Proverbs 31:30

Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Favour {H2580} is deceitful {H8267}, and beauty {H3308} is vain {H1892}: but a woman {H802} that feareth {H3373} the LORD {H3068}, she shall be praised {H1984}.

Charm can lie, beauty can vanish, but a woman who fears ADONAI should be praised.

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

Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; Buta woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:30 delivers a profound message about true value and lasting praise, contrasting fleeting external qualities with enduring inner character. This verse serves as a powerful conclusion to the famous description of the 'virtuous woman' or 'excellent wife' found in Proverbs 31:10-31, often celebrated as a literary masterpiece within the wisdom literature of the Old Testament.

Context

This verse stands at the culmination of an acrostic poem (each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) that outlines the characteristics and activities of an ideal woman. Unlike many ancient texts that might focus on a woman's physical attributes or social status, the Proverbs 31 poem, and especially verse 30, elevates qualities of diligence, wisdom, strength, generosity, and most importantly, spiritual devotion. It provides a timeless standard, shifting focus from superficiality to substance.

Key Themes

  • The Transience of Outward Appearances: The verse explicitly states that "Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain." This highlights the temporary and often misleading nature of physical charm and attractiveness. These external qualities can fade with time, be used for manipulation, or simply not reflect the true character within.
  • The Enduring Value of Reverence for God: In stark contrast, the verse champions the internal, spiritual quality: "a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." This "fear of the LORD" is not terror, but a deep, reverential awe, respect, and obedience to God. It is the foundational principle of wisdom throughout the book of Proverbs, as seen in Proverbs 1:7. This fear translates into a life of integrity, moral excellence, and devotion, which brings lasting honor.
  • The Source of True Praise: While the world often praises superficial qualities, this verse asserts that true and lasting praise comes from a life rooted in God. The commendation for such a woman is not just from her family and community (as mentioned in preceding verses like Proverbs 31:28), but ultimately from God Himself, reflecting His values.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "favour" is chen (חֵן), referring to charm, grace, or attractiveness. It is described as "deceitful" (sheqer, שֶׁקֶר), meaning false or a lie, indicating its potential to mislead.
  • "Beauty" is yophi (יֹפִי), denoting physical attractiveness. It is called "vain" (hebel, הֶבֶל), a term famously used in Ecclesiastes (e.g., Ecclesiastes 1:2) to describe something as fleeting, temporary, or ultimately futile, like a breath or vapor.
  • The pivotal phrase, "feareth the LORD" (yir'at YHWH), encapsulates a lifestyle of deep respect, obedience, and devotion to God. This inner disposition is presented as the true and unwavering source of worth and commendation.

Practical Application

Proverbs 31:30 serves as a timeless principle for all people, not just women. It encourages us to look beyond superficial appearances and fleeting popularity, recognizing that true worth and lasting legacy are built on character, integrity, and a genuine relationship with God. In a culture often obsessed with outward image, this verse calls believers to prioritize spiritual growth and moral excellence. It reminds us that God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7), and true beauty is found in a spirit of reverence and obedience to Him. As 1 Peter 3:3-4 also teaches, lasting adornment comes from the "hidden person of the heart, with the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit."

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Peter 3:4

    But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

  • 1 Peter 3:5

    For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

  • Proverbs 1:7

    ¶ The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.

  • Proverbs 11:22

    ¶ [As] a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, [so is] a fair woman which is without discretion.

  • Proverbs 8:13

    The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

  • 1 Peter 1:24

    ¶ For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

  • 1 Corinthians 4:5

    Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

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