Proverbs 31:17 | Bible Study | Equip Strength
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Introduction: Proverbs 31:17 Strength Comes in Many Forms
Welcome to our Bible study adventure ‘AT FORESTS EDGE’! Grab your virtual hiking boots, and let’s explore Proverbs 31:17 together as we journey through the wilderness of wisdom.”
I am glad you are meeting me AT FORESTS EDGE, where women can study the word of God together and encourage one another while we walk out our faith, embrace womanhood, and live fearlessly.
In this study of Proverbs 31, we will look at the seventeenth verse in context. I have broken the chapter up into mini-studies so that busy women like myself can take in the information in just a few minutes each day.
If you have more time then feel free to continue to the next section whenever you are ready.
This study is perfect for a personal bible study or a women’s small group.
New here? The Proverbs 31 overview sets the stage for the context of the chapter, otherwise, letās jump right into Proverbs 31 verse 17!
Proverbs 31:17
āShe girds herself with strength,
Proverbs 31:17 NKJV
And strengthens her arms.ā
Strongās Definitions of Proverbs 31:17:
gird-
(Strongās Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible H2296)×Öø×Ö·×Ø chĆ¢gar, khaw-gar’; a primitive root; to gird on (as a belt, armor, etc.):ābe able to put on, be afraid, appointed, gird, restrain, Ć on every side.
loins-
(Strongās Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible H4975)×Ö¹×ŖÖ¶× mĆ“then, mo’-then; from an unused root meaning to be slender; properly, the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins:ā greyhound, loins, side.
strength-
(Strongās Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible H5797)×¢Ö¹× Ź»Ć“z, oze; or (fully) ×¢×Ö¹× Ź»Ć“wz; from H5810; strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise):āboldness, loud, might, power, strength, strong.
strengthen-
(Strongās Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible H553)×Öø×ַׄ Ź¼Ć¢mats, aw-mats’; a primitive root; to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage):āconfirm, be courageous (of good courage, steadfastly minded, strong, stronger), establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen (self), make strong (obstinate, speed).
Proverbs 31:17 Definitions from Websterās 1828 Dictionary:
GIRD–
verb transitive gurd. preterit tense and participle passive girded or girt.
1. To bind by surrounding with any flexible substance, as with a twig, a cord, bandage or cloth; as, to gird the loins with sackcloth.
2. To make fast by binding; to put on; usually with on; as, to gird on a harness; to gird on a sword.
STRENGTH–
noun [See Strong.]
1. That property or quality of an animal body by which it is enabled to move itself or other bodies. We say, a sick man has not strength to walk, or to raise his head or his arm. We say, a man has strength to lift a weight, or to draw it. This quality is called also power and force. But force is also used to denote the effect of strength exerted, or the quantity of motion. strength in this sense, is positive, or the power of producing positive motion or action, and is opposed to weakness.
2. Firmness; solidity or toughness; the quality of bodies by which they sustain the application of force without breaking or yielding. Thus we speak of the strength of a bone, the strength of a beam, the strength of a wall, the strength of a rope. In this sense, strength is a passive quality, and is opposed to weakness or frangibility.
3. Power or vigor of any kind.
STRENGTHEN
verb transitive
1. To make strong or stronger; to add strength to, either physical, legal or moral; as, to strengthen a limb; to strengthen an obligation.
Summary of Proverbs 31:17
She prepares herself with strength and actively strengthens her body and her arms.
My notes from Proverbs 31:17
The Hebrew phrase for āgird her loinsā means to prepare oneself for a situation requiring readiness, strength, or endurance. The act of girding represents equipping oneself, for instance, a belt around the waist or a sword hilt. Soldiers would gird their loins in preparation for battle.
Think of it as the biblical equivalent of buckling up for a rollercoaster ride, this woman is ready for life’s twists and turns.
The action of putting on strength or girding her loins with strength reveals to us that she is an active woman. She’s not binge-watching TV in her leopard print pajamas; she’s conquering her day with the same vigor as a superhero in action!
Think of this woman as āWonder Womanā, training and preparing for the battle ahead, she doesnāt have time for escapism. She is fully immersed in her life!
The Proverbs 31 woman embodies a true homemaker. She takes her job seriously. She is diligent and her body is strong as a result of her actions.
Do I think she is waking up early to do exercise routines for the sake of building muscle? No, I donāt believe she is concerned with bodybuilding.
Her motivation is love, to take care of those she loves. There are many tasks associated with that. I am sure that her daily routine is more than enough to strengthen her arms.
The Measure of Strength
The Proverbs 31 woman, has a strong body and it is a direct result of her actions throughout the day.
Does that mean we shouldnāt exercise to strengthen our bodies? We live in a vastly different time. With modern conveniences, our tasks do not require the same force that women from that time period had to face. Exercise is a great activity to strengthen our body and enhance our mood.
While we might not be battling dragons, our daily challenges require some superhero-level strength. And no, we don’t need to lift a car to succeed (although that would be impressive).
How We Can Equip Our Body with Strength Like Proverbs 31:17
We can prepare our mind, soul, and body by offering them as living sacrifices to the Lord.
Romans 12:1 āI beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.ā
As a homemaker with 5 children, I have days that are more challenging than others and I need to prepare ahead of time to handle the situations ahead.
Here are 3 ways to Put on Strength:
1. Strengthen Our Mind
In the morning when I rise my first focus has to be on the Lord. I renew my mind daily by reading the Word of God. Having the right mindset going into the day is just as important as having physical strength. Starting the day with a dose of positivity, courtesy of my Abba(father), is like having a double espresso for the soul. Knowing that the Creator of the universe is by my side and cares about what happens to me equips me with confidence to face each trial that presents itself.
2. Submit Our Will to God
I continually submit my will to God. Sometimes things donāt go as we expect them to, but we can trust if it is in Godās will he will get us through it.
Let’s admit it; life often serves us a surprise dish served burnt, cold, or missing key ingredients. But when your will is aligned with God’s, you’re basically ordering from the divine menu.
We have to be flexible and ready for trials because they will come. If our will is submitted to God, we are trusting in His power instead of our own and He is more than we need to get through.
Instead of complaining, āWhy me?ā I have learned to ask āWhat am I supposed to learn from this?ā
3. Strengthen Our Body for Service to Others
Lastly, I offer my body as a sacrifice to the Lord by submitting to tasks that may not be easy, but I know need to be accomplished so that others will be blessed.
Practicing Strength by Self-Discipline
Waking up early is difficult for me, however, I trained myself to wake up early because it blesses my husband with a warm breakfast. Our relationship is blessed by the morning conversation we get to have.
Yes, mornings can be brutal, but the aroma of coffee and farm-fresh eggs conquers all!
Teaching my children on days they have a disagreeable attitude can be disheartening, especially if it happens more often than not. But I show up, do my best, and ask God to help me where I lack.
Then come the days I see them excited to go to the library to get a new book, or they use vocabulary that I taught them in their general conversation. I hold on to the good moments remembering that even if it seems like they are not learning, they are.
When I am scrubbing toilets, bathtubs, or our floors I know that I am providing a clean environment for my household to thrive without the worry of germs.
Every day, I have to wash the handle of the refrigerator multiple times a day. Sometimes this task seems like it is never-ending and I get tired of needing to do it. I remind my children to wash their hands and yet somehow it still ends up grimy.
I wash and wash and the tasks seem to go on forever. I would rather be sitting on my porch sipping some Lavender Earl Grey iced tea. But I do the tasks because when it comes down to it, I love my family. If I didnāt have my children with grimy hands to take care of, I would be longing for spills and messes and fingerprints on the windows.
My heart still aches for my daughter whom I canāt hold or kiss or sing to. I would be a different woman if I didnāt have the other 5 to hold.
Perspective is a mighty tool to shift your focus from what is directly in front of you to the bigger picture in the tapestry of your life. Instead of focusing on all the little knots and tangles in the back, look at the brilliant colors that come together perfectly to form everything beautiful about your life.
Life’s like a massive art project with occasional knots and tangles. But hey, those knots add character to the masterpiece.
God is My Strength
Whether it’s cleaning, teaching, preparing meals, growing food, or one of the myriad of tasks I do on any given day, I dedicate my body to the Lord, trusting in His power and His might to get me through.
It’s like being on a divine meal planāinstead of counting macros, we’re counting on God’s strength.
Being strong or strengthening oneself is a physical practice and also a spiritual and emotional one. God equips us with everything we need so that we can be complete, lacking nothing.
God renews our minds so that we can love the way He loves. He renews our body so that we can experience His grace and share that grace with others.
Motivation to Be Strong
Whether we work out and eat well to keep our bodies healthy or rely on the tasks we do each day, it is our heart that truly matters. Our motivation for why we do what we do. If we do it for selfish purposes it profits us nothing. However, if our heart is tuned to love God and love others, we gain everything!
Remember, God doesn’t just want us to be physically fit; He’s more interested in our hearts being in the right place. It’s like a spiritual fitness tracker for your soul!
Proverbs 31:17 Simple Truths:
- Strengthening our mind is just as important as strengthening our body.
- The Proverbs 31 woman prepares herself for future events that will require strength.
- Our motivation reveals our heart!
Questions to Ponder from Proverbs 31:17:
- How do you prepare for the tasks ahead of you?
- Why is it important to strengthen and renew your mind each day?
- What is your least favorite task and why is it necessary to be accomplished?
As we wrap up this leg of our journey AT FORESTS EDGE, remember that every step brings us closer to a stronger, more vibrant faith. Let’s keep growing hope together!
I hope this in-depth womenās bible study of Proverbs 31 is a blessing to you.
Iād love to know if you have gained insight from the study.
If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior you can find out more about salvation.
The next study is Proverbs 31:18. Or if you have enjoyed Proverbs 31:17 and haven’t read Proverbs 31:16 go check it out!
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Iād love for you to be my companion in this journey, join my newsletter, and letās walk this journey together as we GROW HOPE!
Until we meet again,
Raeanna
Raeanna
Raeanna loves her home AT FORESTS EDGE. Cultivating life with a big family in America. She is a Watercolor Artist, Writer, Gardener & a Certified Herbalist.
