The Proverbs 31 Woman Misrepresented

A virtuous woman, who can find her ?!?

What a disservice most translations of Proverbs 31:10 does to women.  

The Proverbs-31-woman is virtuous indeed, but the Hebrew does not say she is a "virtuous" woman. And, as most translations suggest, women of good character are not difficult to find. These two ideas are due to translator bias.  

Read a more accurate translation below:

...woman of valor  chayil,[1] he [shall] find [her]![2] Her value is far above rubies


[1] The Hebrew word Chayil [H2428] means: Valor, Strength, or Might. The word never means “virtue.” 

Chayil is mistranslated as “virtuous” only three times in the Hebrew text, and each of these mistranslations is deliberate due to translator bias against women. 

This bias is not found only in ancient translations but in modern translations also, as translators continue to add to and take away from the Word of God, with respect to the word, chayil…. But only when it is associated with women.

Other than misogyny, there is no lingual or textual reason to translate the Hebrew word, Chayil, as virtuous. The Woman of chayil, according to scripture, is a woman of strength and valor.

[2] The common translation, “Who can find her?,” is also a mistranslation. Nothing in the text that suggests strong women are impossible or even difficult to find, but that is almost impossible know by reading most translations. James Strong defined the Hebrew word, mi (translated as "who?") as an interrogative pronoun. But It appears that exegetical rules apply only when it suits scholars, as Exodus 24:14 translates the word, mi,  as “any,” and not in an interrogative sense. 

When it comes to Bible translation, rules are often followed or ignored according to translator bias. Such is the case concerning women of chayil. 

This is an excerpt from The Hungry Hearts Bible Commentary edited by this author.


 Author and speaker, Jocelyn Andersen, is an eclectic Christian writer. She is a Bible teacher who writes about many subjects including Bible prophecy and equality of the sexes. She is best known for her advocacy in domestic violence awareness. Her book, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, has been a staple in the library of resources on that subject.  

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