Adam Clarke on Proverbs 31:10

Who can find a virtuous woman? - This and the following verses are acrostic, each beginning with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet: Pro 31:10, א aleph; Pro 31:11, ב beth; Pro 31:12, ג gimel; and so on to the end of the chapter, the last verse of which has the letter ת tau. From this to the end of the chapter we have the character of a woman of genuine worth laid down; first, in general, Pro 31:10-12; secondly, in its particular or component parts, verses 13-29; and, thirdly, the summing up of the character, Pro 31:30, Pro 31:31.

I. Her general character.

1. She is a virtuous wo man - a woman of power and strength. אשת חיל esheth chayil, a strong or virtuous wife, full of mental energy.

2. She is invaluable; her price is far above rubies - no quantity of precious stones can be equal to her worth.