Ode to A Woman of Valor

I am preaching again this Sunday. So here we go, with the lectionary readings for that day:

Proverbs 31:10-31

A capable wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant,
she brings her food from far away.
She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and tasks for her servant-girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength,
and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all her household are clothed in crimson.
She makes herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the city gates,
taking his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them;
she supplies the merchant with sashes.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her happy;
her husband too, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the city gates.

Well, this is one of those roller coaster moments for me as a feminist and a lover of scripture. So much in here to love, so much to make me say "Ew."

First things first. The opening phrase, my Jewish Study Bible tells me, is "commonly translated 'woman of valor,'" though "'woman of strength' would be a better translation." Why, then do both the Jewish Publication Society and the New Revised Standard Version translate it "capable wife"??? What the...? Now it is clear from what follows that the woman in question has a husband, making her, naturally, a wife. But the use of a word that reduces her to her relationship rather than a word that describes her, herself, feels like a gross editorial misstep. In my humble opinion.

Pairing the woman of strength with a husband I can understand, and I take no offense at this representation of the cultural norm of the day in which this was written. Women were expected to marry and they did. And clearly, from the content of this passage, the man who marries this woman of strength gets a formidable partner. Note that, though she is in charge of the domestic sphere, her responsibilities are carried out in the public arena as well. And note the strong implication that her husband can thank her for some of his status... that he is known in the city, taking his place among the elders.

Favorite phrases:

She girds herself with strength,
and makes her arms strong.

...so refreshing to see physical strength in a woman lifted up and admired... still vaguely countercultural, certainly in more conservative religious circles.

She opens her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hands to the needy.

... this is not all about the private sphere, about taking care of our own.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

I would not mind being described this way, or having the people I love decide to put it on my tombstone.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the city gates.

The "one who fears the Lord" is described in all sorts of places in scripture (see, for example, Psalm 112), and has been said by at least one commentator to be the overarching theme of Proverbs. I love how, here, it is followed up with, "Give her her due." Yes. Indeedy.

One more thing about the woman of valor... her story is the last word in the book of Proverbs. The end. The book starts where it began, describing the one who fears the Lord. Neat!