Proverbs 31:3 | Bible Study | Have Standards

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Introduction: Proverbs 31:3 Bible Study

Welcome, to the bible study series Know the Bible: Proverbs 31 verse 3. 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 31:3, we will look at the third 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, let’s jump right into Proverbs 31 verse 3!

Proverbs 31:3

“Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.”

Proverbs 31:3 NKJV

Proverbs 31:3 Strong’s Definition:

Strength- (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible H2428) חַיִל chayil, khah’-yil; from H2342; probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength:—able, activity, ( ) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, ( ) valiant(-ly), valour, virtuous(-ly), war, worthy(-ily).

Women- (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible H802) אִשָּׁה ʼishshâh, ish-shaw’; feminine of H376 or H582; irregular plural, נָשִׁים nâshîym;(used in the same wide sense as H582) a woman:—(adulter) ess, each, every, female, × many, none, one, together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.

Destroy- (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible H4229) מָחָה mâchâh, maw-khaw’; a primitive root; properly, to stroke or rub; by implication, to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), i.e. grease or make fat; also to touch, i.e. reach to:—abolish, blot out, destroy, full of marrow, put out, reach unto, × utterly, wipe (away, out).

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary Definitions from Proverbs 31:3:

Strength–  noun

3. Power or vigor of any kind.

6. Power of mind; intellectual force; the power of any faculty; as strength of memory; strength of reason; strength of judgment.

Woman– noun plural women. [a compound of womb and man.]

1. The female of the human race, grown to adult years.

Adul’tress– noun A married woman guilty of incontinence.

Incon’tinence- noun [Latin incontinentia. See Continence.] 2. Want of restraint of the sexual appetite; free or illegal indulgence of lust; lewdness; used of either sex, but appropriately of the male sex. incontinence in men is the same as unchastity in women.

DESTROY, verb transitive [Latin To pile, to build.]

3. To ruin; to bring to naught; to annihilate; as, to destroy a theory or scheme; to destroy a government; to destroy influence.

Summary of Proverbs 31:3

Bathsheba impresses on Solomon on the importance of who you surround yourself with. Do not spend time and energy on empty sex. Avoid being controlled or distracted by people, specifically, women, whose purpose is to use and manipulate you. Do not partake in a lifestyle that is known to destroy kings. 

My notes from Proverbs 31:3

Avoid Destructive Women

Do not give your strength to women, obviously doesn’t mean do not get married. Bathsheba did not want Solomon to entertain destructive women, not all women otherwise, the last part of this chapter is useless. Of course, Bathsheba wants Solomon to get married. 

What she doesn’t want is for her son to get caught up in a sinful lifestyle because it will lead to his ruin. If Solomon were to get caught up in sex, then women could possibly manipulate him through that route. 

Why Didn’t Solomon Follow His Own Advice About Women?

Solomon must have loved the ladies, during his reign he had  700 wives and 300 concubines. There is even a thought that he had an affair/ tryst/ hook-up whatever you would like to call it with the queen of Sheba. 

Ultimately the choice to engage with pagan women in his life led him to sin against God by building altars to their gods. He wrote in Ecclesiastes and Proverbs words that mirror his regret in his choice to allow pagan practices in the nation.

Some people ask, why didn’t he follow his own advice?

• The advice in this chapter is actually his mother’s advice. What we should be asking is why didn’t he listen to his mother.
• Temptation can be very powerful. While we don’t know his reasoning for putting his lust before God, we need to realize he is human and fallible, just like the rest of us. I’m glad God reveals the dark side of his beloved people. It gives me hope that anyone can start over, even after making many mistakes.
• Much of his advice on women may have come from learning the hard way. He may have wanted to ensure others would learn from his mistakes.

He Should Have Listened to His Mama

Hindsight is 20/20. Solomon should have listened to his mother. She obviously knew him very well. She understood his proclivity towards women and warned him to not give away his power to women. Or to ways that destroy kings. Later, she explains what those ways are. 

She wants her son to have wisdom so he can lead well. If he is making foolish decisions based on desires and not on a sound mind, his rule as a king could and will be affected by his choices. 

Just because he has riches and power and can have all these women, doesn’t mean it is the right thing to do. 

With great power comes great responsibility. 

Motherhood Struggles

My children are still pretty young, but that doesn’t mean their choices won’t have a negative effect on their lives. 

I have one child that has an unhealthy obsession with sugar. I have to take that into consideration when purchasing and storing sugar and products containing sugar. But if the only thing I did was hide the sugar and never addressed the heart of the issue, all my efforts would be in vain.

Sure, removing the temptation works temporarily, but that won’t prevent possible diabetes when they are on their own. 

Eventually, children will grow up. After all, we are raising adults. 

There has to be consistency and teaching by example. I am dedicated to the long haul. Ultimately, these are heart issues and all the worldly help we give them will never compare to help from the Lord.

 I will do my best to teach my children, but you better believe I am also on my knees asking my Abba for help. I am not actually Wonder Woman you know!

Questions to Ponder from Proverbs 31:3:

1. Did your mother or a  caring adult ever warn you not to do something you did anyway?
2. What was the outcome?
3. Have you ever warned your child or other people of choices they are making that will lead to problems?
4. Do you currently have any problem practicing self-control?
5. If so, what do you think the outcome would be if you continue?
6. What steps could you take to make a different choice and stick to it?

Thank you, for meeting me here, AT FORESTS EDGE. I hope this in-depth women’s bible study of Proverbs 31 is a blessing to you. 

I’d 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.

Ready for the next study Proverbs 31:4-5? Or the previous one on Proverbs 31:2. Or check out my favorite bible study tools!

I would be honored to have you as a companion in this journey, join my newsletter where I share encouragement throughout the year for women to walk in faith, embrace womanhood, and live fearlessly. 

Until we meet again,

Raeanna