She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
Parallel translations
- WEB She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
- KJV She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
- NKJV She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
- NASB She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
- NLT She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
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 generously opens her hands to help the poor and reaches out to the needy.
Overview
Her industry overflows into compassion, as she extends her resources and care to those in need. Productivity and generosity go together in the truly worthy life. Her open-handed mercy reflects God's heart for the poor and the love of Christ, who enriches others out of His fullness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Eph 4:28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
- Heb 13:16And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- Prov 22:9A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
- Prov 19:17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
- Deut 15:11For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land.
- Acts 20:34–35You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions.
- Ps 41:1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.
- Rom 12:13Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- Ps 112:9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.
- Job 31:16–20If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
- Acts 9:39–41So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
- Rom 10:21But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
- Mark 14:7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.
- Eccl 11:1–2Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
- Prov 1:24Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
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 31:20 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.