Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 31:30
What does Proverbs 31:30 mean?
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Proverbs 31:30
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The verse contrasts superficial traits with something far deeper. "Charm" (or favor) and "beauty" are shown to be unreliable and fleeting, a mere outward show that can easily mislead. True, lasting praise belongs to the woman whose inner life is governed by a profound reverence for God.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse serves as the concluding summary of the entire chapter, which has meticulously described the character and actions of an exceptional woman. After detailing her diligence, wisdom, and kindness, the passage contrasts the fleeting nature of outward attractions with the enduring value of a life lived in reverence for God. It emphasizes that true praise and lasting worth are found not in superficial qualities but in a deep, internal fear of the Lord that permeates all her actions.
We live in a world that often elevates outward appearance. But what happens when that charm fades?
This verse starts with a stark warning: 'Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain.' The words 'deceitful' and 'vain' point to something unreliable and ultimately worthless.
If charm and beauty are so temporary, what truly stands the test of time?
The verse pivots dramatically to declare: 'but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.' This isn't just a different kind of quality; it's the foundation of true, lasting worth.
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Understand the original words
chen · Hebrew Noun
A grace or attractiveness, often relating to outward appearance or social appeal; in the context of Proverbs, it is warned against because it can mask an underlying lack of moral character.
hebel · Hebrew Noun
A quality that is fleeting, unsubstantial, or quickly passing; it signifies that physical beauty alone has no lasting, eternal value.
yare · Hebrew Verb
A reverential trust and obedient devotion to God; it is the fundamental starting point of knowledge and the core of a right relationship with the Creator.
This passage highlights that outward appearances like Samuel's focus on appearance are misleading, echoing Proverbs 31:30's emphasis on what lies beneath the surface and the deceptive nature of mere favor or beauty.
1 Peter 3:3-4Peter directly contrasts external adornment with the 'imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit' which is 'of great worth in God's sight,' mirroring the Proverbs' assertion that superficial charm and beauty are vain compared to godly character.
Ecclesiastes 12:13This verse concludes that the whole duty of humanity is to fear God and keep His commandments, directly aligning with Proverbs 31:30's ultimate praise for the one who fears the Lord, framing it as the foundational principle of true worth.
Matthew 6:33Jesus' command to 'seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness' parallels the Proverbs' focus on fearing the Lord as the primary pursuit, suggesting that true value and lasting praise come from prioritizing God above all else.
pooleProverbs 31:30: "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."
Favour; comeliness; or, as the next clause explains it, beauty, which commonly gives women favour or acceptation with those who behold them. These are the words either, 1. Of her husband, continuing to praise her. Or, 2. Of Bathsheba, giving the sum of what she had said in few words. Is deceitful; partly, because it gives a false representation of the person, being ofttimes a cove…
clarkeProverbs 31:30: "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."
Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain, etc. - III. Here is the summing up of the character. 1. Favour, חן chen, grace of manner may be deceitful, many a fair appearance of this kind is put on, assumed for certain secular or more unworthy purposes; it is learned by painful drilling in polished seminaries, and, being the effect of mere physical discipline, it continues while the r…
The verse contrasts superficial traits with something far deeper. "Charm" (or favor) and "beauty" are shown to be unreliable and fleeting, a mere outward show that can easily mislead. True, lasting praise belongs to the woman whose inner life is governed by a profound reverence for God.
This verse serves as the concluding summary of the entire chapter, which has meticulously described the character and actions of an exceptional woman. After detailing her diligence, wisdom, and kindness, the passage contrasts the fleeting nature of outward attractions with the enduring value of a life lived in reverence for God. It emphasizes that true praise and lasting worth are found not in superficial qualities but in a deep, internal fear of the Lord that permeates all her actions.
This verse serves as the concluding summary of the entire chapter, which has meticulously described the character and actions of an exceptional woman. After detailing her diligence, wisdom, and kindness, the passage contrasts the fleeting nature of outward attractions with the enduring value of a life lived in reverence for God. It emphasizes that true praise and lasting worth are found not in superficial qualities but in a deep, internal fear of the Lord that permeates all her actions.
"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." — The verse contrasts superficial traits with something far deeper. "Charm" (or favor) and "beauty" are shown to be unreliable and fleeting, a mere outward show that can easily mislead. True, lasting p…
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Last reviewed October 2026