Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 31:16

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

The verse points to a large sphere of feminine activity, strikingly in contrast with the degradation to which woman in the East has now fallen.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 16. She considereth a field and buyeth it]

5. She provides for the growing wants of her family. More land will shortly be needed, for the family is growing up; and having seen a field contiguous to her own, which was on sale, she estimates its worth, and purchases it a good bargain; and she pays for it by the fruit of her own industry.

6. She does not restrict herself to the bare necessaries of life; she is able to procure some of its comforts. She plants a vineyard, that she may have wine for a beverage, for medicine, and for sacrifice. This also is procured of her own labour. Whatever goes out brings its worth in; and barter, not buying, is her chief mode of traffic.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

She considereth a field; whether it be fit for her use, and of a reasonable price, and how she may purchase it. This excludes the rashness, as her proceeding to

buy it excludes the inconstancy, which is oft incident to that sex.

With the fruit of her hands, with the effects of her diligence,

she planteth a vineyard; she improveth the land to the best advantage.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

16. and hence has means topurchase property.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

She considereth a field, and buyeth it,…. The field are the Scriptures, in which are hid the rich treasures of Gospel doctrines and promises; and the church, and all truly enlightened persons, consider to what use this field may be put, to what account it will turn; how profitable the Scriptures are, for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness; what a rich mine and valuable treasure is in them; things more desirable, and of greater worth, than thousands of gold and silver; and therefore will buy this field at any rate, and not sell it; will part with all they have before they will part with that; even life itself, which in an improper sense is called buying of it, though it is without money and without price; see Mt 13:44;

with the fruit of her hand she planteth a vineyard; her own vineyard, whose plants are an orchard of pomegranates, So 1:6; who through the ministry of the word, are planted in the house of the Lord, and flourish there; this the church is said to do by her ministers, who plant and water, as Paul and Apollos did, 1Co 3:6. And it is observable, that in the Hebrew text there is a double reading; the “Keri”, or marginal reading, is feminine; but the “Cetib”, or writing, is masculine; to show that she did it by means of men, she made use of in her vineyard for that service; it being, as Aben Ezra observes, not the custom and business of women to plant vineyards, but men. It may be rendered, “he planted”, and be applied to her husband, Christ; who, through the ministry of the word in his church, plants souls in it; and happy are they who are the planting of the Lord! trees of righteousness, that he may be glorified, Isa 61:3.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

This industry – a pattern for the whole house – this punctuality in the management of household matters, secures to her success in the extension of her household wealth:

16 She seeketh a field and getteth possession of it;

Of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

The field which she considereth, towards which her wish and her effort are directed, is perhaps not one beyond those which she already possesses, but one which has hitherto been wanting to her family; for the poet has, after Pro 31:23, an inhabitant of a town in his eye, – a woman whose husband is not a landlord, but has a business in the city. The perf. precedes and gives circumstantiality to the chief factum expressed by . Regarding , vid., Pro 21:27. “ is the general expression for purchasing, as , 24b, for selling. Thus the Aram. and Arab. , while, (Arab.) akhadh w’ta , Turk. alisch werisch (from elmek , to take, and wirmek , to give – viz. satun , in the way of selling; Lat. venum ), post-bibl. or , denotes giving and taking = business in general” (Fleischer). In 16b the Chethb is, with Ewald and Bertheau, to be read , and, with Hitzig, to be made dependent on , as parallel obj.: “of her hands’ fruit (she gaineth) a planting of vines.” But a planting of vines would be expressed by (Mic 1:6); and the Ker is more acceptable. The perf., as a fundamental verbal form, is here the expression of the abstract present: she plants a vineyard, for she purchases vines from the profit of her industry (Isa 7:23, cf. Pro 5:2).

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

(16) She considereth a field.Fixes upon a suitable one for purchase.

With the fruit of her hands.With her savings she buys a vineyard and stocks it.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

16. She considereth a field Sets her mind upon it, estimates its worth, and plans the means of purchasing it. Literally, she takes it.

With the fruit of her hands The product of her labour.

She planteth a vineyard Or, as some read, the fruit of her hands is the planting of a vineyard. These various items mark the industry, economy, and thrift of the energetic and capable woman. They are strongly “in contrast with the degradation to which woman has fallen under the later polygamy of the East.” Speaker’s Com.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments