Bible Strands
Proverbs 31:22
She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The mother of Lemuel addresses her son, describing the daily provisions of a capable wife within a household that faces winter cold. The description follows a statement about the household’s protection from snow and precedes a note on the husband’s public standing at the city gates.
The words — The text highlights מַרְבַדִּים (marbadim), meaning coverings or rugs, and שֵׁשׁ (shesh), meaning fine linen, paired with אַרְגָּמָן (argaman), purple dye. These terms specify the materials she actively prepares for her bed and personal attire.
The thread — The imagery of fine linen and bed coverings recurs in Proverbs 7:16 where a seductress decks her bed with Egyptian linen, and in Genesis 41:42 when Joseph is clothed in fine linen by Pharaoh. Revelation 19:8 later uses fine linen to symbolize the righteous acts of the saints.
Why it lands — The passage demands recognition of deliberate preparation and material provision as expressions of domestic competence. It calls the reader to evaluate how tangible resources and careful planning sustain a household’s stability and dignity.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Cross-references
- Revelation 19:8 She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.
- Genesis 41:42 Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck.
- Proverbs 7:16 I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt.
- Judges 8:26 The weight of the gold earrings he had requested was 1,700 shekels, in addition to the crescent ornaments, the pendants, the purple garments of the kings of Midian, and the chains from the necks of their camels.
- Esther 8:15 Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.
- Psalms 45:13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber; her gown is embroidered with gold.
- Ezekiel 16:10 I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk.
- 1 Peter 3:3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,
- Revelation 19:14 The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses.
- Esther 5:1 On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.