Sandy Zalecki
Member
“Who can find a “virtuous wife”? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her, so he will have no lack of gain.” (Proverbs 31:10-11) NKJ
What’s God’s view of women? How does He want us to view women? The answer can always be found by going to Proverbs 31. However, what woman who compares themselves to this passage does not fall short? Most people believe this passage means that women should be meek, good, or obedient women. They problem is, that’s not what the passage means at all.
The answer to how God views women can be answered by a study of the word “virtuous.” The word virtuous in today’s society, means “moral excellence, chastity, especially among women, a form of goodness.”
However, the original Hebrew word there is the word chayil, which means powerful, or mighty woman. The Jewish translations call her a valiant woman or a worthy woman. Let’s go through some of the translations and see what the word “virtuous” has meant in many of them.
The original Hebrew word chayil, means strength, might, power, or valor. In the Septuagint which was a Greek translation in 270B.C., the word chayil is translated into andreian, which means diligent, vigorous, strong, active, bold, and worthy. The Vulgate translation which the Latin translation done in 405 A.D. translates the word chayil to fortem which means diligent, vigorous, active, strong, bold, and worthy.
Other English translations also translate the word chayil to mean strong or valiant. The Wycliffe translation which was don in 1395A.D. translated the word chayil to mean strong, and the Douay-Rheims translations of 1609A.D. translates the word chayil as valiant.
So what happened? How could the translators have changed the meaning of the word so drastically? They didn’t. The original English meaning of ‘virtue’ is mighty and strong. The reason we so often misunderstand Proverbs 31 is that our concept of the word ‘virtue’ has changed in the English language during the last 500 years. The meaning of the word ‘virtue’ when the King James was translated meant, “strength, excellence, or valor.”
This is a very important concept, because it changes the dynamic of the marriage relationship. As a culture, we have lost the concept of powerful allies. I believe that one of our biggest problems is that men and women have undercut the power of their greatest ally, each other.
Our culture teaches us to back stab the ones we love. When a woman’s power is undercut, a situation is created where men and women become enemies. Instead of supporting each other, we battle and undermine God’s call to reflect Jesus’ relationship with His bride, the Church.
A woman of power is to be valued and it is God’s call for men and women to become mighty and powerful. We need to be strong allies and not hostile enemies in order to win the battles of this world. Women it is your calling to be a strong supporter of your husband, children, and families. We are in a losing battle when we perceive our allies as enemies and waste time and energy putting each other down instead of empowering each other.
Taken from the book “A Mighty Warrior” by Dr. Frank T Seekins. Dr. Seekins and his wife Sally are marriage counselors who speak worldwide on precepts regarding faith, family, and friendship. Dr. Seekins is an expert on the Hebrew language having studied it for over 30 years.
What’s God’s view of women? How does He want us to view women? The answer can always be found by going to Proverbs 31. However, what woman who compares themselves to this passage does not fall short? Most people believe this passage means that women should be meek, good, or obedient women. They problem is, that’s not what the passage means at all.
The answer to how God views women can be answered by a study of the word “virtuous.” The word virtuous in today’s society, means “moral excellence, chastity, especially among women, a form of goodness.”
However, the original Hebrew word there is the word chayil, which means powerful, or mighty woman. The Jewish translations call her a valiant woman or a worthy woman. Let’s go through some of the translations and see what the word “virtuous” has meant in many of them.
The original Hebrew word chayil, means strength, might, power, or valor. In the Septuagint which was a Greek translation in 270B.C., the word chayil is translated into andreian, which means diligent, vigorous, strong, active, bold, and worthy. The Vulgate translation which the Latin translation done in 405 A.D. translates the word chayil to fortem which means diligent, vigorous, active, strong, bold, and worthy.
Other English translations also translate the word chayil to mean strong or valiant. The Wycliffe translation which was don in 1395A.D. translated the word chayil to mean strong, and the Douay-Rheims translations of 1609A.D. translates the word chayil as valiant.
So what happened? How could the translators have changed the meaning of the word so drastically? They didn’t. The original English meaning of ‘virtue’ is mighty and strong. The reason we so often misunderstand Proverbs 31 is that our concept of the word ‘virtue’ has changed in the English language during the last 500 years. The meaning of the word ‘virtue’ when the King James was translated meant, “strength, excellence, or valor.”
This is a very important concept, because it changes the dynamic of the marriage relationship. As a culture, we have lost the concept of powerful allies. I believe that one of our biggest problems is that men and women have undercut the power of their greatest ally, each other.
Our culture teaches us to back stab the ones we love. When a woman’s power is undercut, a situation is created where men and women become enemies. Instead of supporting each other, we battle and undermine God’s call to reflect Jesus’ relationship with His bride, the Church.
A woman of power is to be valued and it is God’s call for men and women to become mighty and powerful. We need to be strong allies and not hostile enemies in order to win the battles of this world. Women it is your calling to be a strong supporter of your husband, children, and families. We are in a losing battle when we perceive our allies as enemies and waste time and energy putting each other down instead of empowering each other.
Taken from the book “A Mighty Warrior” by Dr. Frank T Seekins. Dr. Seekins and his wife Sally are marriage counselors who speak worldwide on precepts regarding faith, family, and friendship. Dr. Seekins is an expert on the Hebrew language having studied it for over 30 years.
