Does everybody sing eishes chayil or just those who are married?

Question

I was asked this question and I have no idea. Is it a minhag? Before someone asked me this, I thought everybody sung it?

Answer 1

There are many reasons why Aishes Chayil is sung on Shabbos, but for those with the minhag to say it, it seems to be to said whether married or not (we sang it in every yeshiva I was in despite not of us being married at the time).

Following most of the reasons given in the linked article, it does not seem that one would need to be married either:

• The Arizal would kiss his mother's hands (Shaar ha-Kavanot Inyan Arvit Leil Shabbos 2) - so the focus may be on one's mother rather than one's wife (and most people have a mother even if they are not married).
• The Midrash Tanchuma (Chayei Sarah 4) says it was composed by Avraham after Sarah died, so he said it when he was not married to Sarah anymore.
• The Midrash Shocher Tov (Mishlei 31) writes it corresponds to the 19 great Jewish women, rather than one's wife or refers to the Torah.
• The Shelah explains this song is for the Shechina, while others explain the Zohar says Aishes Chayil parallels Shabbos which gives beracha to the rest of the week.

You can go down the list and find most of the reasons apply to married and single men alike. I wouldn't say it's an old-wives tale that Aishes Chayil is being sung for one's wife, but all of my Rebbeim who spoke about it said we sing it for other reasons - it just makes your wife happy thinking we're singing for her. (One of the main reasons we light shabbos candles is for shalom bayis (Shabbos 23a), so if Aishes Chayil increases shalom bayis then better all-the-moreso.)