![]() It explains in detail the traits of a woman of valor. It will completely transform the way you understand Eshet Chayil.īelow is a breakdown of the Eshet Chayil text, in its original Hebrew and translated into English, from Proverbs chapter 31, verses 10–31. Check out this deep dive into the surprising, hidden meaning of the text. Rabbi Fohrman tackles these questions and more in this mind-blowing course on Eshet Chayil. Is it possible that we’ve got it all wrong? Could Solomon perhaps have written this about a specific woman, a “Woman of Valor” who played a crucial role in his own life? What is the deeper meaning behind the words of this song? The question remains, why did King Solomon write this song? Why did he close his book of wisdom with this dramatic poem, this ode to a Woman of Valor? What was his intention? Eshet Chayil In The Bibleīut none of these explanations for the custom do justice to the text of Proverbs 31 itself. According to the Jewish mystical school of thought, Eshet Chayil is sung in honor of the Shechina – the feminine Divine Presence – which the mystics say is more accessible to us on the night of Shabbat. Others ascribe a more mystical meaning to the song. This line of thinking interprets Eshet Chayil as a song that expresses our love and appreciation for Shabbat, and the gifts that “she” bestows upon us every week. For example, the concept of the Shabbat Queen, or Bride. In many places in our liturgy, Shabbat is identified with a feminine quality. Some say that it’s a reference to Shabbat itself. But others understand the Eshet Chayil – the “Woman of Valor” – as a metaphor. While the specific intention behind the custom to sing Eshet Chayil on Friday night is unclear, there are a number of different approaches for explaining this practice.Īs has been mentioned, some people consider it to be a song of gratitude and recognition for the hard-working woman of the household. How does that sit with our 21st-century sensibilities? Is this the model of womanhood that we want to sing about around our table?įor all of these reasons, it’s hard to reconcile the common understanding of Eshet Chayil with the text itself. ![]() ![]() For example, the song talks about a woman who bakes bread (Proverbs 31:27) and sews curtains (31:21-22) while her husband “sits with the elders in the gates of the city” (31:23). That sure sounds like it’s addressing a particular “you,” and not some generic feminine character.Īnd even if we do assume that Eshet Chayil is a generic poem about women, that raises a whole bunch of other questions: Why is this song idealizing an “eshet chayil” of all things? Literally, a woman of power or even military strength? Are those the first praiseworthy feminine virtues that come to mind?įurthermore, if we look at some of the other qualities of the Woman of Valor, they’re not necessarily the kinds of things we want to idealize about women in our day and age. For example, one of its verses reads: “many women have displayed strength, but you have risen above them all” (Proverbs 31:29). Because it doesn’t seem to be a universal ode to “women.” Eshet Chayil seems to be referring to someone very specific. The question becomes compounded when we pay closer attention to the actual words of this song. Why would Solomon choose to end this book by penning his ideal vision of womanhood? After all, Eshet Chayil is the closing section of the Book of Proverbs – King Solomon’s epic work of wisdom and morality. For starters, it doesn’t really seem to make sense in context. The Biblical poem is commonly understood as an ode to feminine strength and qualities, and a moment of appreciation for all the hard work the women of the household have exerted in preparing the lavish Shabbat meal.īut this popular understanding is a bit perplexing. In many homes, singing Eshet Chayil is a way to give honor to the mother or matriarch of the family. It is sung at the beginning of the Shabbat evening meal, immediately before Kiddush. The origin of the custom to sing Eshet Chayil on Shabbat is unknown, but it has been widely adopted by almost every Jewish community. Eshet Chayil Translation, Transliteration & PronunciationĮshet Chayil (pronounced aish-et chai-eel or eishes chayil) is generally translated as “ Woman of Valor.” It’s a portion from the Book of Proverbs (chapter 31:10–31) that is traditionally sung before the Friday night Shabbat meal.
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