Backstory of Rooted Woman of Valor

In the last chapter of the book of Proverbs

Long ago in a land far away, there was a queen mother who prayed for her son to become a wise king, husband, and father.  She offered an inspired saying that her son wrote down in the last chapter of the book of Proverbs.  The insightful words for her son included a manhood challenge and a poem that painted the portrait of the wife he should seek.  

As a wise mother, her first words were to challenge him to become a man worthy of a godly wife, and a king ready to lead his people.  She calls him to three essential leadership principles in Proverbs 31:2-9 (NIV).

The Challenge to become a worthy King, Husband, and Father

• Listen to wisdom. 

“Listen, my son!  Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, answer to my prayers!” (31:2)  

• Learn to apply wisdom’s insights on how leaders should live a life of valor and strength. (31:4-7) 

• Lead others by speaking up, judging fairly, and defending the needy. (31:8,9)

With beauty and grace, this mother continues by penning a prophetic poem that paints the portrait of the woman her royal son should seek for his wife.  

She begins with the inspired question,

Who can find an aishes chayil (woman of valor, an excellent wife)? 

Proverbs 31:10 (Orthodox Jewish Bible)

The Hebrew language translates, aishes chayil, as the woman of valor.  There is a Hebrew tradition for the men of the family to read or sing Proverbs 31:10-31 at the beginning of the Friday night sabbath to express honor and appreciation for all the women of the family. 

The format of Proverbs 31:10-31 is twenty-two verses beginning consecutively with the Hebrew alphabet. This portrait of the woman of valor embodies wisdom from A to Z!  An acrostic poem seeks to provide a sense of completeness, as well as ease in remembering.  (At the end of this section, I created an English acrostic version based on the ESV Bible that helped me memorize its truths.)