The Proverbs 31 Woman is the Image of Christ

Proverbs 31:10-31 is often used to describe a godly woman as a “proverbs 31 woman.” But there is something very unique about this passage that is often disregarded by the English or non-Hebrew speaking world because no one would actually see this unless they were able to read this from a Torah scroll in Hebrew, and even then they could possibly miss this unless someone pointed it out.  This passage is 22 verses long.  There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet and this passage is an acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet – each verse begins with a consecutive letter beginning with the first letter ALEPH and ending with the last letter, TAV.  Now, why is that of significant?  The acrostic of this passage which was written a thousand years before Jesus took on flesh gives us clues about how to become a proverbs 31 woman!

In the book of Revelations we find 3 instances where Jesus says, “I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end.”  Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.  But the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet are Aleph and TAV.

Where am I going with this?  I believe that although the NT has been recorded in Greek, The Hebrew language is the only language God used in the Bible whenever He spoke audibly.  Therefore Jesus did not say, “I am the Alpha and the Omega”. 
He said, I am the Aleph and the Tav.  And guess what?  He is also everything in between the Aleph and the Tav.  Each one of these verses in proverbs beginning with the Aleph and ending with Tav are telling us that the Proverbs 31 woman is a living manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ – there is no other way to portray agape love except to be filled with the Character of Jesus Christ by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.

So read this passage with the knowledge that every one of these attributes are revealed in Christ who is the Alpha and Omega, the Aleph and the Tav, the beginning and the end, and everything in between:

¹⁰ A wife of noble character, (A better translation of the Hebrew is “a woman of valour” like a warrior) who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.  (Lord, you are more precious than silver, more costly than gold)
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.  (Jesus only wants the best for you)
¹³ She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands. 
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.  (Jesus is the Bread of Life)
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night; (Jesus rose from the dead while it was still night)
    she provides food for her family  (He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider)
    and portions for her maid servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.  (He is the vine dresser, we are the branches)
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.  (The Lord’s arm is strong and mighty)
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.  (He is the light of the world – no darkness is in Him)
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.  (Thy rod and staff, they comfort me)
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy. (He came for the poor and needy)
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet. (He came to clothe us with the scarlet of his own blood)
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple. (This is the clothing of a priest and a King)
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity; (We are to be clothed with the whole armor of God which is Jesus)
    she can laugh at the days to come.  (Only Jesus can give you that kind of courage for the days ahead we are facing)
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
    and the Torah (or instruction) of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.  (He that watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps)
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  (The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom)
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

– and what did He do with his hands?  He allowed them to be nailed to a cross to take on the punishment for our sins.