[A wife of noble character] sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks (Proverbs 31:17).

The "Proverbs 31 Woman" is an intriguing concept.  Much has been written about her already:  almost all of it positive.  Even so, I still know a number of women who resist the mantle and model of the Proverbs 31 Woman.

Why is this?  Perhaps it's because the Proverbs 31 Woman has become something of a catch-all for our ideals of womanhood, which can feel at turns limiting, and at turns impossible to live up to... Perhaps it's because of patriarchal overtones embedded within the story of the Proverbs 31 Woman -- that is, the chapter speaks of her primary sphere of influence being the home, and she plays a bit of a traditional support role to her husband... Perhaps it's because she's called a "wife" before she's called a person (v. 10), because she provides food for her family (v. 15), because she does a lot of sewing and weaving (v. 19), and in essence she is linked to so many of those things that has come to be associated with weakness and subservience in our cultural context -- and of course, no reasonable woman wants to be labeled as weak or subservient.

This is where I think that Proverbs 31:17 is a very important part of defining the Proverbs 31 Woman.  This verse reminds us that of all the things that the Proverbs 31 Woman may or may not be, we are to make no mistake:  the Proverbs 31 Woman is hard-core, bad-ass, tough-as-nails, weaker-than-nobody, intrinsically-subservient-to-none.

In fact, she sets about her work vigorously.  Her arms are strong for her tasks.  She's not passive, or weak, subservient in the least.  For a more extensive treatment of the strengths (in contrast to the oft-presumed weaknesses) of the Proverbs 31 Woman, I would highly recommend a look at the writings of Amber Van Schooneveld, who blogs at Clever Phrase Here.  "Biblical Feminism" might be too strong of a phrasing, but she provides a point of view that feels refreshingly balanced, in my opinion.  A perspective worth analyzing, in any event.  As for me, personally, I just want to say that the Proverbs 31 Woman seems like an extremely admirable person, not just an extremely admirable woman.  Even I, as a man, can look up to her strength and resourcefulness.  In fact, if I read the descriptions from Proverbs 31:17 -- praising the Proverbs 31 Woman's vigor and upper-body strength -- I think I would be a little bit intimidated to be a "bad guy" running into this biblical super-hero in some dark alleyway.

If nothing else, I think the Proverbs 31 Woman is a valuable tool for dialogue.  It brings up expectations, ideals, anxieties, and insecurities; and it gives us a forum for interacting with each other about these things.  I hope that we can all feel free to vigorously debate these issues over an extended period of time... But if it ever gets down to arm-wrestling over it, I certainly don't want to be one who has to go up against a Proverbs 31 Woman.