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Proverbs 6:25
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

Proverbs 11:22
As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout,so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

2 Samuel 14:25
But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

a woman

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORDis the beginning of knowledge:but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the LORDis to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Exodus 1:17-21
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive…

she

Ecclesiastes 7:18
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for thisis the wholeduty of man.

Romans 2:29
But heis a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcisionis that of the heart, in the spirit,and not in the letter; whose praiseis not of men, but of God.

and beauty is fleeting,
Beauty, in the biblical sense, is often seen as temporary and transient. The cultural context of ancient Israel placed some value on physical beauty, but it was understood to be secondary to inner qualities.Ecclesiastes 3:11 speaks to the temporality of all things under heaven, including beauty. The fleeting nature of beauty is a reminder of the impermanence of physical attributes and the importance of focusing on eternal values. This aligns with the New Testament teaching in1 Peter 3:3-4, which emphasizes inner beauty over outward adornment.

but a woman who fears the LORD
The fear of the LORD is a central theme in wisdom literature, including Proverbs. It denotes a deep respect, reverence, and awe for God, which is the foundation of true wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). In the historical and cultural context of ancient Israel, fearing the LORD was synonymous with living a life in accordance with God's commandments and seeking His will. This phrase highlights the importance of spiritual devotion and moral integrity over external attributes. The fear of the LORD is also a type of Christ, as Jesus exemplified perfect reverence and obedience to the Father.

is to be praised.
Praise in this context is not merely about verbal acknowledgment but involves recognition and honor for living a life that aligns with God's values. In biblical times, praise was often public and communal, reflecting the community's acknowledgment of a person's virtuous life. This phrase connects to the broader biblical narrative that honors those who live righteously, as seen inProverbs 31:28, where the virtuous woman's children and husband rise to call her blessed. It underscores the eternal value of godly character, which is worthy of praise both in this life and in the life to come.

- “Charm is deceptive” signals that personality sparkle can cloak selfish motives.Proverbs 26:24-26 warns, “A hateful man disguises himself with his speech… Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”

- Outward appeal often misleads.1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us, “Man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

- Jesus addressed the same issue with religious showmanship: “You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones” (Matthew 23:27).

- Takeaway: evaluate character, not charisma.

- Physical loveliness has an expiration date.Isaiah 40:7-8 says, “The grass withers and the flowers fall… but the word of our God stands forever.”

- Even a disciplined body cannot outlast time: “Physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way” (1 Timothy 4:8).

- Paul writes, “Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

- Peter ties it together: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment… but from the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3-4).

- Takeaway: invest in the eternal, not the temporary.

- The “fear of the LORD” is reverent awe that produces obedience. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).

- Security flows from it: “He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence” (Proverbs 14:26).

- Such reverence spills into daily life:

• Delighting in His commands (Psalm 112:1)

• Trusting His promises (Luke 1:45)

• Exhibiting noble character (Ruth 3:11)

- Takeaway: the inner posture toward God shapes every outward action.

- Praise first rises at home: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well” (Proverbs 31:28).

- The wider church family is urged to “esteem them very highly in love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

- Ultimately, God Himself affirms faithful motives: “Each will receive his praise from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

- Lasting honor comes from fearing the LORD: “His praise endures forever” (Psalm 111:10).

- Takeaway: heaven and earth agree in commending godly reverence.

Authentic charm flows from character, not cosmetics. Physical beauty fades, but reverent devotion to the LORD grows richer with time. The woman who lives in holy awe gains the applause of her family, the respect of the community, and, supremely, the commendation of God Himself.

Μὴ κρῖν ὁρῶν τὸ κάλλος ἀλλὰ τὸν τρόπον.
"Judge not at eight of beauty, but of life."But a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. So we come back to the maxim with which the whole book began, that the foundation of all excellence is the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). Such, too, is the conclusion of Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 12:13), "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Septuagint, "False are charms (ἀρεσκειαι), and vain is the beauty of woman; for a prudent woman is blessed, and let her praise the fear of the Lord."

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