She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
Parallel translations
- KJV She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
- BSB She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
- ESV She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
- NKJV She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.
- NASB She surrounds her waist with strength And makes her arms strong.
- NLT She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
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
She works with vigor and strength, ready and able for her tasks.
Overview
Girding her waist and strengthening her arms pictures energetic, capable readiness for hard work. Her diligence is matched by genuine strength and stamina. This portrait dignifies wholehearted labor and commends the robust capability that wisdom cultivates in service to one's household and community.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Job 38:3Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!
- 1 Pet 1:13Therefore prepare your minds for action, be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ —
- Eph 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
- Luke 12:35“Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning.
- 1 Kgs 18:46Yahweh’s hand was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
- Eph 6:14Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
- Isa 44:12The blacksmith takes an ax, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water, and is faint.
- 2 Kgs 4:29Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don’t answer him again. Then lay my staff on the child’s face.”
- Gen 49:24But his bow remained strong. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),
- Hos 7:15Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 31:17 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.