Bible Scriptures on qualities of a good wife
Bible Scriptures on qualities of a good wife
Posted on September 20, 2012 Updated on September 14, 2012
What does the Bible says about a woman, married or not, who is not a wife-material?
Someone who probably should know is the man, called the wisest man ever, who sampled one thousand women, having seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (I Kings 11:3). Here are some of his sayings about such a woman:
Prov 2:16 It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words.
Prov 6:24 keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.
Prov 12:4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
Prov 19:13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
Prov 21:9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Prov 21:19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.
Prov 23:27 For a prostitute is a deep pit and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
Prov 25:24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Prov 27:15-16 A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.
Prov 30:21-23 For three things the earth is perturbed, yes, for four it cannot bear up:
For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food, A hateful woman when she is married, and a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.
Prov 9:13 A foolish woman is noisy; she is wanton and knows no shame.
Prov 11:22 like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
Prov 14:1The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
Eccl 7:26 I find more bitter than death the woman, who is a snare, whose heart is a trap.
and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare .
Other issues may contribute to a woman being a ‘married but no a wife’. Obvious from the above verses is that there are two broad features that make a woman not to be a wife material- that of negative attitude/behavior/character, and that of impurity/unfaithfulness.
These could be avoided and overcome if a woman grew up and lives the life of biblical purity and submission. 1 Peter 3:1-6 captures and summarizes this:
3:1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,
2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.
4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,
6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. NIV
See also Gen 3:16, Ps 45:10, Eph 5:22-24.
What should a man of God do to his spouse who has turned out to be married but not a wife? The natural reaction is what Hosea exclaimed: “… she is not my wife, and I am not her husband…” Hosea 2:2 NIV.
But as Christians, we should do as scriptures teach and what Hosea experienced; The LORD said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” Hosea 3:1. NIV. Amen
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 1 Peter 3:7 NIV.
See also I Corinthians 7:33, Ephesians 5:25 -29.
By the Lampstand, July 2004
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