Charles Ellicott Commentary Proverbs 31:10

"A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies." — Proverbs 31:10 (ASV)

APPENDIX (c).—THE PRAISE OF A GOOD WIFE. (Proverbs 31:10 and following)

This is written in the form of an acrostic, the twenty-two verses composing it each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This may have been done, as in the case of several of the psalms which are of a didactic character (e.g., Psalms 25, 34, 37, and 119), to make it easier to commit to memory.

Some writers have taken the acrostic form to suggest a late date for the poem, but there is no evidence for this. In any case, one psalm—Psalms 9—of which there seems no reason to doubt the Davidic authorship, is also cast in this form.

Who can find a virtuous woman?—Various mystical interpretations of the person implied here have been held at different times. She has been supposed to signify the Law, the Church, or the Holy Spirit.