She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.
Parallel translations
- WEB She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
- KJV She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly 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.
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 5:10being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.
- Titus 2:5to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.
- 2 Th 3:10–12For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone will not work, don’t let him eat.”
- Acts 9:39–40Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
- Ruth 2:2–3Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
- Isa 3:16–24Moreover Yahweh said, “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, walking to trip as they go, jingling ornaments on their feet;
- Ruth 2:23So she stayed close to the maidens of Boaz, to glean to the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she lived with her mother-in-law.
- Gen 24:18–20She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him drink.
- Gen 18:6–8Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”
- Gen 29:9–10While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.
- Gen 24:13–14Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
- Isa 32:9–11Rise up, you women who are at ease! Hear my voice! You careless daughters, give ear to my speech!
- 1 Tim 5:14I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.
- 1 Th 4:11and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you;
- Exod 2:16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.