Proverbs 31, in the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible, describes how a "virtuous woman" should behave. The text of the chapter directs women to be industrious and faithful to their husbands. The passage is important among many Christian groups.

The 10th to 31st verses of the chapter is called Eishes Chayil. It is a praise of the good wife, a definition of a perfect wife or "ideal woman" in Judaism. Traditionally, the Eishes Chayil was viewed as written by King Solomon and many prominent theologians continue to hold this belief. However there is a more recent branch of critical scholarship which suggests it was added to Proverbs later. This chapter is recited on Friday night, before Shabbat dinner in some Jewish homes. Some see this as a praise directed from the husband to his wife.

The word ??? (chayil) appears in verse 10 and 29 of the passage, thought as the summary of the good woman's character. Traditionally it has been translated "virtuous" or "noble." Some scholars have suggested that it rather means "forceful," "mighty," or "valiant" because the use of the word in the Tanakh is almost exclusively used regarding warfare.^[1].

External links

• Eishet Chayil text
• Illustrated presentation of Eishes Chayil
• Shema Yisrael Torah Network - The Eishes Chayil
• Eishes Chayil - Define
• Sefer HaToldos Admur Maharash-Chapter 7
• Eishes Chayil - Intro
• Bat Mitzvah: Jewish women through the ages
• The role of women in traditional Judaism

Notes

1. ↑ God's Word to Women Lesson 78 by Katherine Bushnell