When it comes to biblical womanhood, many love referencing Proverbs 31, and for good reason. There we see an elaborate illustration of the godly wife and mother, of a Lord-fearing lady who ardently serves her home.
Yet there are many other proverbs that give insight into how a woman is to walk, and what kind of womanly influence is precious or repugnant to God.
Take a look below, and glean a few takeaways with me! Such pieces of advice address our hearts, tongues, and priorities – with some specifically aimed at wives and mothers.
WOMANHOOD SPEAKS
1. A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. Proverbs 11:16
2. Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion. Proverbs 11:22
3. The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. Proverbs 14:1
4. The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it. Proverbs 22:14
5. The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. Proverbs 9:13
Takeaways:
Do your words refresh or stress? Do you exercise wisdom or showcase folly? A woman’s behavior is very indicative of her relationship with the Lord, and the value of her character.
Women who share words of grace, discernment, and purity are pleasing in the sight of God and man. Such godly ladies build up others, creating atmospheres that lift spirits and flourish!
Folly is upon us when we speak brashly, seeking attention or gain for ourselves. This only leads to trouble.
Be in God’s Word so you can be fueled with words of hope! Don’t fall into worldly lust, but pursue a heavenly heart.
MARRIAGE
6. An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. Proverbs 12:4
7. He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22
8. House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. Proverbs 19:14
9. It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. Proverbs 21:9
10. A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain. Proverbs 19:13
11. It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman. Proverbs 21:19
Takeaways:
God shares sweet encouragement for the wives out there—we have the potential to be a direct blessing from Him, of far more worth than any riches!
An upright wife brings glory and honor to her man, by the excellency of her ways. Her prudence—or thoughtfulness over others and her abode—is a lovely fruit of her faith in the Lord!
However, a wife can make or break her household. Scripture’s language is strong—a nagging wife can compare to a sorrowful storm or dry, life-draining desert. Wow!
If we lose sight of Christ, there’s the danger of becoming quarrelsome—a wife that generates unnecessary friction due to discontent. May we seek to love our God and husbands wholeheartedly, for this leads to peace and prosperity.
MOTHERHOOD
12. My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Proverbs 6:20
13. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. Proverbs 10:1
14. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. Proverbs 15:20
15. The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Proverbs 29:15
Takeaways:
You may be thinking: these are about sons, not women! Yet the son reflects the mother, the one who teaches him.
These proverbs reinforce the powerful reality that our mothering has a long-term impact on the attitude of our children…and that we should be so deeply tied to the nurturing of our children that their disobedience or disrespect is heartbreaking.
The last proverb gives us a solution. It tells us moms that we have to be willing to love our children through discipline, correcting their wrongs with devoted discipleship, for it reaps godliness rather than shame.
While touching aspects of womanhood a little differently than Proverbs 31, these proverbs provide wisdom that remind us to speak sweet words, serve our husbands joyfully, and impact our children for good.
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Also see my newest printable Bible study that dives deeper into this topic – Biblical Womanhood Defined.
Hi Dani, this is an awesome reminder for us to watch our words so we don’t sound like a dripping faucet and make good decisions so our husbands appreciate us! Thanks so much for the reminder. I am a neighbor from Sitting Among Friends. God bless you, Steph
I know, right? Our words are so powerful, and God repeatedly reminds us in His Word to use them carefully for His good. Thank you for visiting, Steph!
Love this post! I know you had no way of knowing that it would be a great confirmation for me today <3
Praise the Lord Stacey! God’s Word is always timely, isn’t it? Thank you for reading 🙂
Great reminders Dani! I’ve been reflecting on a lot of verses in Proverbs especially Prov 21:23. Working on taming the tongue in the home as a wife and mother and with my friends. Prov 18:21
Yes, Proverbs 18:21 comes to mind frequently when I catch myself speaking critically or with complaint, especially to my husband. Reflecting on Proverbs is so helpful in daily life!
Some great principles here. A good reminder to use my words to encourage and build up 🙂
Sweet, Bella! Thankful to be of encouragement!
Thank you for sharing this! Great post and I pinned it today:)
#SittingAmongFriends
You’re welcome, and thank you! 🙂
I loved this post because it speaks to women of all ages and role in life today. A woman who watches over her mouth, a wife who is not quarreling, and a mother who teaches her children God’s Word – she shall be called blessed.
Diana
I agree, Diana! What a thorough picture of womanhood God has given us! Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
This was such a great idea for a post! I love the Proverbs and I agree that P31, while wonderful, often gets a disproportionate amount of attention compared to the others. Thanks for putting this together! 🙂
Exactly what I was thinking in writing it! 🙂 Thank you for your kind words!
Thank you for sharing these verses! Proverbs 11:22 has always been one of my favorites because it paints such a vivid picture for us. Great post!
I always chuckle at that one, but its blunt honesty makes it memorable and helpful… especially when one is tempted to be rash and vain. Thank you for visiting!
I love this so much!! I think we often let proverbs 31 define us when there is so much more about women in the Bible. Thanks for writing this.
Thank you for your sweet words!
Great findings, Dani. Interesting that Solomon would know the character of wives. Think him having so many wives helped with his understanding of them? Seriously though, you have a great collection of wisdom of what and what not to do.
Stopped by from BHG bloggers.
I thought about that too, Cindy! Part of Solomon’s demise was polygamy, and it appears from that drama he learned much about the power of a wife’s character to help or hurt a home. Thank you for stopping by!
The book of Proverb is one of my favorites! I love the way you applied these scriptures in your insightful “take-away” points. I read your testimony, and love how God used that certain loneliness in Peru to bring you closer to Him, and His will for your life. Awesome blog, sister in Christ!
I agree Tammy – Proverbs is so full of spiritual goodness! I appreciate you taking the time to read my testimony, and your encouraging words! All glory to Him!
I love how you categorized them for us. Great post Dani! Just the kind of reminders we need.
Thanks Liz! Proverbs has so many spiritual truths we need to remind ourselves of.
Lovely compliation of verses from Proverbs about women and motherhood.
Thank you for reading, Theresa!
Dani, Proverbs is such a great book for encouragement. I love that you gave us take-away points to show us your viewpoint! Thanks for your encouraging words, I’m visiting your post today from Faith On Fire.
Thank you for visiting Debbie!
As I read each one of these verses I did some self reflecting. Who does God see in me? I want my family to see a loving and kind Mother, not one who tears down her own house. Oh Lord create that woman in me on a daily basis! Thank you for all of these wonderful verses that capture the kind of woman God expects us to be.
Oh Lord, I pray the same exact thing!
He has given us a sphere of influence – the home – and we can’t underestimate the high responsibility that is. May we be faithful in living out God’s plan for womanhood but the power of the Holy Spirit! Thank you Natalie, for visiting!
This is such great encouragement that we should be looking deeper into the less “known” parts of the bible. The entire bible is relevant and we ought to continue to move deeper. Thanks for putting this all together. This makes a great study tool too!
I appreciate your kind words, Jen! The Bible is so rich with truth and we have to be diligent in finding and applying it. 🙂
I just came upon your Pinterest post and it is what I have been searching for. I need to find out how to be a Godly woman, wife and mother. I have written the verses down in Proverbs so keep these verses coming and with Gods help I can do better. God bless. Ann
Praise the Lord, Ann! He is so faithful in teaching us. Keep pursuing Christlikeness, because it deeply pleases the Lord. I hope and pray those verses continue to be of encouragement! The Holy Spirit will indeed help you as you seek to be a godly woman. 🙂
Thanks Dani for sharing this post. It was very useful to me.
So full of spiritual goodness.
Wow ????
Inspiring Proverbs????