“Grace is deceptive, Beauty is illusory; It is for her fear of the LORD That a woman is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).

I found this line interesting because it in a way continues the sentiment of Genesis 3:16. Proverbs 31:10-31 discusses the achievements of a capable wife, who in this case is a weaver women. There is a repetition of the idea of constant work; of her job never ending. Towards the end it says that her children believe her to be happy and her husband praises her, saying that she has surpassed all the other wives. The line that follows is quoted above . It emphasizes how a women’s “grace” and beauty” are not the essential elements of her that she should be praised but that she should be praised for “her fear of the LORD”. I found this to be interesting because after reading Genesis and how Eve was punished arguably most severely this stuck out to me. The precedent that seems to be set is that if a women falters, if she does not do what is expected of her, if she does not relentlessly do what she should she will face a harsher judgement. Because of this women walk around with a higher caution, a greater fear of the LORD and what could happen. Why is this?