It's more than just a nice sentiment; it's a springboard for some incredible midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) interpretations.
The Midrash Mishlei, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Proverbs, takes that poem and runs with it. It's not just about one ideal woman, but about all the ways women—and even some men, surprisingly—have embodied valor and righteousness throughout Jewish history. It’s a fascinating look at how our tradition understands strength, piety, and action.
The Midrash begins by pointing out the obvious: "Many women have done well" (Proverbs 31:29). But immediately, it shifts gears. It reminds us that Adam, the first man, was commanded regarding six commandments. Noah was given the prohibition against eating a limb torn from a living animal. Abraham, circumcision. And so on, building a chain of commandments through the generations.
The text then emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the mitzvot (commandments). Israel received 248 positive commandments, corresponding to the 248 limbs in the human body, each limb urging us to perform a mitzvah. And 365 negative commandments, one for each day of the solar year, each day imploring us to avoid sin. What a powerful image!
Then we get a dose of reality: "Grace is false, beauty is illusory" (Proverbs 31:30). The Midrash doesn't let anyone off the hook. Even Noah, who "found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Genesis 6:8), only found it relative to his generation, according to Rabbi Levi. And the beauty of Adam? Rabbi Shimon ben Manassia says that even the ball of Adam's heel could dim the sun! The Midrash uses a beautiful analogy: if a craftsman makes two vessels, one for himself and one for his household, he’ll surely make the one for himself the nicer of the two. Adam was created to serve God, while the sun merely lights the world.
So, if grace and beauty are fleeting, what does matter? "A woman that has fear of the Lord, she is to be praised" - and the Midrash equates this with Moshe.
But why compare prophets to women? Rabbi Yose bar Yirmiyah gives a striking answer: because just as a woman isn't embarrassed to ask her husband for the needs of the home, so too, the prophets weren't embarrassed to plead with God for the needs of Israel.
The Midrash then shifts gears, offering another interpretation of Proverbs 31, seeing it as a reference to figures throughout the Torah. "A woman of valor who can find?" It's a reference to Abraham and Sarah, who in their old age still produced fruit. They were a good sign for the world, a reminder that righteousness is always fruitful.
It continues, weaving together stories of familiar figures. Sarah, whose merit brought wealth to Abraham. Rebecca, who brought goodness to Isaac after Sarah’s death. Leah, who welcomed Jacob and from whom kings and prophets descended. And Rachel, whose longing for children ultimately led to Joseph, who sustained the world during famine.
It even includes Batya, Pharaoh's daughter, who rescued Moshe, and because of this selfless act, she entered the Garden of Eden alive. Then there's Yocheved, Moshe's mother, from whom came Moshe, equivalent to the whole vineyard of Israel.
These aren’t just stories; they're lessons. Miriam, who prophesied about Moshe's birth even when faced with doubt. Hannah, who tasted the essence of prayer and bore Samuel, a light for Israel. Yael, who, in a stunning act of strength, defeated Sisera. The widowed woman of Tzarfat, who sustained Elijah. Each one embodies a different facet of valor, of strength, of unwavering commitment.
Even women with less-than-stellar reputations are included. Rahab, the prostitute, whose crimson cord saved her family during the conquest of Jericho. Bathsheba, from whom came Solomon, adorned in linen and purple. Michal, who saved David's life.
And the Midrash doesn't stop there. It includes Elisheva, the daughter of Aminadav, who experienced unparalleled joy when her brother became a prince, her husband the high priest, her brother-in-law the king, and her sons young priests. The wise woman who saved her city with her words, and the wife of Ovadiah, who protected her sons from idolatry.
Finally, we arrive at Ruth, the Moabitess, who embodies the ultimate conversion. She left everything behind – her family, her land, her wealth – to embrace Judaism. She accepted the laws of Shabbat, the prohibitions against seclusion, and all 613 commandments. She declared, "Your people is my people, your God is my God," and even embraced the concept of Jewish burial. And as a reward, she became the ancestor of David, the sweet singer of Israel.
The Midrash concludes with a powerful message: "Be strong in ethical behavior, keep the Torah, and be rescued from the evil inclination." In the end, the eishet chayil isn't just one woman; it’s an ideal, a collection of traits embodied by countless individuals throughout history. It's a call to action, a reminder that each of us has the potential to embody valor, righteousness, and unwavering commitment to something greater than ourselves. It’s about living a life of meaning, a life dedicated to Torah and ethical behavior. Now that's something to strive for, isn't it?
Many women have done well (Proverbs 31:29): Adam, the first man, was commanded about six commandments. Noach [was additionally commanded] about [not eating] a limb from a live animal. Avraham about circumcision. Yitschak was educated with [these] eight [commandments]. Yaakov [was additionally commanded] about [not eating] the sciatic nerve. Yehudah about levirate marriage. [The people of] Israel about two hundred and forty-eight positive commandments corresponding to the two hundred and forty-eight limbs in a man - each and every limb says to man, "I plead of you to do this commandment with me" - and three hundred and sixty-five negative commandments corresponding to the three hundred and sixty-five days of the solar [year] - and each and every day says to man, "I plead of you not to do this sin on me." "Grace is false, beauty is illusory" (Proverbs 31:30) - the grace of Noach was false, as it states (Genesis 6:8), "But Noach found grace in the eyes of the Lord." Rabbi Levi said, "Only in his generation [did he find grace]." "Beauty is illusory" - illusory was the beauty of Adam, the first man. Rabbi Shimon ben Manassia said, "The ball of Adam, the first man's heel would dim the sun. And do not wonder - it is customary in the world that when a man makes two salver vessels, one for himself and one for his household, which does he make [nicer], is it not his? So [too], Adam, the first man, was created to serve in front of the Holy One, blessed be He; and the sun was created to make light for the creatures. And if the ball of his heel was such, the contour of his face, all the more so." "A woman that has fear of the Lord, she is to be praised" - this is Moshe. "Give of the fruit of her hand" (Proverbs 31:30) - Rabbi Yose bar Yirmiyah said, "Why did he compare the prophets to women? Rather, just like [a] woman is not embarrassed to claim the needs of the home from her husband, so [too] were the prophets not embarrassed to claim the needs of Israel from in front of the Holy One, blessed be He." The Holy One blessed be He said, "My sons, be involved in Torah [study] day and night, and I will count it for you as if you hold up the heavens and the earth," as it states (Joshua 1:8), "Let not this book of the Torah cease from your mouth, but meditate upon it day and night"; and it states (Joshua 1:9), “Did I not command you, 'Be strong and resolute; do not be terrified or dismayed'"; and it states (Ezra 3:11), "with praise and thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His kindness upon Israel is forever, and the people raised a great shout with praise to the Lord, for the foundation of the House of the Lord had been laid"; (Proverbs 23:23) "Acquire truth"; (Proverbs 5:17) "They will be yours alone"; (Proverbs 9:9) "Give to a wise man, and he will grow wiser"; (Proverbs 9:11) "For through me your days will increase, and years of life be added." Another interpretation: "A woman of valor who can find?" - this is [the meaning] of what the verse states (Psalms 92:15), "In old age they still produce fruit, etc." - corresponding to Avraham and Sarah who were of the same measure concerning charity and acts of kindness; they were a good sign for the world. In this way, He does not prevent proper women from the righteous ones, [but] matches them. As so [too] do we find with the wife of Noach that her actions and his actions were of the same measure - that is why she merited with him and was rescued from the waters of the flood. "Her husband puts his confidence in her" - this is Sarah, our mother, as Avaraham grew rich on her account, as it states (Genesis 12:16), "And he benefited Avraham for her sake." "She bestows good to him, and not bad" - this is Rivkah, our mother, who bestowed [good] to Yitzchak at the time that Sarah, his mother died. "She seeks wool and flax" - this is Leah, our mother, who received Yaakov with a pleasant countenance, as it is written (Genesis 30:16), "And Yaakov came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him and said, 'You are to sleep with me, for I have hired you, etc.'" Therefore she merited and kings and prophets came from her. "She is like a merchant fleet" - this is Rachel, our mother, who was embarrassed about [her lack of] children every day. Therefore she merited and a son came from her who was similar to a ship that is filled will all the good [found] in the world - so [was it with] Yosef, that the whole world survived from his merit and he supported the world in the years of famine. "She rises while it is still night" - this is Batya, the daughter of Pharaoh. She was a gentile and became a Jewess and they mentioned her name among the proper [women], since she took care of Moshe. Therefore she merited and entered the Garden of Eden in her lifetime. "She sets her mind on a field and acquires it; [she plants a vineyard from the produce of her hand]" - this is Yocheved, that from her came Moshe who is equivalent to all of Israel, which is called a vineyard, as it states (Isaiah 5:7), "For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the House of Israel." "She girds her loins with strength" - this is Miriam, as before Moshe was born, she said, "In the future, my mother will give birth to the savior of Israel." Once he was born and the yoke upon them became heavier, her father got up and bopped her on the head. He said to her, "Where is your prophecy?" And he got up and spit in front of her face. And nonetheless, she exerted herself about her prophecy, as it is written (Exodus 2:4), "And his sister stood from a distance." "She advises (taamah) that her merchandise is good; [her lamp never goes out at night]" - this is Channah who tasted (taamah) the taste of prayer, as it states (I Samuel 2:1), "And Hannah prayed, 'My heart exults in the Lord, etc.'" Therefore she merited and a son came from her that was the match of Moshe and Aharon, which would bring light to Israel like lamps, as it is written (Psalms 99:6), "Moshe and Aharon among his priests, and Shmuel among the ones that call His name." And it is written about Shmuel (I Samuel 3:3), "The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Shmuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord." "She sets her hand to the distaff" - this is Yael, who did not kill Sisera with a weapon, but rather with a peg through the force of her hands. And because of what did she not kill him with a weapon? In order to fulfill that which it states (Deuteronomy 22:5), "There shall not be the vessel of a man on a woman." "Her palm she spreads out to the poor" - this is the widowed woman of Tsarfat, who supported Eliyahu with bread and water. "She is not worried for her home because of snow, for her whole home is dressed in crimson" - this is Rachav the prostitute. When Israel came to destroy Yericho, she did not fear from them, because they give her a sign - (Joshua 2:18) "this line of scarlet string." "She makes covers for herself; [her clothing is linen and purple]" - this is Batsheva, that from her came Shlomo, who was adorned with linen and purple and ruled from [one] end of the world to the [other] end. "Her husband is known in the gates," - this is Michal, who saved David from death. "She makes cloth and sells it" - this is the mother of Shimshon, that through him Israel was saved. "Strength and splendor are her clothing; [and she laughs to the last day]" - this is Elisheva, the daughter of Aminadav, who saw four joyful events in one day: her brother [became] a prince; her husband, high priest; the brother of her husband, king; and her two children, young priests. "She opens her mouth with wisdom" - this is the wise woman who said (II Samuel 20:16), “Listen, listen! Please tell Yoav, 'Come over here and I will speak to you,'” who saved the city with her wisdom; and this was Sarach the daughter of Asher. "She oversees the activities of her household" - this is the wife of Ovadiah, who rescued her sons and they did not worship idolatry with Achav. "Her children rise and declare her happy" - this is the Shunamite, who is called a great woman (II Kings 4:8). And because of what? Because she pressed upon Elisha to eat. “Many women have done well, but you surpass them all” - this is Ruth the Moabitess, who came under the wings of the Divine presence. "Grace is false, beauty is illusory" - as she left her mother and her forefathers and her wealth, and came with her mother-in-law and accepted all of the commandments: the domain of Shabbat - "to where you will walk, I will walk" (Ruth 1:16); the prohibition of isolation with a man - "and in that which you will lay, I will lay"; the six hundred and thirteen commandments - "your people is my people"; idolatry - "your God is my God"; the four death penalties of the court - "and in that which you will die, I will die"; "and there will I be buried" - these are the two graveyards arranged for the court, one for the stoned and the burned, and one for the killed and the strangled. Therefore, she merited and David came from her, who gave pleasure with songs and praises to the Holy One, blessed be He. Therefore it is stated, "Give of the fruit of her hand and let her works praise her in the gates." Be strong in ethical behavior, keep the Torah, and be rescued from the evil inclination.
