This chapter is a message from King Lemuel’s mother to her son (:1). Beyond these directives (:2-9), mom also gives him a lesson on what a good wife is really like (:10-31).
At the end of her insightful discussion about this “wife of noble character’ (:10), mom offers this verse. In our translation (NIV), it’s in quotation marks, because it’s the only verse where she addresses this woman directly.
Mom says to her, “many women do noble things.” That suggestsd there are lots of these kind of ladies out there – that means us guys still have a chance to find us a good one! It also suggests that the guy who already has one is very blessed!
Probably the most important word in the verse is “noble”(see also :10). The word denotes strength, capacity, excellence and power — these are special ladies!
But, then, mom suggests this particular lady “surpasses them all” in her noble activities. Of course, she doesn’t mention her by name, so we don’t know who she is.
But that’s a good thing, because she could be any lady out there. Any woman who wants to think and live like this…can do it! And the whole world will benefit from your life!