Discovering the Treasures of a Godly Woman

March 1, 2003
The Proverbs 31 Woman. Since time immemorial, pastors and theologians have weighed in on the valiant woman of Proverbs 31, finding in the acrostic Hebrew poem a recipe for a perfect wife. New England minister Matthew Henry wrote in the 18th century, for example, that the biblical passage showed that a woman should keep to her sphere: She applies herself to the business that is proper for her. It is not in a scholar's business, or statesman's business, that she employs herself, but in women's business; She seeks wool and flax. In recent years, feminists have recovered other aspects of the Proverbs 31 ideal, noting that the woman was an entrepreneur, household manager and ancient real estate agent. In Discovering the Treasures of a Godly Woman, Elizabeth George offers a fairly balanced Bible study about Proverbs 31, stressing traditional interpretations while also emphasizing the heroine's many strengths. While the content is similar to many other evangelical books, George's is distinguished by its attention to poetic devices and linguistic issues. Its interactive workbook style will also encourage readers to engage the text for themselves.