SUMMARY
The last verses of the Book of Proverbs describe the woman/wife of value/worth.
ANALYSIS
The first letters of the last 22 verses follow the 22 letters of the Hebrew Alphabet, using a form that itself denotes perfection in order to describe a woman who manifests the same. (See Introductory Issues). This woman is, in Hebrew, an ‘Ishah Hayil, a phrase beginning with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, ‘Aleph. The first word can be translated as “woman” or “wife.” The second word can be translated as “worth” or “value.” (Notably, RuthThe great-grandmother of David., whose book often follows Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible, is called a woman of worth by BoazHusband of Ruth and great-grandfather of David. in Ruth 3:11. See “Where the Book of Ruth is found” in Bible in the World – Ruth.)
In many ways this real woman described at the end of Proverbs parallels or embodies the figure of Woman WisdomWisdom encompasses the qualities of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The Old Testament book of Proverbs, which sometimes invokes a Woman as the personification of Wisdom, is a collection of aphorisms and moral teachings. Along with other biblical passages, it teaches, "The fear of the..., so important to the first nine chapters of Proverbs. She is a living embodiment of Wisdom’s teaching and attributes. (See “View of Women in Proverbs” entry in Bible in the World – Proverbs.) Like Wisdom, this woman of worth builds up her house, gives right counsel, sets the table, cares for the poor, and is praised at the gateGates are openings in walls or fences for entrance and departure. In the Bible (as in Ruth and the prophets) the city gate was a commercial center where business and social transactions took place. In Amos the gate is the location of the law court.... A few other details are worthy of note. Her clothing is purple, the color of royalty (v. 22). She speaks with wisdom and kindness, better translated compassion (v. 26). The first word in v. 27 in Hebrew is sophia, which may well be a pun on the Greek word for Wisdom. And just as the “fear of the LORD” is the beginning of wisdom in the beginning of Proverbs, so this woman of worth is to be praised because she fears the LORD (v. 30).
