Analysis of Proverbs 31

13. “All that infamy had obviously only touched her mechanically, not one drop of real depravity had penetrated to her heart; he saw that.” (4.4.104)

The stories told about women in the bible illustrate the importance of their role and contribution to society. Although the Bible does not explain God’s relationship with women as with Moses and other prophets, it illustrates love and devotion women had for Him. The stories of the bible describe brave, nurturing, and God fearing women whose decisions impacted the existence of the Israelites.

In the Hebrew Bible, the Book of Genesis and the Greek play Medea, by Euripides, contain female characters that can be seen as complex and have significance and meaning in the text. There are many interpretations involving the female characters, some characters may be portrayed as weak and irrational or strong-willed and wise. I will argue that, women are portrayed in the Hebrew Bible and Medea as irrational and senseless, in order for the men to be portrayed as superior and for women to be seen as inferior. This idea of the female characters being irrational and senseless can be seen in Genesis 4, Genesis 18, Genesis 29, and throughout the Medea play.

She always tried to get more wealthier so she married Tom, an East Egg with old family money.” ”Her voice is full of money,” he said suddenly. That was it. I'd never understood before. It was full of money – that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' song of it… high in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl…” (p.99). She is a “gold-digger” She moved on and gained highest class position and a lot of wealth. She is not the best person. She has a good amount of bad qualities, however because she didn't lived in the past she ended up

The church’s interpretation of the women is that the husband is the head of her and she should be subjected to him (The New American Bible, Ephesians 5: 22-24). In the wife of bath, her fifth husband was questioning his wife, because of all what was written of bad wives by men (Wife of Bath, pg 699). The Thousand and One Nights is centered on a good king who was deceived and hurt by his wife, which twisted his morality. He vowed to marry a woman each night and in the morning he would kill her. The king’s daughter, Shahrazad, decided to take a stand and marry the king. With her intelligence and storytelling, she was able not only to save her own life, but her kingdom as well (The Thousand and One Nights, pg 554). Shahrazad was a good wife even if it meant risking her life. Men has an impact on his wife. Yes, he is superior to her, but he needs to bring her to holiness and reciprocate her love. Husbands love your wife as much as you love your own bodies (The New American Bible, Ephesians 5:28). Make sure your wife lacks blemish and bring her to holiness and without blame

But no wonder if a fool should fall for a female and be wiped of his wits by a womanly guile—it’s the way of the world. Adam fell for a woman and Solomon for several, and as for Samson, Delilah was his downfall, and afterwards David was bamboozled by Bathsheba and bore the grief. All wrecked and ruined by their wrongs; if only we could love our ladies without believing their lies. And those were fellows from fortunate families, excellent beyond all others existing under heaven, yet all were charmed and changed by wily womankind. I suffered just the same, so clear me of my crime.

Throughout the complicated web of humanity, we have had many people that are recognized today as great. From Christopher Columbus to Madonna, fame and recognition have graced many great members of our society. But many more members of our society, that deserve respect, don’t receive it. This was often the case in the past for women, as they were not treated equally to men. Yet the women of these times had a lot of value, especially compared to the praise they were given. Two examples of women of this quality are O-lan from The Good Earth, and the “Virtuous” woman from Proverbs 31:10-31. Both O-lan and The Virtuous Woman have many similarities and a few differences. Both of them provide a lot of value in the relationships that they are a part of, both romantically and platonically. These woman are both models that not only women, but all people should aspire to be like.

Instead of using her life, experiences, and resources to glorify God, she makes them into a claim for attention and praise. This Wife should take head Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”. Although the Wife does not currently glorify God with her life, she very easily could turn her selfish desires into an incredible testimony of God’s goodness. Her life and the life of the Proverbs 31 woman have many differences, but through God anybody can

Sarah being set apart as the example of the examples is seen linguistically in the passage as well, beyond the fact that she is the only individual named. Paul Achtemeier notes the repetition of the phrases “accept the authority of your husbands” in 3:1 and “accepting the authority of their husbands” in 3:5. He argues, “As a way of completing the discussion begun with v. 1, the author cites Sarah as an example…of a holy woman who subordinated herself to her husband. As Sarah is one example of the holy women mentioned in v. 5, so her obedience is one example of the subordination of which the author is speaking.” However, while Achtemeier importantly notes how Peter calls Sarah out of the blanket category of “holy women” in v. 5, it is also important to note that she is not called out as a trivial example which could have been served by any number of other women in the category.

It has been a great week of learning, I know there has been several people discussing the scriptures about the adulteress women. I believe this one of my new favorite passages because the mercy and grace Jesus shows. The new perspective that I find in this passage is a lady that is guilty of a sin that she has committed and the Pharisees wanted to stone her that sin and it reminds me of so many churches of today. I have seen churches turn people away because they are sinners and aren't fit to look at. Jesus receives this lady and tells her to sin no more.

Proverbs 31 is probably one of the most famous portions of scripture that is referenced when speaking of a godly or perfect woman. It is the capstone of virtue and excellancy to be found in womanhood. It is to be the trademark of a christian woman's character and life.

As I have understood in this verse, men cannot be live alone without a help of an opposite, because if you are not complete, there are things that can complete your life and to fulfill its missing part. So, Lord God created a woman that fulfills the life of Adam.

“...I thought a woman was a free agent, as well as a man, and was born free, and cou’d she manage herself suitably, might enjoy that liberty to as much otherwise as the men do; that the laws of matrimony were indeed, otherwise, and mankind at this time, acted quite upon other principles; and those such, that a woman gave herslef entirely away from herself, in marriage, and capitulated only to be, at best, but an upper-servant, and from the time she took the man, she was no better or worse than the servant among the Israelities who had his ears bor’d, that is, nail’d to the door-post...” (p. 187).

Imagine what a woman is capable of doing when she yields herself completely to God. Imagine how mightily God can use a woman regardless of what men, culture, or religion says. With God nothing is impossible when a person is ready, willing, and able.

After reading Proverbs 31:10-31, the challenge was defined. However, as I did research in week two, I discovered so many attributes of a biblical woman, I felt I fell short of God’s plan or His expectations. Thankfully, the scripture, II Corinthians 5:17, NASB, kept coming to mind, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” I need to take it one day at a time and allow Christ to work in me by creating the kind of biblical woman He wants me to become. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He