Proverbs 31 · Verse 19

Proverbs 31:19

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

Proverbs 31:19, King James Version

Proverbs 31:19 in other translations

BSB	She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
WEB	She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
ASV	She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.
YLT	Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
DARBY	She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
BBE	She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
Webster	She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

What does Proverbs 31:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 31:10-31

10-31. This exquisite picture of a truly lovely wife is conceived and drawn in accordance with the customs of Eastern nations, but its moral teachings suit all climes. In Hebrew the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in order (compare Introduction to Poetical Books). Who ... woman--The question implies that such are rare, though not entirely wanting (compare Pr 18:22; 19:14). virtuous--literally…

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Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle - 10. She gives an example of skill and industry to her household. She takes the distaff, that on which the wool or flax was rolled; and the spindle, that by twisting of which she twisted the thread with the right hand, while she held the distaff in the guard of the left arm, and drew down the thread with the fingers of the left hand. Allowing that spindle and distaff are proper translations of כישור kishor, and פלך pelech, this was their use, and the way in which they were used. The spindle and distaff are the most ancient of all the instruments used for spinning, or making thread. The spinning-wheel superseded them in these countries; but still they were in considerable use till spinning machinery superseded both them and the spinning-wheels in general.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 31:10-31

This is the description of a virtuous woman of those days, but the general outlines equally suit every age and nation. She is very careful to recommend herself to her husband's esteem and affection, to know his mind, and is willing that he rule over her. 1. She can be trusted, and he will leave such a wife to manage for him. He is happy in her. And she makes it her constant business to do him good. 2. She is one…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 31:10-31 →

Proverbs 31:19 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יָ֭דֶיהָYa.dei.hahands herH3027

שִׁלְּחָ֣הshi.le.Chahshe stretches outH7971

בַכִּישׁ֑וֹרva.ki.Shoron the distaffH3601

וְ֝כַפֶּ֗יהָve.kha.Pei.haand palms herH3709

תָּ֣מְכוּTa.me.khuthey graspH8551

פָֽלֶךְ\׃Fa.lekh[the] spindleH6418

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 31:19

Exodus 35:25-26
And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

She takes the spindle in her right hand, by twisting which she twists the thread; while she holds the distaff, on which the wool or flax is rolled, in the guard of the left arm, and draws down the thread with the fingers of the left hand.
Ex 35:25,26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Proverbs 31:18
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Proverbs 31:19
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Proverbs 31:20
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

Read all of Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31:19 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Aplicó sus manos al huso, y sus manos tomaron la rueca.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Elle met la main à la quenouille, et ses doigts tiennent le fuseau.
German Elberfelder 1871	sie legt ihre Hände an den Spinnrocken, und ihre Finger erfassen die Spindel.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum.