31:30–31

The words in this paragraph are the writer’s summary of the poem in 31:10–31. They are not a continuation of what the husband said in 31:29.

The overall meaning of this paragraph is that the ideal wife deserves to be praised by everyone. This paragraph also reminds the reader of the overall theme of Proverbs (1:7 and 9:10) that the basis of wisdom is a person’s fear of the LORD.

31:30

This verse contrasts a woman’s charm and beauty (31:30a) with the character quality that is truly worthy of praise (31:30b).

30a
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,

30b but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31:30a–b

Charm…beauty: In Hebrew, the words Charm and beauty both refer here to a woman’s pleasing or attractive appearance. The word Charm has a wider range of meaning. Here it may include the idea of elegant clothing or jewelry (see 31:22) that adds to the woman’s natural beauty. In other verses it can refer to an attractive personality (see 11:16) or pleasing words (see 22:11).

31:30a

Charm is deceptive: This phrase indicates that a woman’s attractive appearance may deceive or mislead an observer. A person who sees an attractive woman may mistakenly think that she also has a good/pleasing personality and character. In this sense, he is deceived or misled. The phrase does not mean that the abstract quality “charm” intentionally deceives anyone.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

A pleasing/lovely appearance is ⌊sometimes⌋ deceptive/misleading
-or-
⌊A woman’s⌋ attractive appearance can deceive ⌊a person⌋ ⌊about her⌋

and beauty is fleeting: In Hebrew, the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as fleeting is literally “vapor/breath.” In the book of Ecclesiastes, the Berean Standard Bible usually translates it as “futile” or “futility.” But here it means that a woman’s beauty is temporary. It does not last long. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

and beauty does not last (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and beauty disappears (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 31:30a

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts in this line. See the last meaning line in the Display.

31:30b

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised: This line is more literally “A woman who fears the LORD, it is she who will be praised.” It emphasizes that this kind of woman should be praised instead of a woman with misleading beauty.

fears the LORD: This phrase indicates both real fear and reverential awe. It also implies that the woman submits to the LORD and obeys him. For translation advice, see the notes on 1:7a or 10:27a.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

the woman who fears Yahweh is the one to praise (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
but as for a woman who respects and obeys the LORD, she is the woman who should be praised

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