In the third article of a series, we will continue to delve into the verses of Eishet Chayil, this time looking at Mishlei 31:22-26, elucidated by the commentaries from the Malbim and Metzudat David, to uncover the profound meaning and timeless relevance of what is commonly considered to be โThe Ode to the Jewish Woman.โ
ืึทืจึฐืึทืึดึผึฅืื ืขึธึฝืฉึฐืืชึธืึพืึธึผึืึผ ืฉึตืึืฉื ืึฐืึทืจึฐืึธึผืึธึฃื ืึฐืืึผืฉึธึฝืืึผื
She makes covers for herself;
Her clothing is linen and purple.
Metzudat David explains that this means โShe makes for herself beautiful coverings, and she dresses in garments of fine linen and purple that she has made with her own hands.โ The fact that the Eishet Chayil dresses in clothing made with care and attention to detail, especially using high-quality materials like linen and purple, signifies a sense of pride in one’s appearance. Presenting oneself in a dignified manner conveys that an individual values and appreciates themselves, reflecting a sense of self-worth.
ื ืึนืึธึฃืข ืึทึผืฉึฐึผืืขึธืจึดึฃืื ืึทึผืขึฐืึธึืึผ ืึฐึผึืฉึดืืึฐืชึผึืึน ืขึดืึพืึดืงึฐื ึตืึพืึธึฝืจึถืฅื
Her husband is prominent in the gates,
As he sits among the elders of the land.
The Malbim explains that the Eishet Chayil โwill support her husband to engage in Torah study until he becomes an outstanding (learned) man, spending his time with the Sanhedrin and the elders sitting at the gate (of the city).โ [In ancient times, the elders who served as a court of law would literally โsit in the gatesโ of the city, to be accessible to all who came and went.] As we all know, encouraging and facilitating Torah study is highly regarded in Jewish tradition. By assisting her husband in dedicating time to Torah learning, the Eishet Chayil contributes to the spiritual growth of her family and community. In addition, the aspiration for her husband to become an “outstanding man” in Torah study suggests that she not only supports the pursuit but actively strives for his excellence. This act of uplifting her husband to a level of prominence in Torah study is seen as virtuous and commendable.
ืกึธืึดึฃืื ืขึธึญืฉึฐืืชึธื ืึทืชึดึผืึฐืึนึผึืจ ืึทึืึฒืึืึนืจ ื ึธืชึฐื ึธึฅื ืึทึฝืึฐึผื ึทืขึฒื ึดึฝืื
She makes cloth and sells it,
And offers a girdle to the merchant.
The Malbim clarifies that the linen clothing and belts she sells contribute to the funds for her charitable acts towards the poor.
ืขึนืึพืึฐืึธืึธึฅืจ ืึฐืืึผืฉึธืึืึผ ืึทึืชึดึผืฉึฐืืึทึืง ืึฐืึฃืึนื ืึทืึฒืจึฝืึนืื
She is clothed with strength and splendor;
She looks to the future cheerfully.
The clothing items mentioned earlier, which she sells to support the poor, symbolize a “spiritual garment” of strength and dignity. This metaphorical attire will be worn on her final day, representing the transition from the physical body that has enveloped her spirit throughout her life. The linen cloth signifies her spiritual strength and splendor, serving as her attire for the last day. On that day, she will rejoice as she will don spiritual garments upon shedding her physical ones.
Metzudat David explains that โshe looks to the future cheerfully,โ means that โall her days, she will delight in the honor she will have on the day of her death.โ This implies that she lives her life virtuously and to its fullest, and as a result, she is confident in the reward she will receive in the World to Come. Her cheerful outlook on the future is grounded in the knowledge that her well-lived life will be acknowledged and rewarded in the next world.
ืคึดึผึญืืึธ ืคึธึผืชึฐืึธึฃื ืึฐืืืึฐืึธึื ืึฐืชึฅืึนืจึทืช ืึถึึืกึถื ืขึทืึพืึฐืฉืืึนื ึธึฝืึผื
Her mouth is full of wisdom,
Her tongue with kindly teaching.
The Malbim elucidates, โShe will open her mouth on the Day of Judgment through the laws of wisdom that she walked in, and the Torah of kindness that she fulfilled, over and above her basic duty. Her tongue will be a tongue of counsel, as this will serve as an advocate for her on the last day.โ The Eishet Chayil will be able to easily recount all her life’s achievements, as she accomplished much more than one might expect or anticipate.
Join us in the last article of the series, where we will draw insights and inspiration from the wisdom imparted in the final verses of Eishet Chayil. Gaining an understanding into the meaning of Eishet Chayil allows us to contemplate the virtues of this exemplary archetype of a woman and incorporate them into our daily lives.
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More articles by Riva Kent
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- Chanuka: What Are the Implications of a Rabbinic Holiday?
- Contrasting Worldviews: Greek Philosophy and Jewish Thought
- Guarding the Gates: Eyes and Heart
- Understanding the Mitzvah of Fearing God
- Understanding the Mitzvah to Love Hashem
- The Defilement of Speech: The Spiritual Dangers of Crude Language
- Infinite Depths: Elevating Our Mitzvot Beyond Obligation
- Beyond Yom Kippur: Making Change Last
- The Evolution of Bat Mitzvah Celebration Throughout the Ages
