualities God describes as beautiful, such as wisdom, kindness, and godliness, you would become the excellent woman Proverbs 31: 10 says a man should try to find!
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come...Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.