My Answer to: What makes a good wife? What qualities make her different from others or exceptional in some way?

Modern women today (traditional) are not raised to be a wives. To contrast a traditional wife to modern women in the United States, many are likely raised to get an education and build a career. Once their career is built, they will date and put off marriage until their 30s or older. In the meantime, they master being an employee, rather than an entrepreneur.

Due to the rigors of competing with men and masculine women in the corporate workplace, they might be prone to bring those same attitudes home if she has a family. These attitudes will clash with her husband and likely negatively affect her children. Current statistics state that women initiate 84% of all divorces in the United States. This percentage jumps to 94% if they are college educated.

A good wife (traditional) and husband are well described in the Bible. Since God created marriage, let's look at His perspective. We start in Genesis 2:20-22 (NIV) 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky, and all the wild animals. But for Adam, no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

If you go to the "Strong's Concordance" and look up the word "helper," you will find the Hebrew word "succor." In the Etymology Dictionary, this word means aid, help, a helping hand, assistance, ministration, comfort, ease, relief, support, guidance, backing, or easement.

In Ephesians 5:22, the Apostle Paul directs the woman to submit to her husband. The word "submit" is the Greek word "hupotassó," which means to "rank under" to be reflexive. This type of submission is not what you see in a UFC match. Instead, it is a responsive act toward her loving husband.

In 1 Samuel 30:23-31, we see Abigail. She's an astute, intelligent, wise, and respectful woman of God whose quick action spares the lives of all the men in her household. In Proverbs 31, we see similar characteristics in the "Proverbs 31 Woman" in the book of Proverbs chapter 31, verses 10-31. Based on the previous Biblical references, here is a summary of a good wife:

A good wife is:

1. Helpful
2. Respectful
3. Comforting
4. Supportive
5. Reflexive (responds as if automatically)
6. Wise
7. Loyal
8. Noble
9. She brings her husband good, not harm
10. Resourceful
11. Entrepreneurial
12. Able to teach
13. Carries herself with dignity
14. Fears and reveres God

Having traveled the world four times over, in my humble opinion, you will find these time-tested principles in women predominantly in Latin America, Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

-John