A woman in the town where we live was such a nasty, nosy, in your face type of person that, instead of referring to her as Eva, many called her “Evil.” Not surprisingly, she raised a daughter who followed in her mother’s pattern of ungodliness. Those who really know these women want little to do with them.

Herodias was the same kind of evil woman, yet even worse. She was an immoral woman who had a consensual union with Herod after leaving her husband, Herod’s brother. When John the Baptist rebuked them for this union, he was imprisoned. Angry and vindictive, Herodias wanted John put to death. When Herodias’ daughter went to dance seductively before Herod during his birthday banquet, she was “before instructed of her mother” to ask for “John (the) Baptist’s head in a charger” (Matthew 14:8). Herod complied, but he did so by going against his better judgment because he feared the multitudes that considered John a prophet. What Herodias could not achieve outright, she did by coercion, manipulation, and trickery.

The mother of Solomon stands in stark contrast. “The prophecy that his mother had taught him” included a strong warning to beware of “wine…lest they [kings] drink, and forget the law and pervert…judgment” (Proverbs 31:1-5). The law, or strong commands, of his mother was given “to keep thee from the evil woman” (Proverbs 6:6, 24). She told Solomon to look for “a woman that feareth the Lord” (Proverbs 31:30) and gave a lengthy description of how such a woman conducts herself (Proverbs 31:10-31). These qualities in a woman were of great price in the days of Solomon, and they are just as important today. We learn from Titus 2:3-5 that older women are to teach younger women about “behavior as becometh holiness… [and is] discreet.” Mothers are also to teach their children to “know how to possess his [or her] vessel in sanctification and honor” and not to “defraud” others in areas of temptation, such as wearing revealing clothing, or being sexually aggressive outside of marriage (I Thessalonians 4:3-6).

We urge women who read these descriptions to purpose to eradicate the qualities of ungodliness, and avoid those who revel in them. But do more. Seek to build true godliness into your life. To the men, we urge you to look for a truly godly woman as your soul mate in marriage. And if you have found such a woman, tell her today how thankful you are for her godly example.