Proverbs 31:21-31

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are ¹clothed with scarlet.

22 She makes ²coverings for herself; Her clothing is ³fine linen and ⁴purple.

23 Her husband is known ⁵in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes ⁶linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen.

25 Strength and ⁷dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future *.

26 She ⁸opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the ⁹bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

29 "Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all."

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who ¹⁰fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.

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Proverbs 31:21-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 31

This chapter contains the last part of the book of Proverbs; which some reckon the fifth, others the sixth. It contains the instructions of the mother of a prince, whose name was Lemuel, which she gave unto him; and which are so valuable, as to be annexed to the proverbs of Solomon. The preface or introduction to them is in Pr 31:1; the address to her son, Pr 31:2. The vices she cautions him against are uncleanness and intemperance; which she dissuades from, because of the pernicious consequences of both to kings and to their subjects, Pr 31:3-5. Advises rather to give wine and strong drink to poor people, such as are in distress; as being more useful to them, at least less prejudicial, Pr 31:6,7; and exhorts her son to the duties of his office; by pleading the cause of the poor and injured, and administering justice to them, Pr 31:8,9. And then at large describes a virtuous woman; perhaps designed as an instruction to her son in the choice of a wife, Pr 31:10-31; though more than that may be intended by it.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 10

1. 2 Samuel 1:24
2. Proverbs 7:16
3. Genesis 41:42; Revelation 19:8, 14
4. Judges 8:26; Luke 16:19
5. Deuteronomy 16:18; Ruth 4:1, 11
6. Judges 14:12
7. 1 Timothy 2:9, 10
8. Proverbs 10:31
9. Proverbs 19:15
10. Psalms 112:1; Proverbs 22:4

Footnotes 6

[a]. Lit "gives"
[b]. Lit "Canaanite"
[c]. Lit "latter days"
[d]. Or "law"
[e]. Or "reverences"
[f]. Lit "fruit"