The Proverbs 31 Woman. Since time immemorial, pastors and theologians have
weighed in on the valiant woman of Proverbs 31, finding in the acrostic Hebrew
poem a recipe for a perfect wife. New England minister Matthew Henry wrote in
the 18th century, for example, that the biblical passage showed that a woman
should keep to her sphere: She applies herself to the business that is proper
for her. It is not in a scholar's business, or statesman's business, that she
employs herself, but in women's business; She seeks wool and flax. In recent
years, feminists have recovered other aspects of the Proverbs 31 ideal, noting
that the woman was an entrepreneur, household manager and ancient real estate
agent. In Discovering the Treasures of a Godly Woman, Elizabeth George offers
a fairly balanced Bible study about Proverbs 31, stressing traditional
interpretations while also emphasizing the heroine's many strengths. While the
content is similar to many other evangelical books, George's is distinguished
by its attention to poetic devices and linguistic issues. Its interactive
workbook style will also encourage readers to engage the text for themselves.
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