She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Parallel translations
- WEB She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
- BSB She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
- NKJV She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.
- NASB She looks for wool and linen, And works with her hands in delight.
- NLT She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
She gathers wool and flax and works willingly and skillfully with her hands.
Overview
The worthy woman is industrious, taking up productive labor with eager diligence rather than reluctance. Her cheerful work ethic honors the dignity God gives to ordinary labor. Such glad diligence reflects the wisdom that delights to serve, a disposition cultivated in those whose hearts are renewed by grace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Tim 5:10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
- Titus 2:5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
- 2 Th 3:10–12For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
- Acts 9:39–40Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
- Ruth 2:2–3And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
- Isa 3:16–24Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
- Ruth 2:23So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
- Gen 24:18–20And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
- Gen 18:6–8And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
- Gen 29:9–10And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.
- Gen 24:13–14Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
- Isa 32:9–11Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.
- 1 Tim 5:14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
- 1 Th 4:11And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
- Exod 2:16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 31:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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