The Bible is full of stories about virtuous women, so it’s no surprise that the Bible features a number of different definitions of what it means to be a virtuous woman.
The Bible, in Proverbs 31, defines a virtuous woman as one who leads her home with integrity, discipline, and more. All the virtues she practices are aimed at making her husband’s life better, teaching her children, and serving God. This, essentially, is the meaning of a virtuous woman.
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What Is A Virtuous Woman In The Bible
In the book of Proverbs, for example, a virtuous woman is described as one who speaks “with wisdom” and has “a heart of understanding.” She also knows how to “make herself attractive,” and she doesn’t just speak with her mouth but with her whole body. A virtuous woman is also said to have good judgment and discernment (Prov. 11:22-23).
The book of Proverbs also outlines three things that a woman must avoid in order to become virtuous: pride, foolish talk, and evil behavior (Prov. 7:4-5). The book goes on to say that if she follows these guidelines, then her husband will love her more than he loves himself (Prov. 31:11-12).
Characteristics Of A Virtuous Woman
Virtue is defined as “conformity to a standard of right; a beneficial quality or power, commendable quality; and chastity.”
When a person is described as having virtue, it is seen as a quality that sets one apart from everyone else in character, strength, and morality. It is a common characteristic that can be found within the mindsets of several women in the Bible, from Ruth to Esther to Mary, as well as described of others through countless verses.
Proverbs 31, one of many Scriptures that discusses virtue, describes what a virtuous woman is, a woman mentioned as having worth “far above rubies,” (Proverbs 31:10). The chapter continues in description of what a virtuous woman is to her family, her community, and, most importantly, to the Lord.
Let’s dive into what these characteristics are, what a virtuous woman should not be, and how the Bible guides us in making sure our virtues epitomize what the Lord sees as meaningful, peaceful, and encouraging.
What Does it Mean to Be a Virtuous Woman?
The book of Proverbs is considered by many as a guide to educate us on being virtuous and wise, but Proverbs 31 exemplifies exactly what a woman of virtue should be to all those she encounters.
As the dictionary definition states above, a person of virtue seeks to conform to what is morally right, not just what society believes is right at the moment. A virtuous woman has commendable qualities about her that others find admirable, and some might want to embody themselves.
One would only have to look briefly in the Bible to find several examples of virtuous women. Ruth was seen as virtuous in her willingness to stay and help her grieving mother-in-law, even while dealing with her own grief over her late husband and living in a foreign land. Mary was seen as virtuous for being willing to accept the unbelievable calling as Jesus’s mom and deal with the shame society threw upon her, because she knew God had called her to a purpose.
Even unnamed women in the Bible, such as the Shunammite Woman, are featured because of the impact their character and virtue made in helping God’s prophets and spreading the gospel.
A virtuous woman doesn’t look to society – or even people in general – for her worth, but to God and what He has called her to be as part of His plan. Even if it means that she is seen as an outcast for her choice to follow God, she does so because she knows God loves her and will provide.
What Are the Characteristics of a Virtuous Woman?
To start, a virtuous woman is one that her husband can trust, as he will have “no lack of gain” because she is helping him to prosper and not to falter (Prov. 31:11-12). Proverbs 12:4 shares that a woman who shames her husband is like “rottenness in his bones,” and a quarrelsome wife is one that feels like a “continual dripping” of complaints and selfishness in her household (Prov. 19:13).
A virtuous woman also takes care of her home, making it a comfort to not only her family but also those of friends and community. She isn’t afraid of getting her hands dirty to care for the needs of her home, showing that she appreciates God’s blessing of a home through her respect and consistent care of it. A woman of wisdom and virtue “builds her house” up with these efforts, instead of tearing it down with foolish choices (Prov. 14:1). Whether it is rising before others in the morning to prepare for the day or ensuring that her kitchen is well-stocked, she makes sure the comfort of home is felt by all who enter it (Prov. 31:14-15).
A virtuous woman cares for the needs in her community, especially those less fortunate than her, knowing that they should be loved and cared for because they are God’s children as well (Prov. 31:20-21).
An example that comes to mind is that of the Shunammite Woman, who provided for the needs of Elisha the prophet even though she was not wealthy. She and her husband provided for their community as well, even though they were looked down upon because her husband was old, and they were childless. Her care for Elisha, as well as those for the community, reflected the importance of a virtuous woman giving of herself, even if it is not convenient.
Finally, a virtuous woman is someone who loves the Lord and reflects this love as well to all those around her. Proverbs 31:30 shares that a woman who “fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” A virtuous woman knows that she wouldn’t be where she is in life without God’s provision and love, so worshipping Him daily through her words and actions sets her apart as one to admire.
What Does it Not Look Like to Be a Virtuous Woman?
When it comes to being virtuous, perfection is not a requirement. Some may view women like Ruth or the Proverbs 31 woman as the perfect image of a godly woman, but in reality, mistakes will happen and lessons will be learned.
A virtuous woman knows that she will lose her temper, spilled milk will be on the floor, and it will be hard to stay virtuous in a world that thrives on immorality. However, she knows God loves her and forgives her when she doesn’t always get it right.
A virtuous woman doesn’t feel she has to stay constantly busy in the Lord’s work to please God, as we may recall from the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42). Martha was so focused on making sure everything was right for Jesus’s arrival that she was too busy to listen to Jesus speak. But her sister Mary sat right in front of Jesus and soaked in every word. In the end, Jesus told Martha that what Mary did was pleasing to God, not being too busy to stop, listen, and rest.
A virtuous woman knows also that her efforts of being a good Christian will never outweigh what Jesus did on the cross for her. She can avoid anything inappropriate, eat the Daniel diet, and spend countless hours reading her Bible and worshipping God, but those efforts aren’t what makes God happy. Accepting what Jesus did and living that out in her life is.
A Prayer for Growth in Virtue and Godliness
Let us take a moment to prayer about growing in virtue and become virtuous women God will delight in each day.
Heavenly Father,
We thank you so much for the love You have given us daily. We ask that as we move forward in our day today, we pray You will guide us to examples of virtue and living godly lives that are pleasing to You. We want to reflect the love and thankfulness we have for You in how we act in our homes, in our jobs, and in our communities. Bless us with the awareness that we are Your representatives of faith, but that we can’t be virtuous if we don’t know and love You personally. Thank you for Your blessings, love, and mercy. In Jesus’s name, I pray,
Amen.
All Glory to God
Being a virtuous woman can have many definitions in the world today, dictated by who guides our understanding of virtue. For those who believe in God and His Word, being virtuous doesn’t mean that we get everything perfect and are the epitome of the ultimate Christian.
Being a virtuous woman is about letting God show Himself through how you interact with your family, take care of your house, your mindset toward the poor, and in helping your community prosper. And instead of attributing your success to your own efforts, you give glory to God and praise to Jesus for His sacrifice.
Sure, you might not get everything right. But when you allow the One who always gets it right to lead your path, there will be no cause to worry if what you do pleases God. It does every time.
Bible Verses About Virtuous Woman
What does the Bible say about a virtuous woman?
A virtuous woman is nothing like what you see in the world today. You can marry a beautiful woman, but beauty doesn’t make a virtuous woman.
If she is lazy, nagging, and lacks discernment, then she is not a virtuous woman and you should be careful with making a woman such as this your spouse.
Men are going after women for the wrong reasons. Why go after a woman who doesn’t even know how to do simple things that women are supposed to know how to do?
Just to be fair there are also men who are lazy, harsh, and selfish who don’t know how to do things that men are supposed to know how to do. God loves His daughter and men like this are not ready to marry His daughter.
Make sure you are not attracted to a girl for sensuality because that is what it’s all about for most marriages in America. Christians do not want this, look what happened to Solomon.
A big factor for the divorce rate being so high is because it is hard to find a virtuous woman. Beware of evil women! Many so-called Christian women are not true godly women. You can’t put a price on a virtuous woman, she’s a true blessing from the Lord.
Her husband and kids praise her. The world mocks biblical women, but a true godly woman is honored. One of the reasons kids are becoming more rebellious is because they don’t have a biblical mother who guides the home so they go to daycare. Virtuous women are beautiful, caring, reliable, trustworthy, loving, they make do with what they have, and this is the type of women that all men should seek.
Quotes about virtuous woman
- “A virtuous woman isn’t ruled by her passions-she passionately pursues an incomparable God.”
- “A woman’s heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.”
- “As a ‘Godly Woman in Progress’ are you choosing to keep your heart with all vigilance, realizing that from it flows the springs of life?” – Patricia Ennis”
- “Nothing is more beautiful than a woman who is brave, strong, and emboldened because of who Christ is in her.”
She is priceless.
1. Proverbs 31:10 “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”
She doesn’t nag, she doesn’t commit adultery, she doesn’t slander, she doesn’t belittle, she doesn’t steal, but she always does good to her husband. She is an awesome helper. These days you will mostly see the opposite.
2. Proverbs 31:11-12 “Her husband trusts her completely. With her, he has everything he needs. She does him good and not harm for as long as she lives.”
3. Proverbs 21:9 “It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.”
4. Proverbs 12:4 “A noble wife is the crown of her husband, but the wife who acts shamefully is like rottenness in his bones.”
5. Genesis 2:18-24 “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is right for him.” From the ground God formed every wild animal and every bird in the sky, and he brought them to the man so the man could name them. Whatever the man called each living thing, that became its name. The man gave names to all the tame animals, to the birds in the sky, and to all the wild animals. But Adam did not find a helper that was right for him. So the Lord God caused the man to sleep very deeply, and while he was asleep, God removed one of the man’s ribs. Then God closed up the man’s skin at the place where he took the rib. The Lord God used the rib from the man to make a woman, and then he brought the woman to the man. And the man said, “Now, this is someone whose bones came from my bones, whose body came from my body. I will call her ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of man.” So a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one body.”
She spends money wisely. She is not foolish and she consults her husband when making financial decisions.
6. Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
She is no sloth. She does not have idle hands and she manages the home.
7. Titus 2:3-5 “Older women likewise are to exhibit behavior fitting for those who are holy, not slandering, not slaves to excessive drinking, but teaching what is good. In this way they will train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited.”
8. Proverbs 31:14-15 “She is like a seagoing ship that brings her food from far away. She rises while it is still night, preparing meals for her family and providing for her women servants.”
9. Proverbs 31:27-28 “She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her.”
She is strong.
10. Proverbs 31:17 “She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.”
11. Proverbs 31:25 “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.”
She submits to her husband and she is modest. She knows that true beauty comes from within.
12. 1 Peter 3:1-6 “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.”
13. Ephesians 5:23-30 “because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. And he is the Savior of the body, which is the church. As the church yields to Christ, so you wives should yield to your husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it to make it belong to God. Christ used the word to make the church clean by washing it with water. He died so that he could give the church to himself like a bride in all her beauty. He died so that the church could be pure and without fault, with no evil or sin or any other wrong thing in it. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies. The man who loves his wife loves himself. No one ever hates his own body, but feeds and takes care of it. And that is what Christ does for the church, because we are parts of his body.”
Sometimes she makes a little extra income on the side.
14. Proverbs 31:18 “She is confident that her profits are sufficient. Her lamp does not go out at night.”
15. Proverbs 31:24 “She designs and sells linen garments, supplying accessories to clothiers.”
She gives to the poor.
16. Proverbs 31:20-21 “She reaches out to the poor, opening her hands to those in need. She is unafraid of winter’s effect on her household, because all of them are warmly clothed.”
She is wise, she knows God’s Word, she teaches her children, and gives good advice.
17. Proverbs 31:26 “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
18. Proverbs 22:6 “Teach children in a way that fits their needs, and even when they are old, they will not leave the right path.”
Many women don’t want to have children for selfish reasons, but a virtuous woman wants to have kids.
19. Psalm 127:3-5 “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.”
She fears and loves the Lord with all her heart.
20. Proverbs 31:30-31 “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”
21. Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said to him, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.“
She doesn’t murmur about all the things she has to do.
22. Philippians 2:14-15 “Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God’s children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world.”
Reminder
23. Proverbs 11:16 “A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.”
Examples of virtuous women in the Bible.
24. Ruth – Ruth 3:7-12 “After his evening meal, Boaz felt good and went to sleep lying beside the pile of grain. Ruth went to him quietly and lifted the cover from his feet and lay down. About midnight Boaz was startled and rolled over. There was a woman lying near his feet! Boaz asked, “Who are you?” She said, “I am Ruth, your servant girl. Spread your cover over me, because you are a relative who is supposed to take care of me.” Then Boaz said, “The Lord bless you, my daughter. This act of kindness is greater than the kindness you showed to Naomi in the beginning. You didn’t look for a young man to marry, either rich or poor. Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do everything you ask, because all the people in our town know you are a good woman. It is true that I am a relative who is to take care of you, but you have a closer relative than I.”
25. Mary – Luke 1:26-33 “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he w
