Proverbs 31:22 kjv
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Proverbs 31:22 nkjv
She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Proverbs 31:22 niv
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Proverbs 31:22 esv
She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Proverbs 31:22 nlt
She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
Proverbs 31 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 12:4 | An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. | A virtuous wife brings honor and dignity. |
| Prov 19:14 | House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. | The quality of a wife is a divine gift. |
| Prov 31:13 | She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. | Her industriousness in sourcing materials for textiles. |
| Prov 31:17 | She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. | Her physical vigor and resolve in her work. |
| Prov 31:24 | She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. | Her entrepreneurial activity, directly making linen. |
| Prov 31:25 | Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. | Inner character as true clothing; confidence. |
| Prov 6:6-8 | Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her food in summer and gathers her provision in harvest. | Emphasis on diligence and forethought. |
| Tit 2:4-5 | ...to encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands... | Importance of managing the home. |
| 1 Tim 2:9-10 | ...women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. | Focus on inner beauty and good works, yet acknowledging attire. |
| 1 Pet 3:3-4 | Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. | Inner beauty is prioritized over lavish outward show. |
| Exod 28:5-8 | And they shall take gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. They shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked. | Priestly garments use fine linen and purple, denoting holiness and honor. |
| Rev 19:8 | It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. | Fine linen symbolizes righteousness and purity, a spiritual garment. |
| Eze 16:10-13 | I clothed you with embroidered cloth and sandals of sealskin, and wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk... and put a beautiful crown on your head. | God adorning Jerusalem with rich garments, signifying honor and blessing. |
| Gen 41:42 | Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. | Fine linen indicates high status and authority (Joseph). |
| 1 Kgs 10:28 | Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s traders would buy them from Kue at a price. | Solomon’s wealth, able to afford luxury. |
| Prov 3:13-15 | Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels... | Wisdom (akin to the Prov 31 woman's character) is ultimate value. |
| Prov 24:3-4 | By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. | Wisdom in building and filling a home with quality. |
| Deut 8:18 | You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. | God's provision and enablement to acquire wealth. |
| Ps 112:3 | Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. | Blessings upon the righteous, including material provision. |
| Matt 6:28-29 | Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. | While her garments are costly, a reminder that God clothes. |
Proverbs 31 verses
Proverbs 31 22 Meaning
Proverbs 31:22 describes the virtuous woman's diligent work in preparing for her household and her own dignified appearance. "She makes coverings for her bed" highlights her skilled craftsmanship and her commitment to comfort and beauty within her home. This implies a well-ordered and pleasant domestic environment. "Her clothing is fine linen and purple" signifies her noble status, prosperity, and honorable appearance, which are direct results of her industriousness and wise management, rather than frivolous expenditure.
Proverbs 31 22 Context
Proverbs 31:22 is an integral part of the ode to the "Woman of Valor" or "Excellent Wife" (Prov 31:10-31), an acrostic poem presented as counsel from a queen mother to her son, King Lemuel. This section follows descriptions of her market activities, domestic management, and foresight. Verse 22 focuses on the products of her labor: the comfort and aesthetics of her private chambers and her personal attire. Culturally, the possession and making of fine textiles like linen and purple were markers of wealth, status, and sophisticated household management, especially since purple dye was exceedingly expensive, often reserved for royalty and nobility due to its rare source (murex snails) and complex production. This verse showcases that the woman’s diligence not only ensures the provision for her family (Prov 31:15, 21) but also allows for her own esteemed and honorable presentation, directly stemming from her wisdom and industry rather than inherited status or vanity.
Proverbs 31 22 Word analysis
- She (הִיא - hi): Feminine singular pronoun, refers back to "a wife of noble character" (Prov 31:10), the subject of the entire poem. It signifies her active role and initiative.
- makes (עָשְׂתָה - 'asətah): Verb, perfect tense, "she has made" or "she makes." It emphasizes her accomplished action and continuous labor. This verb often denotes skilled workmanship and intentional creation.
- coverings (מַרְבַדִּים - marbaddim): From the root rabhad meaning "to spread out." These are rich spreads, tapestries, or ornamental coverings, not merely basic bedding. They imply beauty, comfort, and luxury in the domestic sphere, often signifying status or the well-appointed home.
- for her bed (לָּהּ עֶרֶשׂ - lah 'eres): 'eres refers to a bed, couch, or divan. The phrase suggests these coverings are for personal or familial comfort and adornment within the private parts of the home, perhaps her marriage bed or a place of rest, further denoting a household that is well-provided for in its intimate spaces.
- her clothing (לְבוּשָׁהּ - l'vushah): Singular noun for garment or apparel. It refers to her outward appearance and attire.
- is fine linen (שֵׁשׁ - shesh): A costly and luxurious type of white linen, usually spun from Egyptian flax. It was highly valued and associated with purity, royalty, priesthood (e.g., Tabernacle textiles, priestly vestments), and divine glory (Rev 19:8). It reflects the superior quality of her attire, indicating prosperity and high status.
- and purple (וְאַרְגָּמָן - wə'argaman): 'Argaman refers to the color purple, an exceedingly expensive dye, extracted from shellfish, which was rare and costly to produce. It was the color of royalty, nobility, wealth, and power. Its inclusion further highlights her esteemed position and abundant resources.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- She makes coverings for her bed: This phrase emphasizes her active role as a skilled artisan and homemaker. Her hands are productive, creating not just necessities but also items of comfort and beauty for her private domain. This suggests a well-managed household where even private spaces are cared for and adorned, a sign of her meticulous attention to detail and ability to elevate living standards through her craft.
- her clothing is fine linen and purple: This grouping signifies the tangible results and societal recognition of her industry and wisdom. The high quality and expense of her garments are a testament to her family's prosperity, which she contributes to. It reflects her honor, dignity, and perhaps even her professional reputation if she also trades such fabrics, as hinted in Prov 31:24. It is not about vanity but about the external representation of a well-ordered, productive, and blessed life.
Proverbs 31 22 Bonus section
The depiction of "fine linen and purple" for the woman's clothing has profound symbolic weight across the biblical narrative. In the Old Testament, these materials are consistently linked to the sacred and royal: the tabernacle curtains and priestly garments were made of fine linen and dyed with blue, purple, and scarlet threads, indicating holiness, divine presence, and sacred royalty (Exod 26:1, 28:5-8). Kings and noble figures often wore purple (Jdg 8:26, Dan 5:7). This connection elevates the description of the virtuous woman beyond mere domesticity; her clothing implies a regal and dignified bearing, signifying her esteemed position both within her family and society. In the New Testament, fine linen specifically symbolizes righteousness, as seen in the bride of Christ being arrayed in "fine linen, bright and pure," which represents "the righteous deeds of the saints" (Rev 19:8). Thus, the verse implicitly connects her physical adornment—achieved through her diligence—with a character that reflects righteousness and honor. Her outwardly distinguished appearance is a fruit, not the root, of her inner virtue and labor.
Proverbs 31 22 Commentary
Proverbs 31:22 illuminates the internal virtue of the excellent wife through her outward manifestations. Her ability to create luxurious bed coverings speaks to her diligence, skill in crafts, and foresight in preparing for comfort and beauty within her home. This implies not only functionality but an aesthetic dimension, showcasing a woman who enriches her household beyond basic needs. Furthermore, her attire of "fine linen and purple" is not depicted as a mark of self-indulgent extravagance but as the rightful consequence of her wise management, industry, and provision for her family (Prov 31:27). These valuable fabrics were symbolic of honor, wealth, and status in ancient societies, aligning her with royalty and the highest echelons of society. Her distinguished appearance reflects the honor and blessing that result from a life dedicated to godly diligence, serving her household, and conducting herself with strength and dignity, rather than mere outward show for its own sake. The passage affirms that a diligent and wise woman enhances the reputation and well-being of her entire household, including her own respectable bearing.