Proverbs 31.10
“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.”
This section of Proverbs 31 begins an alphabetic poem, in which each verse begins with the succeeding letter of the Hebrew alphabet from aleph to tau. It is a wonderful blend of both form and content. The acrostic pattern, as the alphabetical sequence is called, occurs a number of times in the Old Testament, most notably Psalm 119 and Lamentations 1–4.
There were several reasons for Hebrew writers to use the acrostic format. First, it is an artistic labor to demonstrate the importance and beauty of the topic they were writing about. The very task of selecting words that fit the alphabetic structure was a labor of love. In the case of this passage, it is a self-imposed burden which the writer offered as a pleasing sacrifice to the wonder and beauty of godly womanhood.
Second, the acrostic served as a memory aid so that people could more easily recall each successive verse by means of the letter with which it began. Third, and perhaps most important, the acrostic was an expression of comprehensiveness. The message in the poetic structure of this passage is that the topic is fully covered from A to Z (or aleph to tau). The very act of utilizing the whole alphabet demonstrates the completeness of the virtues, skills, and accomplishments of a godly wife.
Before exploring the specifics of the attributes of a virtuous woman, it is important to first understand the core principle of relational excellence in the kingdom of God. How people act in a relationship has a profound impact on the other people in the relationship, as well as people in the organization and the community. This is true for men and women. It is true for husbands and wives. It is true personally and professionally; in a marriage, a family, or a friendship. It is true on a team, in a business, in a church. It is true in society.
The Hebrew word for “excellence” in Proverbs 31.10 is hayil, which has a wide variety of meanings, including strength, might, power, wealth, army, ability, and virtue. As you can see, it is a very robust word that is rich in significance. It used various places in the OT:
Hayil is used in Psalm 60.12: “Through God we shall do valiantly (hayil); it is he who will tread down our adversaries.”
Hayil is used in Exodus 18.21: “You shall select out of all the people capable (hayil) men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.”
Hayil is used in Psalm 18.39: “For you equipped me with strength (hayil) for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.”
The word was used in an earlier passage in Proverbs with regard to the marriage relationship: “An excellent (hayil) wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.” (Proverb 12.4)
And, of course, it is used in our verse for today: “An excellent (hayil) wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” (Proverbs 31.10)
The key message is that the Lord calls us to be hayil in our relationships. He calls us to be strong, virtuous, valiant, courageous, and skillful in the way we relate to other people. That is our theme this week: relational excellence.
More tomorrow …
