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Acrostic
In the Bible, an acrostic is a form of Hebrew poetry where the first letters of consecutive lines, stanzas, or other sections spell out a word, phrase, or the entire alphabet. This technique is primarily found in the Old Testament, particularly in the poetic books like Psalms and Lamentations.
Psalms 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145, as well as parts of Lamentations and Proverbs 31, are examples of acrostic poetry in the Bible.
Some translators include the Hebrew words before the lines or stanzas.
You might have seen them, there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and the words look like this:
Alef, Bet, Gimel, Dalet, He, Vav, Zayin, Het, Tet, Yod, Kaf, Lamed, Mem, Num, Samech, Ayin, Pe, Tzadi, Qof, Resh, Shin, Tav.
Proverbs 31:10-31 is an acrostic poem, where each verse (from verse 10 to 31) begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Chiasm
A chiasm (or chiastic structure) in the Bible is where ideas are presented and then repeated or inverted in a symmetrical, mirror-like pattern. This structure helps to clarify and emphasize key themes and ideas within a passage, chapter, or even an entire book.
Not only is Proverbs 31 an acrostic poem (Hebrew Alphabetically written), but it also contains 2 chiasms, 1 chiasm within another chiasm!
What is a Chiasm?
Inverted parallelism: Ideas are presented, then repeated in reverse order.
Central focus: The center of the chiasm often highlights the most important point the author is making.
For Example:
Genesis 9:6: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed“.
Mark 2:27: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath“.
Matthew 23:12: “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted“.
In Proverbs 6:16–19 it mentioned the things YHWH hates, it first says “6”, and then it says rather “7” – which gives it a center point 3+1+3.
1a) Haughty eyes,
2a) a lying tongue,
3a) And hands that shed innocent blood,
KEY FOCUS) A heart that devises wicked plans,
3b) Feet that run rapidly to evil,
2b) A false witness who utters lies,
1b) And one who spreads [sows] strife among brothers.
Notice how 1a and 1b expand on each other (the same haughty nature that is full of arrogance and disdain is the same that spreads strife). 2a (lying tongue) and 2b (uttering lies and a false witness) parallel each other. 3a and 3b deal with hands and feet. The focal point of the passage summarizes each line: a heart that devises wicked plans—pride, lies, and evil are produced from a wicked heart.
There is actually a website where people share Chiasms found in Scripture – and the whole Bible is FULL of them! https://www.chiasmusxchange.com/
In fact, everything from Genesis to Revelation is a Chiasm! We have prophecies pointing to Yeshua, and Yeshua fulfilling prophecies since the beginning of the garden of Eden. Yeshua is the center, the Key Focus point. He said in Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” The Torah (Laws and Instructions), the Prophecies and the 7 Appointed Times of YHWH point to Yeshua, and also points the the end of Revelations – where things are renewed, a New Heaven and a New Earth (Revelation 21:1).
A Virtuous Wife
Proverbs 31:10-31 You can trust her, she is not lazy, she gives, she makes, she considers, she watches, she appoints, she cares, she protects, she fears YHWH, but she also has a good husband that is respected and he praises and loves her.
Let’s read about this wife with the ACROSTIC Hebrew Alphabet in mind:
The HEBREW ALPHABET 22 Letters :
read letters below from right to left :
אבגדהוזחטיכלמנסעפצקרשת
Alef[א], Bet[ב], Gimel[ג], Dalet[ד], He[ה], Vav[ו], Zayin[ז], Het[ח], Tet[ט], Yod[י], Kaf[כ], Lamed[ל], Mem[מ], Num[נ], Samech[ס], Ayin[ע], Pe[פ], Tzadi[צ], Qof[ק], Resh[ר], Shin[ש], Tav[ת]
*to explain further- Each of the Proverb Lines, the first Hebrew Word of that Line begins with the Hebrew Alphabet Number. (So if you were reading it in Hebrew, the first line, the first word and the first letter would be Alef. The second line, first word & first letter is Bet, The third line, 1st word & letter is Gimel, etc..)
Below is each line (which is 22 lines, corresponding with 22 Hebrew Alphabet numbers), and the Hebrew Word that begin in that line, and the english translation of that Word.
Proverbs 31:10-31 : Acrostic Words / Hebrew Alphabet (hebrew words are written from right to left)
- אֵשֶׁת : H802 – ‘iššâ : woman
- בָּטַח : H982 – bāṭaḥ : trust
- גָּמַל : H1580 – gāmal : wean a child, deal out, give bountiful
- דָּרַשׁ : H1875 – dāraš : seek, enquire
- הָיָה : H1961 – hāyâ : be, exist
- וַתָּקָם : H6965 – qûm : stand, rise
- זָמַם : H2161 – zāmam : thought, consider, plan, devise
- חָגַר : H2296 – ḥāḡar : gird on, put on belt or bind on, appoint, surround
- טָעַם : H2938 – ṭāʿam : taste, perceive
- יָד : H3027 – yāḏ : hand, consecrate, strength, sign
- פָּרַשׂ : H6566 – pāraś : spread out, scatter, break in pieces, share
- לֹא תִירָא : lō’ H3372 – yārē’ : NOT (lo) fear, afraid, dreadful
- מַרְבַדִּים : H4765 – marḇaḏ : spread, covering
- נוֹדָע : H3045 – yāḏaʿ : known, perceive, consider
- סָדִין : H5466 – sāḏîn : linen outer garment
- עֹז : H5797 – ʿōz : might, strength, bold, majesty
- פִּיהָ : H6310 – pê : mouth, command, according, appoint
- צוֹפִיָּה : H6822 – ṣāp̄â : watchman, lookout, observe, keep close watch
- קָמוּ : H6965 – qûm : rise up, stand, established
- רַבּוֹת : H7227 – raḇ : many, great, abounding in, abundant, captain, mighty
- שֶׁקֶר : H8267 – šeqer : wrong, disappoint (others will charm – which is deceitful)
- תְּנוּ : H5414 – nāṯan : give, bestow, grant, permit, designate, entrust, deliver
Let’s read about this wife with CHIASM in mind:
A (10) Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
B (11-12) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
C (looking after her household)
a. (13) She seeketh wool, and flax,
and worketh willingly with her hands.
b. (14) She is like the merchants‘ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
c. (15) She riseth also while it is yet night,
and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
d. (16) She considereth a field, and buyeth it:
with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
c’. (17) She girdeth her loins with strength,
and strengtheneth her arms.
b’. (18) She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
a’. (19) She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
D (20) She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;
yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
E (21-22) She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
F (23) Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
E’ (24-25) She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
D’ (26) She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
C’ (27) She looketh well to the ways of her household,
and eateth not the bread of idleness.
B’ (28-29) Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
A’ (30-31) Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth YHWH, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
