Understanding Proverbs 31

A few years ago, I joined a Facebook group that was called something like Proverbs 31 Woman, which was supposedly a Christian group. I thought it would be nice to interact with some other Christian women, but geez louise they had this crazy idea that a married woman must NEVER work outside the home. Apparently she can only be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen and enslave herself to hubby. I was only a member a few days, too scared to post when I saw the nasty comments made about working women. I left when a lady got banned because of a simple question she asked. She said if a husband was injured or bedridden and couldn’t work so that no money was coming into the house, would it be ok in that circumstance for the woman to work. The answer was an emphatic NO, the questioner was banned, and that was enough for me. I left the group!

I grew up in a fundamentalist Christian environment, surrounded by that attitude. Listen to Proverbs 31! A women’s place is in the home, period.

Those who preach this have a complete misunderstanding of Proverbs 31. Firstly, it’s not a commandment, it’s a poem. Secondly, where does it say a woman can’t work outside of the home?

Look at the lines I bolded.

10 A good wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant,
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and tasks for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her loins with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes herself coverings;
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;
she delivers girdles to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to 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 women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

Clearly, King Solomon had high praise for a woman who owns a business, including a married woman with children.

Pictured below is a Roman relief depicting a woman merchant with her own stall in the marketplace.

Please Note: This post is “hidden” to keep it off the front page. Unfortunately, hidden posts can’t have a comment box. If you want to reply to this one, return to the primary Christians Only post to comment, and indicate which post you’re discussing.