Romans 12:11(v15)not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Mark 1:35(v15)Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.
Luke 12:42(v15)The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at…
1 Thessalonians 2:9(v18)For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the…
Job 38:3(v17)Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!
Show all 27 cross-references
Proverbs 20:13(v15)Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Matthew 13:44(v16)“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he…
Ephesians 6:10(v17)Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
1 Peter 1:13(v17)Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of…
Exodus 35:25-26(v19)All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun: the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the…
Ecclesiastes 9:10(v15)Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are…
Matthew 25:3-10(v18)Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now…
1 Kings 18:46(v17)Yahweh’s hand was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Song of Solomon 8:12(v16)My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon, two hundred for those who tend its fruit.
Luke 12:35(v17)“Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning.
Ephesians 6:14(v17)Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Genesis 31:40(v18)This was my situation: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes.
Joshua 3:1(v15)Joshua got up early in the morning; and they moved from Shittim and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel. They camped…
2 Kings 4:29(v17)Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him;…
2 Chronicles 36:15(v15)Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and…
Psalms 119:147-148(v15)I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words. My eyes stay open through the night watches, that I might meditate on…
Psalms 127:2(v18)It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for he gives sleep to his loved ones.
Isaiah 44:12(v17)The blacksmith takes an ax, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He is hungry, and his strength…
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9(v18)For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you, neither did we eat bread from anyone’s…
Genesis 49:24(v17)But his bow remained strong. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (from there is the shepherd,…
Joshua 15:18(v16)When she came, she had him ask her father for a field. She got off her donkey, and Caleb said, “What do you want?”
Hosea 7:15(v17)Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Geneva Bible translators1599 · Public DomainOn vv15–16Or, meat, as Ps. 111:5
Or, meat, as Ps. 111:5
She prepareth their meat betime.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp1656 · Public DomainOn vv15–19Pro 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet…
Pro 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Ver. 15. She riseth also while it is yet night.] That is, Betime in the morning - "a great while before day," as our Saviour also did to pray. {Mar 1:35}
Read full note →
And a portion to her maids.] She neither pines nor pampers them, but allows them that which is sufficient. Three things, saith Aristotle, a man owes to his servants: work, meat, and correction, - εργα, τροφην κολασιν
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole1685 · Public DomainOn vv15–19While it is yet night; early in the morning,…
While it is yet night; early in the morning, to redeem thee.
Giveth meat; distributeth all her necessary provisions.
Read full note →
A portion; either,
1. Of work, which she allots to them. Or rather,
2. Of provisions for them; for so this word is used, Gen 47:22; Lev 10:13,14; Pr 30:8, and no where, to my remembrance, of an allotment of work. And so this clause agrees best with the former, expressing the same thing in other words, according to the manner.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill1763 · Public DomainOn vv15–19She riseth also while it is yet night,.... That…
She riseth also while it is yet night,.... That is, before the ascent of the morning, as Aben Ezra explains it, before break of day; a great while before day, as Christ is said to rise to pray, Mar 1:35; while it was yet dark; so the church here: which shows her affection for her family, her care of her children, and fervent zeal for her husband's interest and good; a different frame of spirit this from that of hers in Sol 5:2;
and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens; in allusion to a daily stated allowance (q) of food given to such; and spiritually may be meant, by her "household" or family, the same with the family of Christ, that is named of himself, which consists of various persons, fathers, young men, and children; and by her "maidens" the ministers of the word; see Pro 9:3; who are stewards in the family, and have the food for it put into their hands to dispense; it is by these the church gives meat to her household feeds them with knowledge and understanding, with the wholesome words of Christ, with the good doctrines of the Gospel; these have a certain portion given them, and they rightly cut and divide the word of truth, and give to everyone their portion of meat in due season, according to their age and circumstances; milk indeed to babes and meat to strong men; see Luk 12:42. The Targum renders the word for "portion by service": understanding not a portion of food, but of work, a task set them, and so the word is used in Exo 5:14. The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it, "works", which may be very well applied to the work and service of the Gospel ministry, and the several parts of it.
Read full note →
(q) "Gauldetque diurnos, ut famulae, praebere cibos", Claudian. de Bello Gild. v. 71, 72.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley1765 · Public DomainOn vv15–19Giveth - Distributes all necessary provisions.
Giveth - Distributes all necessary provisions.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke1810 · Public DomainOn vv15–19Verse 15. She riseth also while it is yet…
Verse 15. She riseth also while it is yet night]
4. She is an economist of time; and when the nights are long, and the days short, her family not only spend a part of the evening after sunset in domestic labour, but they all arise before daylight, and prepare the day's food, that they may not have their labour interrupted. To those who are going to the fields, and to the flocks, she gives the food necessary for the day: טרף teref, prey, a term taken from hunting, the object of which was, the supplying their natural wants: hence applied to daily food. See Clarke on Pr 30:8. And to the women who are to be employed within, she gives חק chok, the task - the kind of work they are to do, the materials out of which they are to form it, and the quantity she expects from each. Thus all the servants are settled: their food, work, and tasks appointed. Every thing is done orderly.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson1811 · Public DomainOn vv15, 16, 17, 19Pro 31:15. She riseth while it is yet night…
Pro 31:15. She riseth while it is yet night — “She doth not indulge herself in too much sleep, but is an early riser, before the break of day, to make provision for those who are to go abroad to work in the fields, and to set her maidens their several tasks at home. The reader will observe that the ideas here refer to those modest and ancient times when female occupations were far different: even of the highest rank, from such as are usual in modern times.” — Dodd.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes1834 · Public DomainOn vv15–16A portion to her maidens - The daily task…
A portion to her maidens - The daily task assigned to each at the same time as the daily food. Compare Pro 30:8; Exo 5:14.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary1859 · Public DomainOn vv15–19Night, or early in the morning, as soon as…
Night, or early in the morning, as soon as the night was over; de nocte. Hebrew, "while it is yet night." (Haydock) --- Extreme vigilance is required of those who direct others. "The master must be first up, and last in bed." (Cato v.)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown1871 · Public DomainOn vv15, 16, 17, 19She diligently attends to expending as well as gathering…
She diligently attends to expending as well as gathering wealth;
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon1874 · Public DomainOn vv15–1915. A portion — The allotted portion, or the…
15. A portion — The allotted portion, or the assigned tasks. It is the same word as in Pro_30:8, which see.
While it is yet night — That is, before daylight. The Orientals generally rise very early in the morning. The excessive heat of the day frequently renders labour, especially out of doors, insupportable. Hence, a great deal of business is transacted, even in royal courts, at a very early hour. The women usually rise earlier than the men, often long before day, engaging busily in the preparation of their meals, and in the various manufactures for the household and for sale.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1878 · Public DomainOn vv15, 18, 1915. a portion] So R.V. margin. But R.V. text,…
15. a portion] So R.V. margin. But R.V. text, their task, the pensum, or amount of wool weighed out to each maiden for her day’s task. Comp.
“Noctem addens operi, famulasque ad lumina longo
Read full note →
Exercet penso.”
Virg. Æn. VIII. 411, 412.
Dean Plumptre (Speak. Comm.) compares the picture of Lucretia, Liv. i. 57: “nocte sera, deditam lanæ, inter lucubrantes ancillas in medio ædium sedentem invenerunt”
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers1878 · Public DomainOn vv15–16(15) And giveth meat to her household, and a…
(15) And giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.—Gives out food for her household, and the allotted portion of provisions (comp. Pro_30:8) or work (comp. Exo_5:14) to her maidens.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary1880 · Public DomainOn vv15–19VAV. She riseth also while it is yet night.…
VAV. She riseth also while it is yet night. Before dawn she is up and stirring, to be ready for her daily occupation. A lamp is always kept burning at night in Eastern houses, and as it is of very small dimensions, the careful housewife has to rise at midnight to replenish the oil, and she often then begins her household work by grinding the corn or preparing something for next day"s meals (comp. ver. 18). Early rising before any great undertaking is continually mentioned in Scripture. (see Gen_19:2 Gen_22:3 Psa_57:8 Jer_7:13 Jer_25:4, etc.; Mar 16:2Jo 20:1) And giveth meat to her household; deditquae praedam domesticis suis, Vulgate. The word for "meat" is tereph , which means "food torn in pieces" with the teeth, (Psa_111:5) and hence food to be eaten. The wife thus early prepares or distributes the food which will be wanted for the day. And a portion to her maidens. Chok, "final portion," may apply either to work or food. The Vulgate has cibaria, "meat;" Septuagint, erga , "tasks." The former, which is in accordance with Pro_30:8, would be merely a repetition of the second clause, the meat mentioned there being here called the allotted portion, and would be simply tautological. If we take it in the sense of "appointed labour," we get a new idea, very congruous with the housewife"s activity. (comp. Exo_5:14, where the same word is used in the ease of the enforced labour of the Israelites)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0On vv16, 18the fruit of her hands
the fruit of her hands
The money she has earned from the work she did with wool and flax (Proverbs 31:13) is spoken of as if it were fruit growing off a tree. The hands are a synecdoche for the person. AT: "the money she has earned" (See: Metaphor and Synecdoche)
Read full note →
She dresses herself with strength
Putting on clothes is a metonym for preparing for work. AT: "She prepares herself for hard physical work" (See: Idiom)
GEBible — Godless Engineer's Bible App
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv15–16 Or, meat, as Ps. 111:5
Or, meat, as Ps. 111:5
She prepareth their meat betime.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv15–19 Pro 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet…
Pro 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Ver. 15. She riseth also while it is yet night.] That is, Betime in the morning - "a great while before day," as our Saviour also did to pray. {Mar 1:35}
Read full note →
And a portion to her maids.] She neither pines nor pampers them, but allows them that which is sufficient. Three things, saith Aristotle, a man owes to his servants: work, meat, and correction, - εργα, τροφην κολασιν
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv15–19 While it is yet night; early in the morning,…
While it is yet night; early in the morning, to redeem thee.
Giveth meat; distributeth all her necessary provisions.
Read full note →
A portion; either,
1. Of work, which she allots to them. Or rather,
2. Of provisions for them; for so this word is used, Gen 47:22; Lev 10:13,14; Pr 30:8, and no where, to my remembrance, of an allotment of work. And so this clause agrees best with the former, expressing the same thing in other words, according to the manner.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv15–19 She riseth also while it is yet night,.... That…
She riseth also while it is yet night,.... That is, before the ascent of the morning, as Aben Ezra explains it, before break of day; a great while before day, as Christ is said to rise to pray, Mar 1:35; while it was yet dark; so the church here: which shows her affection for her family, her care of her children, and fervent zeal for her husband's interest and good; a different frame of spirit this from that of hers in Sol 5:2;
and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens; in allusion to a daily stated allowance (q) of food given to such; and spiritually may be meant, by her "household" or family, the same with the family of Christ, that is named of himself, which consists of various persons, fathers, young men, and children; and by her "maidens" the ministers of the word; see Pro 9:3; who are stewards in the family, and have the food for it put into their hands to dispense; it is by these the church gives meat to her household feeds them with knowledge and understanding, with the wholesome words of Christ, with the good doctrines of the Gospel; these have a certain portion given them, and they rightly cut and divide the word of truth, and give to everyone their portion of meat in due season, according to their age and circumstances; milk indeed to babes and meat to strong men; see Luk 12:42. The Targum renders the word for "portion by service": understanding not a portion of food, but of work, a task set them, and so the word is used in Exo 5:14. The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it, "works", which may be very well applied to the work and service of the Gospel ministry, and the several parts of it.
Read full note →
(q) "Gauldetque diurnos, ut famulae, praebere cibos", Claudian. de Bello Gild. v. 71, 72.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv15–19 Giveth - Distributes all necessary provisions.
Giveth - Distributes all necessary provisions.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv15–19 Verse 15. She riseth also while it is yet…
Verse 15. She riseth also while it is yet night]
4. She is an economist of time; and when the nights are long, and the days short, her family not only spend a part of the evening after sunset in domestic labour, but they all arise before daylight, and prepare the day's food, that they may not have their labour interrupted. To those who are going to the fields, and to the flocks, she gives the food necessary for the day: טרף teref, prey, a term taken from hunting, the object of which was, the supplying their natural wants: hence applied to daily food. See Clarke on Pr 30:8. And to the women who are to be employed within, she gives חק chok, the task - the kind of work they are to do, the materials out of which they are to form it, and the quantity she expects from each. Thus all the servants are settled: their food, work, and tasks appointed. Every thing is done orderly.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv15, 16, 17, 19 Pro 31:15. She riseth while it is yet night…
Pro 31:15. She riseth while it is yet night — “She doth not indulge herself in too much sleep, but is an early riser, before the break of day, to make provision for those who are to go abroad to work in the fields, and to set her maidens their several tasks at home. The reader will observe that the ideas here refer to those modest and ancient times when female occupations were far different: even of the highest rank, from such as are usual in modern times.” — Dodd.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv15–16 A portion to her maidens - The daily task…
A portion to her maidens - The daily task assigned to each at the same time as the daily food. Compare Pro 30:8; Exo 5:14.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv15–19 Night, or early in the morning, as soon as…
Night, or early in the morning, as soon as the night was over; de nocte. Hebrew, "while it is yet night." (Haydock) --- Extreme vigilance is required of those who direct others. "The master must be first up, and last in bed." (Cato v.)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv15, 16, 17, 19 She diligently attends to expending as well as gathering…
She diligently attends to expending as well as gathering wealth;
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv15–19 15. A portion — The allotted portion, or the…
15. A portion — The allotted portion, or the assigned tasks. It is the same word as in Pro_30:8, which see.
While it is yet night — That is, before daylight. The Orientals generally rise very early in the morning. The excessive heat of the day frequently renders labour, especially out of doors, insupportable. Hence, a great deal of business is transacted, even in royal courts, at a very early hour. The women usually rise earlier than the men, often long before day, engaging busily in the preparation of their meals, and in the various manufactures for the household and for sale.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv15, 18, 19 15. a portion] So R.V. margin. But R.V. text,…
15. a portion] So R.V. margin. But R.V. text, their task, the pensum, or amount of wool weighed out to each maiden for her day’s task. Comp.
“Noctem addens operi, famulasque ad lumina longo
Read full note →
Exercet penso.”
Virg. Æn. VIII. 411, 412.
Dean Plumptre (Speak. Comm.) compares the picture of Lucretia, Liv. i. 57: “nocte sera, deditam lanæ, inter lucubrantes ancillas in medio ædium sedentem invenerunt”
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv15–16 (15) And giveth meat to her household, and a…
(15) And giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.—Gives out food for her household, and the allotted portion of provisions (comp. Pro_30:8) or work (comp. Exo_5:14) to her maidens.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv15–19 VAV. She riseth also while it is yet night.…
VAV. She riseth also while it is yet night. Before dawn she is up and stirring, to be ready for her daily occupation. A lamp is always kept burning at night in Eastern houses, and as it is of very small dimensions, the careful housewife has to rise at midnight to replenish the oil, and she often then begins her household work by grinding the corn or preparing something for next day"s meals (comp. ver. 18). Early rising before any great undertaking is continually mentioned in Scripture. (see Gen_19:2 Gen_22:3 Psa_57:8 Jer_7:13 Jer_25:4, etc.; Mar 16:2Jo 20:1) And giveth meat to her household; deditquae praedam domesticis suis, Vulgate. The word for "meat" is tereph , which means "food torn in pieces" with the teeth, (Psa_111:5) and hence food to be eaten. The wife thus early prepares or distributes the food which will be wanted for the day. And a portion to her maidens. Chok, "final portion," may apply either to work or food. The Vulgate has cibaria, "meat;" Septuagint, erga , "tasks." The former, which is in accordance with Pro_30:8, would be merely a repetition of the second clause, the meat mentioned there being here called the allotted portion, and would be simply tautological. If we take it in the sense of "appointed labour," we get a new idea, very congruous with the housewife"s activity. (comp. Exo_5:14, where the same word is used in the ease of the enforced labour of the Israelites)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv16, 18 the fruit of her hands
the fruit of her hands
The money she has earned from the work she did with wool and flax (Proverbs 31:13) is spoken of as if it were fruit growing off a tree. The hands are a synecdoche for the person. AT: "the money she has earned" (See: Metaphor and Synecdoche)
Read full note →
She dresses herself with strength
Putting on clothes is a metonym for preparing for work. AT: "She prepares herself for hard physical work" (See: Idiom)
makes her arms strong
"she strengthens her arms by doing her work"
translationWords
fruit
vineyard
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv16, 19 31:16-18 An excellent wife is engaged in commercial enterprises…
31:16-18 An excellent wife is engaged in commercial enterprises outside her home.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.