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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.
Below are links related to archived copies of this webpage.
web.archive.org/*/John314-16.com/Proverbs_31-10,_27–28_and_the_Other_Verses_of_Proverbs_31.html
Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.
When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:
“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:
“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”
It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”
A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:
If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.
The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.
The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:
Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.
Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:
However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.
Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.
Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.
Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”
Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.
Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
The verses of the day for May 12th are Proverbs 31:10, 27–28. The full name of the book Proverbs is “The Proverbs.” Because it is useful to study verses in the context of the verses around them, below is content related to Proverbs 31.
Proverbs 31:1
Words of Lemuel a king, an utterance with which his mother has taught him:
Note: Unspecified in the Bible is who King Lemuel was. Also, unspecified in the Bible is of what he was the king. King Lemuel is mentioned only in Proverbs 31.
Proverbs 31:2
“What, my son, and what, son of my womb, and what, son of my vows?
Proverbs 31:3
“Do not give your strength to women nor your ways to the wiping out / blotting out / destroying / exterminating of kings.
Note: This is an admonition to avoid promiscuity. In that regard, rather than discouraging being married to a woman, this admonition discourages intimate involvement with more than one woman. While a king might have the wherewithal in terms of material wealth to cover the financial costs of intimate involvement with more than one woman, this admonition is applicable to all men, including those who lack the wherewithal in terms of material wealth to cover the financial costs of intimate involvement with more than one woman. In that regard, there are some men who try to live like a self-indulgent king by trying to being intimately involved with more than one woman.
Absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is anything related to King Lemuel being involved in warfare against other kings. Instead, the content of this verse and the surrounding verses involves the consequences that peopleʼs actions have on themselves. In that regard, it is logical to conclude that the wiping out / blotting out / destroying / exterminating referenced in this verse refers to what would happen to King Lemuel himself.
Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is what in particular is referenced by the word ways in this verse. Also, regarding the content after the word nor in this verse, that content might refer to the content that is before the word nor, or it might refer to what follows in the content after this verse—or it might refer to both. Certainly, intimate involvement with more than one woman is self-destructive for a man. Also, what is described in the content that follows this verse also involves self-destructive activities.
Proverbs 31:4
“Not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings, to drink wine, nor for rulers strong drink / intoxicating drink,
Note: Given the context, the use of both the word kings and the word rulers refers to the same category of people rather than to different categories. In other words, rather that this verse indicating that the particular type of rulers known as kings should avoid drinking wine and that other types of rulers should avoid drinking alcohol-containing drinks other than wine, this verse indicates that rulers in general should refrain from drinking alcohol-containing drinks in general.
Whereas the content of verse 3 is applicable to both rulers and men whose roles in life are other than that of ruler, this verse is focused specifically on rulers. The content of verse 5 provides the context for that. In that regard, rather than this involving an admonition for all people to avoid drinking alcohol, this verse involves an admonition for rulers to avoid drinking alcohol.
Proverbs 31:5
“lest he drink and forget the law / what is decreed and change/alter/pervert the judgment/justice of any of the afflicted / sons of affliction.
Note: In the context of this verse, the phrase the judgment/justice of any of the afflicted / sons of affliction refers to the justice that is due—in the sense of owed—to afflicted people. In other words, a ruler should be impartial toward all people rather than disregarding the rights of afflicted people.
Note: Regarding the content of verses 6 and 7, absent from those verses and the surrounding verses is anything indicating whether or not the content of verses 6 and 7 involves sarcasm. Also, absent from those verses is anything involving drunkenness.
Proverbs 31:6
“Give strong drink to the perishing and wine to the bitter in soul.
Proverbs 31:7
“He drinks and forgets his poverty, and his trouble he remembers not again.
Note: As mentioned in the notes above the content of verse 6, absent from verses 6 and 7 is anything involving drunkenness. Also, absent from verses 6 and 7 is anything involving a person giving himself or herself any alcohol in order to accomplish what is described in verse 7. In addition, absent from verses 6 and 7 is anything indicating that what is described in verse 6 and 7 is an ongoing activity.
Helping someone momentarily forget troubles can be useful for someone who is psychologically maladjusted—in other words, someone whose soul [ψυχή/psychē (psoo-KHAY) in Greek] is maladjusted—in other words, someone whose thinking is maladjusted—in other words, someone who is upset. In that regard, communicating with a person who has ceased to be upset can be more effective than communicating with a person who is in the midst of being upset. What is described in verses 6 and 7 involves a situation in which a person ceases to be upset but still remains in control of his or her mental faculties—in other words, in control of his or her thinking. Such a situation is different from one in which a person becomes drunk and different from one in which a person loses control of his or her thinking by some means other than alcohol.
Proverbs 31:8
“Open your mouth for the mute / silent / unable to speak, for the judgment/justice of all orphans / sons of passing away.
Note: A ruler should care about helpless people.
Proverbs 31:9
“Open your mouth; judge righteously, both the cause of the poor and needy!”
Note: An unjust ruler disregards the helpless. A just ruler cares about the helpless.
Proverbs 31:10
A woman of worth—who finds? Far above jewels is her value.
Note: The content of verses 10–31 covers what type of woman would be appropriate to be a wife. It is possible that the mother of King Lemuel shared this information with him before he became married. The content of verse 3 supports that. If King Lemuel were already married, it would be logical for his mother to mention other women in that verse rather than simply mentioning women.
Proverbs 31:11
The heart of her husband has trusted in her, and he lacks not spoil.
Note: The heart refers to the mind. In this verse, the word spoil refers to the spoils of war that a conqueror obtains as a result of defeating a foe or foes. Because absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is anything related to warfare, it is possible that the use of the word spoil in this verse is a metaphorical reference to wealth. Regardless of whether or not the source of the wealth is literally spoil from conquering foes, a wife who behaves properly would result in King Lemuel continuing to be wealthy. In that regard, the Proverbs indicate what occurs in general. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can of course experience testing for suffering and become financially poor as part of testing. Also, unspecified in this verse is how the wife who behaves properly would result in King Lemuel continuing to be wealthy.
Proverbs 31:12
She has done him good and not evil/calamity/harm/trouble all days of her life.
Note: The use of the perfect tense in the phrase has done is a reference to what could occur in the future. The perfect tense in this verse and the verses that follow has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, King Lemuelʼs mother was giving him a preview of what his marriage would be like if he were to be married to a wife who behaves properly.
Proverbs 31:13
She has sought wool and flax/linen, and willingly / with delight she works with her hands / the palms of her hands / her power.
Note: The reference to flax in this verse involves a reference to the use of flax for making linen. If King Lemuel were to be married to a wife who behaves properly, then she would be a woman willing to work with her hands. In that regard, she would willingly and without discontent do such work with her own power instead of considering such work beneath her status in society. It is worth noting that absent from this verse is anything indicating that a wife who behaves properly would do all of the work that involves use of the hands. Instead, this verse is focused on her attitude toward such work.
Proverbs 31:14
She has been as ships of the merchant. From afar, she brings in food.
Note: A wife who behaves properly is willing to make an effort to provide food.
Proverbs 31:15
She rises while it is still night and gives food to her household and a portion to her damsels / maidens / female servants.
Note: As with the content of verse 14, the content of verse 15 indicates that a wife who behaves properly is willing to make an effort to provide food. Also, the content of verse 15 indicates that a wife who behaves properly cares about the people who help her have the lifestyle that she has.
Proverbs 31:16
She has considered a field and buys it. From the fruit of her hands, she has planted a vineyard.
Note: A wife who behaves properly uses logical thinking in making purchasing decisions. Unspecified in this verse is whether the phrase fruit of her hands refers to her work that results in a planted vineyard or whether that phrase refers to her having money that she herself earned. Regardless of to what that phrase refers, the reference to her planting a vineyard calls attention to her laboring diligently.
Proverbs 31:17
She has girded her loins with strength and strengthens her arms.
Note: A wife who behaves properly is willing to do physical labor. Girding up the loins refers to gathering up long clothing so that the part which hangs low is moved out of the way. In that regard, girding up the loins with strength refers to preparing oneʼs body for physical labor. The reference to strengthening the arms is also a reference to preparing oneʼs body for physical labor. This might refer to strengthening at the moment of doing the laboring, or this might refer to exercising in order to be strengthened such that she will be prepared for the occasions when she is laboring.
Proverbs 31:18
She has perceived that her gain/profit is good. Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
Note: A wife who behaves properly pays attention to whether any of the business endeavors she undertakes are profitable. In that regard, the content of this verse indicates that women can have businesses and that women can supervise businesses. Also, a wife who behaves properly is willing to work after the sun sets.
Proverbs 31:19
She has reached out her hands to a spindle, and her hands have held a distaff.
Note: The Hebrew noun translated as “spindle” in this verse is כִּישׁוֹר [pronounced kee-SHOHR and can be transliterated as kiyshowr], which is an inflected form of the root word כִּישׁוֹר [pronounced kee-SHOHR and can be transliterated as kiyshowr]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) The Hebrew noun translated as “distaff” in this verse is פָלֶךְ [pronounced FAH-lehk and can be transliterated as falek], which is an inflected form of the root word פֶּלֶךְ [pronounced PEH-lehk and can be transliterated as pelek]. The terms kiyshowr and falek might refer to different parts of a tool used for working with threads, or the terms might refer to two different tools used for working with threads. Regardless of whether the terms kiyshowr and falek refer to different parts of a tool used for working with threads or whether those terms refer to two different tools used for working with threads, the content of this verse references a wife who behaves properly working with threads.
Proverbs 31:20
She has spread out her hand to the poor/afflicted/needy. She has reached out her hands to the needy/destitute/poor.
Note: A wife who behaves properly generously gives alms to those who are suffering from poverty. In that regard, spreading out the hand contrasts with clenching something in the hand. Two different words referring to people suffering from poverty are in this verse.
Proverbs 31:21
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet.
Note: A wife who behaves properly prepares her household for inconvenient circumstances. In that regard, while unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is how scarlet clothing helps deal with snow, the implication of the content of this verse is that the scarlet clothing helps in some way.
Proverbs 31:22
She has made coverings for herself. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Note: A wife who behaves properly is willing to make objects for her home. Also, she clothes herself with nice-looking clothing, including clothing with a color associated with royalty. In that regard, the context of this verse and the surrounding ones involves a kingʼs wife. Rather than this verse mandating that women wear purple, this verse indicates that a wife who behaves properly clothes herself in such a manner that she has a dignified appearance. For a kingʼs wife, wearing clothing of fine linen and wearing purple-colored clothing would be involved in having a dignified appearance. While the amount of wealth available to a woman can determine what kind of clothing she can afford, women of various wealth levels can in general afford something that has a dignified appearance. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can of course experience testing for suffering and have only unsightly-looking clothing as part of testing. In that regard, the focus of this verse involves a woman who has the means to have a dignified appearance using her volition (free will) to indeed have a dignified appearance. Also, absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is anything about the woman flaunting her wealth. Instead, this verse and the surrounding verses refer to a woman who is behaving unselfishly.
Proverbs 31:23
Her husband is known in the gates, in his sitting with the elders of the land.
Note: A wife who behaves properly contributes to her husband being one of the men in a position of authority in the land. In that regard, the Proverbs indicate what occurs in general. Regarding the reference to gates in this verse, the gates of a city or town are where public meetings were held at the time that Proverbs 31 was written.
Proverbs 31:24
She has made and sells linen garments and has supplied a girdle/belt to the merchant.
Note: Rather than indicating that the wife who behaves properly has supplied a single girdle/belt to one individual merchant, this verse indicates what the wife who behaves properly does in general. Also, the content of this verse involves an example of one form of business enterprise. In that regard, the focus of this verse involves the wife who behaves properly being willing to complete tasks that are necessary for a profitable business.
Proverbs 31:25
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she rejoices regarding/in/at a later time / the future.
Note: Strength of character is the strength that is referenced in this verse. In order to have strength of character, a person needs to be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ who obeys the Word of God. Also, whereas in verse 22, the wife who behaves properly is described as having a dignified appearance, in verse 25 she is described as behaving in a dignified manner. In that regard, her having dignity is metaphorically described as being clothed with dignity. Similarly, her having strength of character is metaphorically described as being clothed with strength.
In verse 25, the phrase a later time refers to the future. Rejoicing regarding the future means being optimistic about the future. Only by learning and obeying the Word of God can a believer be optimistic about the future.
Proverbs 31:26
She has opened her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching/law of kindness is on her tongue.
Note: A wife who behaves properly speaks wisdom. In order to speak wisdom, a believer must learn the Word of God. The second half of this verse involves either the teaching of kindness or the law of kindness. In the context of the time that Proverbs 31 was written, the teaching that a woman would do would involve the teaching of children. In that regard, the second half of verse 26 might be referring to teaching children how to be kind. In order to be taught to be truly kind, a child needs to be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the child needs to learn the Word of God. If the second half of verse 26 is referring to the law of kindness, then that part of the verse is referring to the wife who behaves properly being kind with her communications. Of course, if a person exhibits kindness in his or her communications, then by means of those actions, he or she is teaching how to be kind.
Proverbs 31:27
She is watching the ways of her household, and she does not eat food of idleness.
Note: A wife who behaves properly pays attention to what is going on with regard to her household. Also, the phrase eat food of idleness is a metaphorical reference to being lazy. In that regard, a wife who behaves properly refrains from being lazy.
Proverbs 31:28
Her children have risen up and pronounce her happy/blessed. Her husband—he praises her:
Note: What is described in this verse is what ideally occurs. In that regard, children who are believers who regularly obey the Word of God will indicate that they recognize that the wife who behaves properly is happy or blessed. Of course, if she is happy, then she is obeying the Word of God and is therefore blessed. Likewise, if she is blessed, then she is obeying the Word of God and is therefore happy. Also, if a husband regularly obeys the Word of God and his wife is a wife who behaves properly, then such a husband will praise her.
Proverbs 31:29
“Many women have done ably; you have gone up above them all.”
Note: This verse involves the husband indicating that his wife who behaves properly is more pleasing to him than any other woman.
Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain. A woman fearing/respecting/reverencing Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One—she is praised.
Note: People can be deceitful when behaving in a charming manner; therefore, a believer should refrain from falling prey to people who are deceitfully charming. A person who is deceitfully charming uses empty flattery in order to try to make another person or people feel good about themselves for the purpose of manipulating that person or people. Also, a personʼs old sin nature (OSN) can be deceitfully charming.
Every human except the Lord Jesus Christ has acquired an old sin nature, and each humanʼs old sin nature is in the body of that human. The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature. It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16. The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies. Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned. All other human beings have been conceived. Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature. All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures. Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived.
The old sin nature is deceitfully charming in that it can tempt a person to think that he or she can find happiness from a charmed feeling—in other words, by feeling good about himself or herself. In that regard, trying to follow oneʼs heart involves a person trying to find happiness from thoughts or actions that have the purpose of trying to feel good about oneself. A person who succumbs to that temptation is deceived by the metaphorical charm of his or her old sin nature.
Trying to base oneʼs happiness on oneʼs physical beauty is vain. In that regard, it is both self-centeredness and a waste of time. A believer should base his or her happiness on obeying the Word of God. Regarding the praise mentioned in this verse, that praise could be from God the Son when the believer is evaluated by Him in the future rather than praise from human beings other than God the Son. In order to fear/respect/reverence God the Father, a believer must learn and obey the Word of God.
Proverbs 31:31
Give her the fruit of her hands, and her works praise her in the gates.
Note: King Lemuelʼs mother indicated that King Lemuel should reward his properly behaving wife. Also, her proper behavior would become publicly known. Such public knowledge is applicable to the context of the wife of a king because many people would be aware of her existence. While a woman who is a wife who behaves properly under circumstances in life in which she has a role other than the wife of a king might be known by few people, her proper behavior will be observable to those who know her. Also, angels and the Members of the Trinity observe such women. In that regard, God the Fatherʼs plan involves the blessing of humble, non-attention-getting, helping-others, servant-minded believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Such believers, while frequently unnoticed by much of the other people in the world, can be noticed by the angels, and such believers are certainly noticed by the Trinity. Worth noticing about such believers is their contrast with the characteristics of Satan, who is arrogant, seeks approbation, cares nothing about others, and is self-serving. It is possible that the blessing that unselfish believers will experience will occur only after they go to Heaven rather than before they go to Heaven.
Sincerely,
John