She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she 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.
- BSB She opens her arms to the poor and 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 who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.
- Heb 13:16But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
- Prov 22:9He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
- Prov 19:17He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.
- Deut 15:11For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I command you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land.
- Acts 20:34–35You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me.
- Ps 41:1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.
- Rom 12:13contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
- Ps 112:9He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor.
- Job 31:16–20“If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
- Acts 9:39–41Peter 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.
- Rom 10:21But as to Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
- Mark 14:7For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me.
- Eccl 11:1–2Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.
- Prov 1:24Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
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 31:20 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.