A Wise Woman (Part 1 of 2)

Ladies, are you destroying or building your home?

May 14, 2021

"Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."

Proverbs 14:1

Part 1

Today:  “The Wise Godly Woman”

“Solomon is urging his son (1:8) to look for a wise woman (31:10) to build up a house (the word can also mean “household”…).  Women, in turn, are encouraged to be the kind who build rather than tear down” (CSB).[1]

 

“Every wise woman.”
There are some common areas where godly women (wise women) are similar in their actions.  Solomon shows here that one commonality of these women is their concern and care for their families.  The wise woman works diligently to care for her family (see Proverbs 31:10-31, the “virtuous woman”).

 

“Buildeth her house.”
This godly woman always seems to have the best interest of her family in mind.  She is described as a woman of “wisdom” because she has been growing in wisdom for years.  With the knowledge she has gleaned, she uses it to “build her household.”

“buildeth = has built”[2] (Bullinger).

Builds may not refer to constructing a physical house but caring for a household and causing it to flourish.  Whereas a woman of wisdom builds up her household…” (BKC).[3]

“Buildeth – Maintains and improves her family and estate”[4] (Wesley).

“By her prudent and industrious management, she increases property in the family, furniture in the house, and food and raiment for her household.  This is the true building of a house”[5] (Clarke).

“This woman is described as building her household, which in the ancient Near East would have involved having children, raising a family, and caring for the household economy” (FSB).[6]

The godly and prudent wife and mother use wisdom to build up her home, caring well for her family.

“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:  And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches” (Proverbs 24:3-4).[7]

How can we ever place a value on a wise, godly woman, “for her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10)?

Unfortunately, there are also women who the Bible says are “fools.”  Tomorrow we will see what it says about them.

 

Quote:  “Older women should teach younger women the skills and disciplines needed to have a successful home and marriage.  Experienced wives and mothers will find their greatest avenue of ministry in teaching younger wives what they need to know to be effective wives, mothers, and homemakers”[8] (John MacArthur).

 

 

 

[1] Stabnow, D. K. (2017).  Proverbs.  In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 972).  Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.  The emphasis is theirs.
[2] E.W. Bullinger, The Companion Bible, the electronic version in eSword.  Proverbs 14:1.
[3] Buzzell, S. S. (1985).  Proverbs.  In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 934).  Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.  The emphasis is theirs.
[4] John Wesley.  John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.  Proverbs 14:1.
[5] Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.  Proverbs 14:1.
[6] FSB, Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016).  Faithlife Study Bible (Pr 14:1).  Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[7] See Wisdom personified building her house in Proverbs 9:1-2.
[8] MacArthur’s quote Downloaded: Friday, April 30, 2021.  From: https://viralbeliever.com/godly-woman-quotes/.