The Chayil Woman

You Are Chayil!

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “The Proverbs 31 Woman”?

If you’re anything like me, you might feel a mix of admiration and discouragement. I used to read that passage and feel a heavy weight of inadequacy. This woman was amazing—an ideal wife, mother, servant, and businesswoman—and no matter how hard I tried, I never felt like I measured up.

At the same time, I secretly judged her. I saw her as overly submissive, quiet, and willing to sacrifice her own gifts and power for everyone else’s benefit. Let’s just say—I had complicated feelings about her. And most of all, I struggled to relate.

But a few years ago, God gently challenged me. He led me back to Proverbs 31 and kept saying, “This is who you are.” Honestly, I wasn’t thrilled. That wasn’t the message I wanted to hear.

Yet He didn’t let up. Every time I tried to read a different passage, I felt a nudge: “Read Proverbs 31 again… because this is who you are.” Over and over. Day after day.

About a month into my reluctant Bible study, a friend mentioned a podcast she’d heard about the “Chayil” woman. I listened—found it interesting—but quickly moved on.

Until a few days later. I was reading Proverbs 31 again for what felt like the hundredth time when one word jumped off the page: Virtuous.

Curious, I looked it up in the Hebrew concordance, and what I found almost knocked me out of my chair.

“Virtuous (Noble)” = Chayil

Part of speech: Noun, masculine
 Definition: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army
 Extended meanings: force, power, ability, substance, valiant, worthy, rich, warrior, strong

Wait—what?! That word again!

Suddenly, it all clicked. I finally understood why God had been so persistent:
 He was saying, “This is who YOU are.”

I felt as though power surged through my body. This wasn’t some delicate, docile woman I could never become. This was me—a woman of strength, purpose, ability, and influence. I hadn’t been seeing myself the way God saw me.

And friend, this message isn’t just for me—it’s for you too.

God isn’t limited by how you see yourself. What matters is how He sees you. And He says you are a Chayil woman.

As a Proverbs 31 Chayil woman…

• You have value. You know your worth, and others recognize it too. (vv. 10, 28–29)
• You are a wife and mother—a nurturer, a provider, a protector. (vv. 11–15, 21, 27)
• You are a businesswoman. You make decisions, create opportunities, and have the potential to prosper. (vv. 16–19, 24)
• You are generous and wise. You give to others and speak with grace. (vv. 20, 26)
• You care for yourself. You are clothed with dignity and strength—you don’t hide your success. (v. 22)
• You are known. You and your family are respected and admired. (vv. 23, 25, 30–31)

God wants you to know:

This is who you are.

It’s time to embrace your Chayil-ness and walk boldly in the strength, wisdom, and glory He has placed inside you.