She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
Parallel translations
- KJV She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
- BSB She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
- ESV She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
- NKJV She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar.
- NASB She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar.
- NLT She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
Like merchant ships, she resourcefully brings provisions from afar for her household.
Overview
The image of trading vessels portrays her enterprise and foresight in providing well for her family. She looks beyond the immediate to secure what her household needs. Her resourceful provision reflects wise stewardship and care, virtues that flow from a life ordered by the fear of the LORD.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 1 Kgs 9:26–28King Solomon made a fleet of ships in Ezion Geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.
- Ezek 27:3–36and tell Tyre, you who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, thus says the Lord Yahweh: You, Tyre, have said, I am perfect in beauty.
- Prov 31:24She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
- 2 Chr 9:10The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees and precious stones.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 31:14 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.