Meaning, commentary and cross references
Proverbs 31:10
“An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
NIV · New International Version
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
WEB · World English Bible
Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
What does Proverbs 31:10 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Proverbs 31:10
Who can find a virtuous woman,.... This part of the chapter is disjoined from the rest in the Septuagint and Arabic versions; and Huetius (t) thinks it is a composition of some other person, and not Lemuel's mother, whose words he supposes end at Proverbs 31:9; but it is generally thought that what follows to the end of the chapter is a continuance of her words, in which she describes a person as a fit wife for her son. Some think that Bathsheba gave the materials, the sum and substance of this beautiful description, to Solomon; who put it in the artificial form it is, each verse beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order till the whole is gone through; though rather it seems…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Proverbs 31:10–31
Her price is far above rubies, and all the rich ornaments with which vain women adorn themselves. The more rare such good wives are the more they are to be valued. II. A particular description of her and of her excellent qualifications. 1.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Proverbs 31:7–13 (WEB)
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. 8Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate. 9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.” 10Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain. 12She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. 13She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
Cross references
- Proverbs 19:14
House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
- Proverbs 12:4
A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.
- Ephesians 5:25–33
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her,
- Proverbs 18:22
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.
- Proverbs 3:15
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
- Song of Solomon 6:8–9
There are sixty queens, eighty concubines, and virgins without number.
- Ruth 3:11
Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people knows that you are a worthy woman.
- Ecclesiastes 7:28
which my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all those.