She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Parallel translations
- WEB She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
- BSB She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out 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 4:28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
- Heb 13:16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
- Prov 22:9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
- Prov 19:17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
- Deut 15:11For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
- Acts 20:34–35Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
- Ps 41:1Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
- Rom 12:13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
- Ps 112:9He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
- Job 31:16–20If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
- Acts 9:39–41Then 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.
- Rom 10:21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
- Mark 14:7For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
- Eccl 11:1–2Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
- Prov 1:24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
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.