This post was originally published in February 2021 and has since been modified for quality and accuracy.

Who is The Proverbs 31 Woman?

At the very end of Proverbs (31:10-31), there is a poem narrated by the mother of King Lemuel (many speculate that Lemuel is a code name for King Solomon.) The poem describes the type of woman her son should aspire to marry. Today, Jews and Christians alike know her as the Proverbs 31 woman. She has been an ideal for thousands of years, but what exactly makes her so dynamic? And what can she teach us about wealth building?

Proverbs 31 is an acrostic (A-Z) poem in the Hebrew alphabet. The purpose of this style was most likely to show that the woman’s character runs the whole range of excellence. She is a hardworking businesswoman, investor, and homemaker who kindly gives to those in need. There are many Proverbs 31 Woman qualities that can help you prosper in wealth and wisdom The passage is full of vibrant descriptions of this woman, but we will focus on ten that will specifically help you grow on your wealth building journey:

1. Wisdom

2. Resourcefulness

3. Be a Leader and Manager

4. Industrious

5. Diligent 

6. Generous

7. Prepared

8. Excellence

9. Well-Connected

10. Fear of the Lord

10 Proverbs 31 Woman Qualities That Can Teach Us About Wealth Building 

1. Wise 

“Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.” Proverbs 31:10

First and foremost, the Proverbs 31 woman is wise. There is so much wisdom in the book of Proverbs, so the fact that this woman is described in the last chapter suggests that she is the culmination of the various applications of wisdom discussed throughout the book. Verse 10 says that she is more valuable than rubies. Interestingly, wisdom is often compared to rubies in a similar manner throughout Proverbs:

• Proverbs 8:11: “For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.”
• Proverbs 3:15: “Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.”

Wisdom is crucial for building wealth. You must take the time to gain head knowledge, learn from experienced people, and get in the game if you want to acquire wisdom. Then, the cycle can continue— as one who possesses wisdom, you can kindly share it with others as the Proverbs 31 woman does. As verse 26 (ESV) says, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”

2. Resourceful

“She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing food from afar.” Proverbs 31:13-14

If there’s one thing about the Proverbs 31 woman, she knows how to maximize her resources. The art of building wealth involves converting assets from lower to higher value. As this woman spun her wool and flax, she took raw materials and added value to them. 

Throughout the chapter, you can count at least seven revenue streams the Proverbs 31 woman develops from her resourcefulness. Like a merchant’s ship, she finds and acquires the best deals for her family and business endeavors. 

3. She’s a Leader and a Manager 

“She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plans the day’s work for her servant girls.” Proverbs 31:15

To be successful in business, you must know how to delegate. That’s precisely what the Proverbs 31 woman does here. Rather than getting stuck in the weeds of doing all the household chores herself, she is a servant leader who manages the work of others. That skill is the secret sauce– it frees her up to do all the different things documented in this poem. Consider: how can you think more like a leader and less like a worker in your current position?

4. She’s Industrious

“She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.” Proverbs 31:16

I love this verse because it has practical applications to real estate. The woman “considers the field,” meaning that she thinks carefully before making a decision. With any financial decision, you must ask yourself, “How much risk am I taking, and how much reward am I getting?” 

Then, with the fruit of that purchase, the Proverbs 31 woman continues cultivating the land. She knows how to use her profits to make an even greater profit. 

I imagine she produces an abundant vineyard blossoming with vines of luscious grapes. It reminds me of what I say about buying apples instead of vegetables. If you harvest a vegetable once, you have to replant it again. However, you can harvest apples year after year without having to sow new seeds. Similarly, investing in ventures that continually produce income monthly, quarterly, or annually (without having to sell them) is wise.

That’s why I like buying and holding real estate— your rental properties actively produce apples monthly via rent, and you don’t have to sell the properties to monetize them. It’s like a vineyard that continues to produce grapes each season.

5. Diligence

“She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.” Proverbs 31:17-18

The Proverbs 31 woman works hard. Verse 27 says that she “suffers nothing from laziness.” However, she doesn’t stop there. She does what she has to do to ensure her business and investment ventures are profitable. This is a quality that too many people neglect today. They don’t expect their investments to produce a return. We should put the same demand on our investments as we do our bosses to pay us for our 9-5 jobs. 

Proverbs 27:27 says, “Lazy people don’t even roast the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.” Follow-through is very important in building wealth. Make sure that your dealings are profitable, and you will go a long way!

6. Generous 

“She stretches out her hands to help the needy, and she lays hold of the wheels of government. She is known by her extravagant generosity to the poor, for she always reaches out her hands to those in need.” Prov. 31:19-20

When we gain wealth, the purpose isn’t to build bigger barns for ourselves— it’s to advance the Kingdom of God. The Proverbs 31 woman doesn’t give away the bare minimum. She stretches her hands out and is extravagantly generous. Rather than hoarding her wealth, she uses it as a tool to benefit others, especially those who are less fortunate. She actively seeks out opportunities to help the needy and extends herself to assist them!

7. She’s Prepared

“She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.” Proverbs 31:21

The Proverbs 31 woman does not fear difficult seasons because she is prepared. Here’s the wealth building lesson in this verse: Prepare for seasons of lack during seasons of plenty. Verse 25 says that the women “laughs without fear of the future.” 

On the one hand, this is because she trusts God. On the other hand, it’s also because she has done her due diligence to make sure her family is prepared for the future. This is what walking with God looks like– His grace and our steps of faith working together in a beautiful cycle.

Related: Know Your Financial Season: How to Adjust Your Faith and Finances to God’s Timing

8. Excellence 

“She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.” Proverbs 31:22

One of the outward-facing Proverbs 31 woman qualities is her commitment to excellence in all areas of her life, including her appearance. She is described as dressing in fine linen and purple gowns, which were symbols of luxury and status in her time. 

This attention to detail and pursuit of excellence extends beyond her attire to every aspect of her life, whether it be her work, relationships, or responsibilities. She takes pride in her workmanship and endeavors to produce the highest quality results in everything she does.

In the context of wealth building, having a spirit of excellence is a key principle for success. Striving for excellence in your endeavors, whether it be in your career, business ventures, or investments, sets you apart from the competition and attracts opportunities for growth and advancement.

9. She is Well-Connected

“Her husband is well-known at the city gates, where he sits with other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to merchants.” Proverbs 31:23-24

As you can see, this woman has a thriving household, but she doesn’t stay there. She is well-connected and has influence with merchants and government leaders. When it comes to building wealth, who you know often helps you more than what you know. Divine connections can help you acquire wisdom, resources, and key partnerships.

The Enduring WordCommentary says this: 

“The wisdom and diligence of the virtuous woman leads her to not only provide the necessities for her family, but she makes enough and of such great quality that she sells those necessities to the sellers. She cares deeply for her family, but her mind and vision go beyond them to the outside world where she does good for herself and her family.”

When we are connected to the Lord and allow ourselves to be led by His wisdom, He causes every area of our lives to thrive. One of the things I love about the testimony of The Proverbs 31 woman’s life is that it shows us that we don’t have to trade a flourishing career and business for a healthy family life, or vice versa.

10. She Fears The Lord 

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” Proverbs 31:30

At the heart of the Proverbs 31 woman’s character is her reverence for God. This reverence shapes her attitudes, actions, and decisions. Fearing the Lord doesn’t imply a sense of terror – instead, it’s a deep respect, awe, and obedience to God’s teachings and commandments.

In the context of wealth building, fearing the Lord means aligning your financial goals and practices with biblical principles. It involves integrity in all financial dealings, honesty in business, and good stewardship. Ultimately, true prosperity comes not just from material wealth but from a life lived in accordance with God’s will. When you do that, everything else will be attracted to your life (Matthew 6:33).

By prioritizing her relationship with God above all else, the Proverbs 31 woman sets an example of how we can acquire true wealth. She understands that success is found in living a life that honors God. As a result, she receives favor, praise, and recognition from others and, more importantly, from God Himself!

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