What is a Virtuous Woman?

What is a Virtuous Woman? Study the characteristics of a virtuous woman in this Bible devotion for women from Proverbs 31.

10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:10-31, NKJV

What is a Virtuous Woman?

Wow! Do you feel just a little bit intimidated by this chapter? I know I do! I love, Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Almost seems like heaven, doesn’t it? So what makes this woman so different?

What is a Virtuous Woman?
Her Husband Safely Trusts Her

The first of the many characteristics of a virtuous woman tells us that her husband safely trusts her. What do you think that means? I can think of a few things: He knows she will never speak evil of him behind his back, he can trust her with the household affairs, he can trust her in all of her business dealings, and he knows she will not work deceitfully but will be a true partner and helpmeet to him. That can stop us right there! The heart of her husband safely trusts her; she does him good all the days of her life. What should our relationship to our husband be like? We are not slaves to our husbands, but neither are we in competition with them. Everything we do is a partnership with our husband, knowing that before God, he is at the helm!

What is a Virtuous Woman?
She Does Not Eat the Bread of Idleness

The second of the characteristics in our study of What is a Virtuous Woman, shows us that this woman is not lazy! Verses 13-19 show us that she starts her day while it is still night and then works all day until the next night! Look at all of the things she accomplishes in that day: she works willingly with her hands, she is like a merchant ship that brings food from afar, she provides food for her entire household including her maidservants, she buys and sells property using the profits to plant a vineyard, she exercises her body, she spins the wool into thread and then weaves it on her loom. In some ways, this is beginning to sound like our life, isn’t it? Get up early, make breakfast, go to work, come home and work in the garden, and do some sewing (and of course make supper and do the dishes). Also, don’t forget to do those exercises. I get tired just thinking about it!

What is a Virtuous Woman?
Other Characteristics of a Virtuous Woman

Next, we are told that this virtuous woman reaches out her hand to help the poor and needy. She does not send them to the government to collect welfare! Does this keep her so busy that she neglects the needs of her family? No way. She sews clothing for her family as well as making garments and linen sashes to sell to the merchants. Her family is clothed in scarlet, linen, and purple. Her husband is known in the gates. “Hey Fred, have you met Joe? No, but I know who he is; he is the husband of Julia, the most virtuous woman I know!”

What about her personality? She has strength and honor, she is wise, she is kind, she keeps a careful watch over her children and household, and she is not idle.

What is a Virtuous Woman?
Lessons from the Virtuous Woman

No wonder her husband and children praise her! What does her husband say to her? Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all. But what does God say about her? Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Do you see yourself in this woman? I’m already on my knees! Pour out your heart to God, confess your sins, and ask Him to make you a virtuous woman. We do not have it in us to be a woman such as this; only God can grant that kind of faithfulness to us.

What is a Virtuous Woman? A woman on her knees praying to God for the strength to live each day in a manner pleasing to Him.