Focused Passage

Proverbs 31:19-21

The Words of Lemuel: Righteous Kingship, Justice for the Needy, and the Woman Who Fears the LORD

The chapter moves from royal warning against sensual and intoxicating distraction, to the king's duty to judge fairly and defend the vulnerable, then to an acrostic portrait of wisdom embodied in a noble woman whose diligence, generosity, enterprise, speech, household oversight, and fear of the LORD bring lasting praise.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 19

Cross-references

Exodus 35:25 Classic cross-references Proverbs 31:24 Classic cross-references

Original words

She stretches שִׁלְּחָ֣ה H7971 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular out her hands יָ֭דֶיהָ H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct | third person feminine singular to the distaff בַכִּישׁ֑וֹר H3601 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular and grasps תָּ֣מְכוּ H8551 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural the spindle פָֽלֶךְ׃ H6418 Noun - masculine singular with her fingers וְ֝כַפֶּ֗יהָ H3709 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine dual construct | third person feminine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 13:4 Classic cross-references Ephesians 4:28 Classic cross-references Hebrews 13:16 Classic cross-references Proverbs 19:17 Classic cross-references Proverbs 22:9 Classic cross-references

Original words

She opens פָּרְשָׂ֣ה H6566 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular her arms כַּ֭פָּהּ H3709 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular to the poor לֶעָנִ֑י H6041 Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular and reaches out שִׁלְּחָ֥ה H7971 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular her hands וְ֝יָדֶ֗יהָ H3027 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine dual construct | third person feminine singular to the needy לָֽאֶבְיֽוֹן׃ H34 Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

Genesis 45:22 Classic cross-references Lamentations 4:5 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 1:24 Classic cross-references Proverbs 25:20 Classic cross-references

Original words

When it snows מִשָּׁ֑לֶג H7950 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular she has no לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle fear תִירָ֣א H3372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular for her household לְבֵיתָ֣הּ H1004 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular for כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction [they are] all כָל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . בֵּ֝יתָ֗הּ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular clothed לָבֻ֥שׁ H3847 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular in scarlet שָׁנִֽים׃ H8144 Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

Or doubly clothed

Read full chapter context All Proverbs chapters

<- Proverbs 30 Proverbs 31