RESH. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. The versions and some commentators take the encomium in the mean and restricted sense of praise for the acquisition of riches. Thus the Vulgate, Multae filiae congregaverunt divitias; Septuagint, "Many daughters have obtained wealth."
But it adds another rendering, "Many have wrought power ( ἐποίησανδύναμιν)," which is nearer the meaning in this place. Chayil (as we have seen, Proverbs 31:10) means "force," virtus, "strength of character" shown in various ways (comp.
Numbers 24:18; Psalms 60:12). "Daughters," equivalent to "women," as Genesis 30:13; So Genesis 6:9. Roman Catholic commentators have, with much ingenuity, applied the whole description of the virtuous woman, and especially the present verse, to the Virgin Mary.
We may regard it as a representation of the truly Christian matron, who loves husband and children, guides the house, is discreet, chaste, good, a teacher of good things (1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:3, etc.
).