i used to think virtuous meant moral and good, that a virtuous woman was selfless, humble and pure in all her deeds.
i wouldn't say that description is wrong per se, but it certainly doesn't accurately capture the entirety of the original Hebrew (and Greek) words we have translated into English as either 'virtue' or 'virtuous.'
#justsaying i bet the true idea of a biblical virtuous woman would surprise you (if you actually knew what was implied by the word 'virtuous'). AND i bet a lot more of you would be drawn to be and feel empowered by the thought of being a 'virtuous' woman than you think.
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Old Testament 'virtue': CHAYIL
(kha-yill -- you know, that guttural sound)
[[a force. valor. strength. able. power. valiant. might.]]
based on the scriptures in which chayil appears, virtue seems to be either (1) inherent -- whether a virtuous person or "band of men" that's virtuous or (2) a source of power supplied from God. Pharaoh had chayil. King David had chayil. the Babylonian army had chayil. priests had chayil. Boaz had chayil. so, to me, it's definition seems to be something like this: the force, all the 'substance' of a person or entity that makes a leader or power - either carnal or spiritual. #usetheforce ish. hah! hey, i never said i was an expert at forming working definitions. :P
according to Old Testament scriptures, people of godly virtue are made rulers. they're chosen to fight. #mightymenofvalour they're consistently singled out from the whole. they're captains of the forces, heads of houses, a force to be reckoned with, able men that fear God. men of truth that hate coveteousness; help the brethren; are prudent, industrious, skillful, sober. they're on the front lines drawing their sword with the heart/face of a lion and the swiftness of a mountain-deer. whose hearts God had touched. and they are HARD to find.
can you just ponder that last paragraph with the spiritual in mind, friends?
"drawing their sword" on the front lines -- aka a spiritual leader, fighting for souls on the front lines armed with His Word. and the only qualification: able men that fear God (1 chronicles 9:13), whose hearts God had touched...ones that willingly offer themselves to the LORD -- capitalized LORD, battle LORD, power-filled LORD (2 chronicles 17:16). THE REST IS SUPPLIED TO US. remember, godly chayil is a source of power supplied from God. otherwise, it's just...chayil. not that chayil in general is anything to be toyed with. Pharaoh, Babylon...they had some serious chayil and it landed them as the world superpower of their day. #justsaying in every scenario, godly chayil...was GREATER.
as our source of chayil, the Lord is alway with us in battle (judges 6:12) (1 samuel 16:18). he girds those who stumble with strength. he touches our hearts to be the King's mighty men of valor (1 samuel 10:26). he strengthens our hands so we can be valiant...and "he maketh my way perfect" (psalm 18:32).
his spirit in us -- wind, breath, life. in our post-resurrection days, it's the Holy Spirit -- godly chayil, not the chayil (might) of man.
...not by might (chayil), nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
zechariah 4:6
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#spoileralert other than an exception we'll get to later, all of the females in the Bible coupled with the word 'virtue' happen in the Old Testament...in conjunction with chayil.#mindblown
the first virtuous woman mentioned in the Bible? oh no, my friends. it is not the Proverbs 31 woman. boom! it's RUTH. not only did the entire city she lived in know that she had chayil, but she brought her husband Boaz chayil in their entire region when building his house with him - establishing, making permanent his family. i mean, hey, apparently every wise woman does this (proverbs 14:1). and i'm pretty positive it wasn't just literal (with children) because all the uses of godly chayil in regards to wealth point toward a view of wealth as inheritance with God not worldly gain.
house and riches [are] the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent ((considers, ponders, teaches (wisdom))) wife [is] from the Lord.
proverbs 19:14
ok. get this: a virtuous woman is described as a "crown to her husband" (proverbs 12:4). she surrounds, compasses, encircles (for attack or protection) her husband.
she's her husband's glory.
her price is far above rubies (proverbs 31:10) -- "all things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her" (proverbs 3:15). guess what else just so happens to be better than rubies, a precious jewel? WISDOM (proverbs 8:11) (proverbs 20:15).
hmmm.
this is not the dainty (but hard-working) moral, good, selfless lady i had conjured up.
with the strength of the LORD, a wise warrior woman on the front lines of Christianity, armed and dangerous with the Word, a hedge of protection from the Enemy for her entire family -- fueled by God's strength to help her husband as one raise up an inheritance for Him, for God's ultimate glory.
#micdrop #womanup
i'll just leave all that right here.
there are two other words translated in the Bible as 'virtue' but...let's just take this slow... #brainexplosion
UPDATE: Find part 2 here
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