It’s a portion of scripture that inspires and intimidates us. The ideal woman on the page seems capable of anything.
She gets up early, works with her hands, makes business deals, saves her husband money. Her children call her blessed.
And she does it all as only words of wisdom and kindness fall from her mouth.
But this passage is more than the reading on Mothers Day to lift us up (or make us feel guilty and inadequate).
In her new book Strength of a Woman: Why You are Proverbs 31, Lauren Crews unfolds the Hebrew acrostic that comprises this biblical description.
“Indeed, a woman of strength is priceless, worth more than precious jewels” (10).
Crews tells us that the “Hebrew word translated as ‘jewels’ is paniyn. Many commentaries agree the word means a small round object that has a red tint, usually defined as a coral or a pearl. The first time I read that definition of the word paniyn, I was immediately struck by how the description of small, round, red, and priceless objects resembled drops of blood, the precious red blood our Savior shed. As a woman of strength, you hold great value. You are so valuable to God He was willing to shed His precious blood for you. He paid this price for you; your worth is now above rubies, pearls, or other jewels.”
Crews’ text promises “redemptive stories of the most unlikely Proverbs 31 Woman.”
Reviewer Linda Evans Shepherd says the book explains that “the passage was not designed to make women feel overwhelmed by an impossible to-do list but rather serves to promote a warrior woman you can emulate as you love, work, build, and overcome your own life’s challenges.”
Perhaps we who’ve felt that intimidation while reading Proverbs 31 can find ourselves on these pages. We can see glimpses of ourselves in the stories Crews tells of the unlikely Proverbs 31 woman.
This beautiful book released onApril 16, 2020.

Thanks for this, so needed it!
Thank you, Mary. God bless!
Thank you for information about this book.
Thanks for reading, Melissa! God bless!
I aspire to be that woman, but you are right — we all have that strength, and it’s thanks to the Lord Jesus, by whom we can truly do all things. (PHil. 4:13)
I do too, Jessica. Thanks and God bless!
Sounds like a wonderful read and a slightly different look at Proverbs 31. I will add it to my reading list. Thanks
Thanks, Yvonne. God bless!
It looks like an interesting book to read. Women are stronger than they think they are, but our strength is not from our own ability, instead, it comes from the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our strength, indeed, comes from Him. Thanks, Marcie, and God bless!
This looks like a wonderful book. I also like how the description of the jewels resembled the droplets of Jesus’ blood.
I agree, the Proverbs 31 woman is not a superwoman or even a real person being described. But the model of what we want to pursue as it relates to our lives as wives and mothers and with our families.
Exactly, Karen. I think this book will give us permission to understand our imperfections as we still pursue the ideal. Thanks and God bless!
That looks like a great book! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it, Nancy!
Thank you, Melinda! God bless!