The Proverbs 31 Woman: Entrepreneurial Epitome?

Authors

Jeffrey E. Haymond, Cedarville UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 2012

Journal Title

Faith & Economics

Volume

60

First Page

1

Last Page

16

Abstract

This article provides an exegesis of Proverbs 31:10-31 from an economic perspective, portraying the Proverbs 31 woman as an ideal entrepreneur. She is industrious, generous, and pious in all her actions, specializing in small-scale capitalist production. As such, her behavior is consistent with the vision of entrepreneurship found in Mises and Knight. Proverbs is part of the biblical "wisdom" literature, and the specific texts viewed are intended to showcase her worthiness. Her actions are provided as proof that “many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all,” and provide a model to emulate. The woman (or man) who serves consumers effectively in private markets will bring honor to her (his) household while securing the material goods necessary to serve her (his) family and the poor. The profit gained in her entrepreneurial activity is described as unquestionably good, providing a powerful rebuke towards Marxist thought that profit is necessarily exploitive.

Keywords

Economics, entrepreneurs, biblical entrepreneur, profit, free markets

Comments

© 2012 Association of Christian Economists

Recommended Citation

Haymond, J. E. (2012). The Proverbs 31 Woman: Entrepreneurial Epitome? Faith & Economics.