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

28Her 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!”

30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31Give 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 childrenבָ֭נֶיהָH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularrise upקָ֣מוּH6965Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluraland call her blessedוַֽיְאַשְּׁר֑וּהָH833Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person feminine singularher husbandבַּ֝עְלָ֗הּH1167Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularpraises her as wellוַֽיְהַֽלְלָהּ׃H1984Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 29

Original words

Manyרַבּ֣וֹתH7227Adjective - feminine pluraldaughtersבָּ֭נוֹתH1323Noun - feminine pluralhave doneעָ֣שׂוּH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralnoble thingsחָ֑יִלH2428Noun - masculine singularbut youוְ֝אַ֗תְּH859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person feminine singularsurpassעָלִ֥יתH5927Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularthemעַל־H5921Prepositionallכֻּלָּֽנָה׃H3605Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine plural
Verse 30

Original words

Charmהַ֭חֵןH2580Article | Noun - masculine singularis deceptiveשֶׁ֣קֶרH8267Noun - masculine singularand beautyהַיֹּ֑פִיH3308Article | Noun - masculine singularis fleetingוְהֶ֣בֶלH1892Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularbut a womanאִשָּׁ֥הH802Noun - feminine singularwho fearsיִרְאַת־H3373Adjective - feminine singular constructthe LORDיְ֝הוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular-הִ֣יאH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularis to be praisedתִתְהַלָּֽל׃H1984Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Verse 31

Original words

Giveתְּנוּ־H5414Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralherלָ֭הּPreposition | third person feminine singularthe fruitמִפְּרִ֣יH6529Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructof her handsיָדֶ֑יהָH3027Noun - feminine dual construct | third person feminine singularand let her worksמַעֲשֶֽׂיהָ׃H4639Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularpraise herוִֽיהַלְל֖וּהָH1984Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person feminine singularat the gatesבַשְּׁעָרִ֣יםH8179Preposition-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.