She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 31:24
What does Proverbs 31:24 mean?
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Proverbs 31:24
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What's easy to miss here is that "fine linen" refers to made garments, not just the fabric, and that these were likely luxurious undergarments. This skilled woman wasn't just spinning thread; she was a businesswoman creating high-end apparel and valuable sashes, even dealing with specialized merchants.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage moves from the admirable domestic management of the household to the woman's engagement in trade, showing she's not only a skilled homemaker but also a shrewd businesswoman. She manufactures fine linen garments and ornate girdles, then delivers them to merchants, demonstrating her ability to generate income and increase her household's prosperity through her industriousness. This highlights her resourcefulness and economic acumen as integral parts of her overall virtue.
We often picture the Proverbs 31 woman solely focused on her household tasks. But this verse reveals she's also a shrewd entrepreneur!
While her primary role was within the home, the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 was not confined to mere domestic chores. This verse highlights her engagement in commerce.
Business Acumen
She actively manufactures and sells goods. The text mentions 'linen garments' and 'sashes' (or girdles), indicating she produced high-quality items that were in demand. This wasn't just about making things for her family; it was a business venture.
Economic Contribution
Her industry extended beyond her home, directly contributing to the economy by supplying merchants. This demonstrates that a woman's value and influence could extend into the public sphere through her work and trade.
Girdles in ancient times were far more than just a functional belt. They were often status symbols and valuable commodities.
The mention of 'girdles' here points to a specific, valuable item of trade in the ancient world.
More Than a Belt
Eastern girdles, especially those made by skilled hands like the virtuous woman's, were often intricately designed and made of precious materials like fine linen, silk, gold, and silver thread. They served not only to cinch flowing robes but also as adornments and signs of wealth or status.
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A Lucrative Trade
Because of their craftsmanship and material, these girdles were significant trade items. Supplying them to merchants, often referred to as 'Canaanites' or 'Phoenicians' due to their prominence in trade, was a profitable endeavor, further underscoring the economic savvy of this remarkable woman.
This passage highlights women who were skilled artisans, contributing their work in fine linen and other fabrics to the construction of the tabernacle, mirroring the industrious spirit of the woman in Proverbs 31.
Isaiah 3:23This verse lists specific items of women's apparel, including fine linen garments and girdles, offering a historical context for the types of goods the virtuous woman was producing and trading.
Luke 12:35Jesus' instruction to have our 'loins girded' emphasizes readiness and diligence, a spiritual parallel to the practical diligence shown by the Proverbs 31 woman in her work and trade.
1 Timothy 5:14This verse encourages younger women to marry and manage their households, suggesting that productive engagement in domestic and economic activities, like the woman in Proverbs 31, is a valuable and honorable pursuit.
pooleProverbs 31:24: "She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant."
Curiously wrought of linen, and gold, or other precious materials, Jeremiah 13:1 Daniel 10:5 , which in those parts were used both by men, 2 Samuel 20:8 , and by women, Isaiah 3:24 Song of Solomon 7:1 .
clarkeProverbs 31:24: "She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant."
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it - 15. She is here remarkable for carrying on a traffic of splendid and ornamental dresses, or habits, as she is, Proverbs 31:13, for "a coarser manufacture," The סדון sidon is supposed to come from the Arabic; and to signify a kind of loose inner garment, shirt, chemise, or fine muslin covering. Some of these are so exceedingly fine, like the abrooam, that wh…
What's easy to miss here is that "fine linen" refers to made garments, not just the fabric, and that these were likely luxurious undergarments. This skilled woman wasn't just spinning thread; she was a businesswoman creating high-end apparel and valuable sashes, even dealing with specialized merchants.
This passage moves from the admirable domestic management of the household to the woman's engagement in trade, showing she's not only a skilled homemaker but also a shrewd businesswoman. She manufactures fine linen garments and ornate girdles, then delivers them to merchants, demonstrating her ability to generate income and increase her household's prosperity through her industriousness. This highlights her resourcefulness and economic acumen as integral parts of her overall virtue.
This passage moves from the admirable domestic management of the household to the woman's engagement in trade, showing she's not only a skilled homemaker but also a shrewd businesswoman. She manufactures fine linen garments and ornate girdles, then delivers them to merchants, demonstrating her ability to generate income and increase her household's prosperity through her industriousness. This highlights her resourcefulness and economic acumen as integral parts of her overall virtue.
"She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant." — What's easy to miss here is that "fine linen" refers to made garments, not just the fabric, and that these were likely luxurious undergarments. This skilled woman wasn't just spinning thread; she w…
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Last reviewed October 2026