Proverbs 12:4

“A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband, etc.] One that is loving and chaste, constant and faithful, obsequious and submissive to him; that is diligent in the affairs of her house, takes care of her family, brings up her children, and keeps up a good order and decorum among her servants, is an honour and credit to her husband. Such is the true church of Christ, who is compared to a woman, (<661201>Revelation 12:1); to a woman of purity and chastity, whose members are virgins, not defiled with the corruptions, errors, and superstition of the apostate church; to a woman of fortitude and courage, as the wordf325 signifies, who resists sin, temptation, error, heresy, and idolatry, even unto…”

“A virtuous woman--in the wide sense of well-disposed to all moral duties (Pro 31:10). maketh ashamed--that is, by misconduct. rottenness--an incurable evil.”

“Virtuous - The word implies the virtue of earnestness, or strength of character, rather than of simple chastity. A crown - With the Jews the sign, not of kingly power only, but also of joy and gladness. Compare Song of Solomon 3:11. return to 'Top of Page'”

“12:4 Elsewhere in Proverbs a crown symbolizes wealth (14:24), long life (16:31), and grandchildren (17:6). • cancer (literally rot): A disgraceful wife is a deep and life-threatening problem.”

“virtuous: Pro 14:1, Pro 19:13, Pro 19:14, 31:10-25; Co1 11:7, Co1 11:11 she: Pro 21:9, Pro 21:19, Pro 27:15, Pro 27:16 as: Pro 14:30; Hab 3:16 Proverbs 12:5”

“We now place together Pro 12:4-12. One proverb concerning the house-wife forms the beginning of this group, and four regarding the management of the house and business form the conclusion. 4 A good brave wife is the crown of her husband, But as rottenness in his bones is one that causeth shame. As Pro 11:16 says of אושׁת חן, the pleasant wife (חן = χάρις), that she obtaineth honour, so this proverb of אושׁת חיל, the good wife (חיל = ἀρετή, virtus), that she raises her husband to higher honour: she is for his self-consciousness στέφανος καυχήσεως ( Th1 2:19), and is also to him such a crown of honour before the world (cf. Pro 31:23). On the contrary, a מבישׁה, conducting herself…”