Bible Strands
Proverbs 31:24
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The passage belongs to a poetic portrait of a capable woman, positioned between a note on her husband’s civic reputation (31:23) and a statement about her personal resilience (31:25).
The words — The Hebrew סָדִין (sa.Din) means linen garments, linked to עָ֭שְׂתָה ('A.se.tah, "she makes") and וַ/תִּמְכֹּ֑ר (va./tim.Kor, "she sold"). The verse further records that she supplies וַ֝/חֲג֗וֹר (va./cha.Gor, "belts/sashes") to לַֽ/כְּנַעֲנִֽי (La./ke.na.'a.Ni, "merchants").
The thread — The commerce of fine linen appears in Ezekiel 27:16 as part of ancient trade networks and in Luke 16:19 to denote the wealth of a wealthy man.
Why it lands — The text states the woman’s direct involvement in manufacturing and selling textiles before any moral inference is drawn. It requires the reader to recognize her economic labor as the concrete basis for the subsequent description of her character.
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 fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 27:16 Aram was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.
- Luke 16:19 Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor.
- Judges 14:12 “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.
- 1 Kings 10:28 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the royal merchants purchased them from Kue.
- Proverbs 31:13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
- Proverbs 31:19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.