Proverbs 31:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

NIV: When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

NASB: She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

CSB: She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all in her household are doubly clothed.

NLT: She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.

KJV: She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

NKJV: She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

The excellent wife (Proverbs 31:10) prepares so her family's needs are met (Proverbs 31:14, 18). This includes seasonal hardships, such as cold weather or winter snows. The reference to scarlet color implies two things. First, in the Old Testament era, it was expensive. The woman depicted here isn't stingy in these matters: she secures the best she can for her household. Second, this makes use of a vivid contrast. Prior to modern techniques, bleaching cloth was slow and difficult; dyes could instantly and permanently add color. The "scarlet" clothes are an absolute contrast to the "white" snow (Isaiah 1:18).

Today, parents are expected to provide suitable clothes for their children. The sight of a coatless, shivering child in winter usually inspires criticism directed towards their mother. That may be unfair, in some cases, but protection from the elements is deeply ingrained as a basic aspect of good childcare. Here, the writer affirms that one trait of the "excellent wife" is proper care for such needs.

Proverbs 31:10–31 is from an unidentified author. This famous passage describes various virtues and attitudes of a godly, excellent woman. Just like the deeply faithful man (Proverbs 20:6), such a woman is uncommon. She stands in vivid contrast to the adulterers and fools often described in Proverbs. Her life is marked by integrity, honor, trust, productivity, common sense, practical love, and hard work. Those strengths last much longer than appearances. The verses of this section form an "acrostic:" each begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

This final chapter fits well with the rest of the book of Proverbs. It reiterates subjects found elsewhere in these lessons. Of note is that the entire chapter is connected to godly women. Topics include the importance of godly parenting, morality, righteous treatment of the needy, justice, and diligence. The first section are the words of King Lemuel's mother. The last is the famous depiction of an "excellent wife," exhibiting ideal traits of diligence, godliness, and competence. That description is arranged as acrostic poem: each verse begins with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Proverbs chapter 31 comes after a long list of Solomon's teachings (Proverbs 25—29) and the words of Agur (Proverbs 30). This final section is connected to two women: the mother of King Lemuel and the ideal of a godly, "excellent" wife. Themes found in this passage are reflected in other lessons from the book of Proverbs. Of note, commendable traits such as business savvy, strength, and wisdom are explicitly associated with women, despite being stereotypically considered masculine. The content after verse 10 is explicitly structured as a poem.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.

Accessed 5/3/2024 11:44:27 PM