Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 31:23
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
23. is known ] both by the fitting attire and by the freedom from anxiety and distraction, which her care and industry secure to him. Dean Plumptre in Speaker’s Comm. quotes the words of Nausicaa to her father in Hom. Odyss. vi. 60:
“’Tis meet for thee to sit among the princes,
And hold thy council, with thy body clad
In raiment fair and clean.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The industry of the wife leaves the husband free to take his place among the elders that sit in councils.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 23. Her husband is known in the gates]
14. She is a loving wife, and feels for the respectability and honour of her husband. He is an elder among his people, and he sits as a magistrate in the gate. He is respected not only on account of the neatness and cleanliness of his person and dress, but because he is the husband of a woman who is justly held in universal esteem. And her complete management of household affairs gives him full leisure to devote himself to the civil interests of the community.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Known; observed and respected, not only for his own worth, but for his wifes sake; not only for those rich ornaments which by her care and diligence she provides for him, which others of his brethren, by reason of their wives sloth or luxury, are not able to procure, but also for his wisdom in choosing, and his happiness in enjoying, so excellent a wife, by whose prudent care, in the management of his domestic concerns, he hath perfect freedom wholly to attend upon public affairs.
Sitteth among the elders of the land, in counsel or judgment.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
23. in the gates(compare Pr22:22). His domestic comfort promotes his advancement in publicdignity.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Her husband is known in the gates,…. Of the city, where courts of justice were kept, and causes heard and tried by the judges, the elders of the land, later mentioned; among whom the husband of the virtuous woman was, where he was known, taken notice of, and celebrated; not so much for the beautiful garments she made him, as Jarchi; but rather for his wisdom, as Gersom, and for being the husband of such a woman; who, taking such care of his domestic affairs, he was more at leisure to attend public business, and transact it with reputation. Christ is the husband of the church in general, and of particular churches, and of every private believer; he fell in love with them, asked them of his Father, and betrothed them to himself; and is a kind, tender, loving, and sympathizing husband to his church and people; that nourishes and cherishes them, and provides all things for them, and interests them in all he has: and he is “known” by them, in the dignity of his person, in the excellency of his offices, and the fulness of his grace; he is known by them in the relation of an husband; he is well known in the church of God, in the assembly of his saints, Ps 76:1; he is known in the gates of Zion, in the public ministering of the word and ordinances; his name is celebrated, it becomes great and famous, wherever his Gospel is preached in the world; he is,
“known in the provinces,”
as the Targum; or,
“among the cities,”
as the Syriac version; among the nations of the world, in the cities of the Gentiles; as he will be, even from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, Mal 1:11;
when he sitteth among the elders of the land; when he sits in his house, at his table, circled by his saints, his ancient ones; or as King, head, and husband of his people, on his throne in the church, encompassed with, the four and twenty elders, the representatives of Gospel churches, Re 4:2. And especially when he shall take to himself his great power, and reign gloriously before his ancients, the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, and all his saints, which will come with him; whom he has loved with an everlasting love; who were chosen in him before the foundation of the world; and had grace given them, in him, before the world began, Isa 24:23; and when he shall come to judge the world, and will appear in great glory, and be seen and known of all; and shall sit on his throne of glory, and his elders also, sitting on twelve thrones, judging the tribes of Israel, Mt 19:28; so Ambrose interprets it of the universal judgment.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Now, first, the description turns back to the husband, of the woman who is commended, mentioned in the introduction:
23 32 Well known in the gates is her husband,
Where he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Such a wife is, according to Pro 12:4, , – she advances the estimation and the respect in which her husband is held. He has, in the gates where the affairs of the city are deliberated upon, a well-known, reputable name; for there he sits, along with the elders of the land, who are chosen into the council of the city as the chief place of the land, and has a weighty voice among them. The phrase wavers between (lxx ; Venet. ) and . The old Venetian edd. have in this place (like the Cod. Jaman.), and at Psa 9:17, ; on the contrary, Psa 76:2; Ecc 6:10, , and that is correct; for the Masora, at this place and at Psa 76:2 (in the Biblia rabb), is disfigured.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(23) Her husband is known in the gates.See above on Pro. 22:22. Instead of being a hindrance to her husbands advancement, she furthers it. Her influence for good extends to him also. Having no domestic anxieties, he is set free to do his part in public life.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
23. Known in the gates He is recognised and honoured in the courts, or public assemblies.
When he sitteth among the elders The senators or magistrates, who sit by the gates to decide cases and to transact public business. He is eminent among the public men. It is intimated that something of this is due to his wife’s thrift and good management. She conducts the domestic affairs so well and so profitably as to allow him time and means to devote to the public service. His genteel deportment and becoming attire indicate the wife of good taste and rare accomplishments. Blessed is the man that has a wife capable of correcting his foibles, smoothing down his rough points, and teaching him becoming deportment. Many a man is more indebted to his wife than he is aware of for his advancement in the world.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Ver. 23. Her husband is known in the gates. ] Is renowned and noted for his wife’s worth, besides that he is a ruler in Israel.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
known. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the result of that knowledge; viz. respect from all at the city gate, which includes high and low, rich and poor, peasants, labourers and judges.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
husband: Pro 12:4
in the: Pro 24:7, Deu 16:18, Deu 21:19, Rth 4:1, Job 29:7
Reciprocal: Gen 34:20 – the gate Jos 20:4 – at the entering Rth 4:2 – the elders
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
31:23 Her husband is known in the {l} gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
(l) In the assemblies and places of judgment.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The implication of Pro 31:23 is that she helps her husband advance. She is a credit and an ornament to him (cf. Pro 12:4). She is both thrifty and industrious (Pro 31:24).