Focused Passage

Proverbs 31:28-31

The Words of Lemuel: Righteous Kingship, Justice for the Needy, and the Woman Who Fears the LORD

The chapter moves from royal warning against sensual and intoxicating distraction, to the king's duty to judge fairly and defend the vulnerable, then to an acrostic portrait of wisdom embodied in a noble woman whose diligence, generosity, enterprise, speech, household oversight, and fear of the LORD bring lasting praise.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:

29 “Many daughters have done 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.

31 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 28

Original words

Her children בָ֭נֶיהָ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular rise up קָ֣מוּ H6965 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural and call her blessed וַֽיְאַשְּׁר֑וּהָ H833 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person feminine singular her husband בַּ֝עְלָ֗הּ H1167 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular praises her as well וַֽיְהַֽלְלָהּ׃ H1984 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 29

Original words

Many רַבּ֣וֹת H7227 Adjective - feminine plural daughters בָּ֭נוֹת H1323 Noun - feminine plural have done עָ֣שׂוּ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural noble things חָ֑יִל H2428 Noun - masculine singular but you וְ֝אַ֗תְּ H859 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person feminine singular surpass עָלִ֥ית H5927 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular them עַל־ H5921 Preposition all כֻּלָּֽנָה׃ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine plural
Verse 30

Original words

Charm הַ֭חֵן H2580 Article | Noun - masculine singular is deceptive שֶׁ֣קֶר H8267 Noun - masculine singular and beauty הַיֹּ֑פִי H3308 Article | Noun - masculine singular is fleeting וְהֶ֣בֶל H1892 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular but a woman אִשָּׁ֥ה H802 Noun - feminine singular who fears יִרְאַת־ H3373 Adjective - feminine singular construct the LORD יְ֝הוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - הִ֣יא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular is to be praised תִתְהַלָּֽל׃ H1984 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Verse 31

Original words

Give תְּנוּ־ H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural her לָ֭הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular the fruit מִפְּרִ֣י H6529 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of her hands יָדֶ֑יהָ H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct | third person feminine singular and let her works מַעֲשֶֽׂיהָ׃ H4639 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular praise her וִֽיהַלְל֖וּהָ H1984 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person feminine singular at the gates בַשְּׁעָרִ֣ים H8179 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.