by tascha
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Proverbs 31:13
The main emphasis of this verse is the this lady works WILLINGLY with her hands.
This thought encompasses many of the following verses and is the heart issue of them.
Though we will look at her specific tasks, the BIG issue is that she is willing to do what needs to be done during the different seasons of her family’s life.
Seeking wool and flax implies that she either gathers the raw materials to create fabric, or she acquired the fabrics needed to make clothing for her household. Linen comes from flax and was used for various undergarments, inner tunics, and lamp wicks. Flax seeds can also be ground and used in breads or can be eaten whole and are very nutritional [another topic]. Wool was used more for outer tunics which could also be used as a blanket on a cool night.
In thinking of these uses of flax and wool {and there are more!} we can see different responsibilities that this implies.
As a wife and mother it is my responsibility to
…clothe my family.
Whether I buy fabric and sew or purchase ready-made items, finding durable, modest, attractive clothing for my husband, myself, and our children is within my realm of duty. [This is not to say that my husband and said children have no say in their clothing!] Being frugal and finding deals, thrift shopping, and handing clothing down [or accepting second-hand clothing] all fit into this category.
…feed my family healthy foods.
[I am not legally qualified to speak of nutrition or recommend certain foods over others, but there are many resources online for studying it, and I have friends whose study I trust when they recommend certain plants for consumption.] You must rely on your own research for this.
Personally, I do try to have fresh fruits and veggies available for snacks, but more often find that frozen or canned are more in my price range, and simple cooking methods can elevate even canned peaches to a scrumptious dessert [with no added sugar!].
I use flax seed in my bread, and there are many other grains/seeds that can be added to flour to make bread more wholesome. Again, your own study must guide you in that.
…cover my family when it is cold and provide a light source when necessary.
Do we have enough blankets for the colder days? Is there an adequate light source to finish tasks or read a good book when the sun has gone to bed early?
[There are many other areas that could be discussed, but many of those are brought out in the next few verses and will be left to their own post.]
While it is truly {thankfully} not necessary that I herd sheep and grow/harvest flax to accomplish these tasks, it IS necessary that my heart is right in order that these tasks bring glory to God and cause my husband’s heart to safely trust in me.
Seeking his counsel and knowing his preference in any of these areas {I like his input on my own clothing as well as my children’s. To know what he likes and to try to accomplish that is doing GOOD to him.} is just another way of loving him.
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by tascha
WELCOME to Angela from
I asked her if she were willing to choose a verse in Proverbs 31 to expound in a modern way, and she graciously consented to write about verse 17. Angela is a sweet Christian lady who writes…
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She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Proverbs 31:17
We know that Proverbs 31 is not talking about any one woman in particular. Rather it is talking about the ideal woman. The “virtuous woman” is a measuring stick by which we measure our own selves. Do you want to be a virtuous woman? I do!
The best part of Proverbs 31, in my opinion, is that it was written by Solomon who wrote what was taught him by his mother. Whats so wonderful about that? Well, Solomon’s mother was none other than Bathsheba! Bathsheba is remembered for having adultery with King David. Not very virtuous, and yet, God used her to tell the world what character traits should be found in a “Virtuous Woman”!
How wonderful that God would do such a thing for her.
And just think what God can do with us if we let Him!
She girdeth her loins with strength…
The word gird literally means “to prepare for action”. Loins refer the parts of the body between the hips and the lower ribs. This part of the body has long been considered the seat of physical strength and generative power.
…strengtheneth her arms. ~This seems pretty self explanatory.
Women in today’s world don’t have the same requirements women in Solomon’s day had. We don’t usually buy fields, or make our own fabrics. My husband would flip if I informed him that I bought field while he was at work today! And then I would be strengthening my arms and loins to push mow an entire field since my husband doesn’t have time for it himself! I don’t think so!
So, really, how can we apply this verse to ourselves in today’s modern life style?
Let’s face it. Housework and child rearing isn’t easy as some may think. Some of our jobs may require muscle – a little elbow grease. If you have a job such as this you may need to strengthen yourself for that job. Yard work, gardening, canning, moving furniture (or the refrigerator) to vacuum under, organizing closets or the garage are all jobs that take muscles. However, most of my responsibilities don’t take muscle, necessarily, but stamina and will power. Patience and a good work ethic help quite a bit too! It has been said that a woman’s work is never done. I totally agree! I think that may be because we have so many different jobs and there’s never a time when we’re “off duty”.
So, how do we strengthen (or prepare) ourselves for the jobs we have to do?
We must trust God. Deuteronomy 33:25 says, …and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. I’m so glad it doesn’t say, As thy strength so all thy days be!!! I would have been dead with the birth of my first child! (or sooner!) God is good to provide us with the strength we need to continue (HIS strength!). Especially when it’s His work that we are doing. And raising children to love Him IS His work! Pray and ask God for His strength. He’s already promised it!
We can prepare ourselves for the work ahead by eating healthy food. (Don’t get me started on this! {you can read about it here} I need to stay on topic.) Eating healthy food is a must in order to feel well and do well at the things we are given to do. Did you know the Bible talks a great deal about food? God wants us to enjoy our food, but He wants us to eat the real food that He’s provided. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself. You MUST take care of yourself if you plan on taking care of everyone else. I Corinthians 6:19-20 ~ What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
*Take your vitamins or iron pills. I hate to spend money on iron pills; but if I don’t, my house suffers, meals are boring and the children fend for themselves because I’m useless. Dizzy and tired doesn’t get the house work or the laundry done. I used to try to buy the cheapo pills, but I’ve learned that they don’t work either. It may be expensive, but it’s worth it if it will help you get your jobs done well.
*A good work ethic is very helpful! Have the washing machine and the dryer running while you are cleaning the bathroom and making your bed. Teach your children to help. At the very least they should be able to clean their own rooms, make their own beds and put away their own laundry. Not only will this help you around your home, but it is teaching them responsibility.
Lamentations 3:27 ~ It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. If you don’t teach them to work hard now, they never will.
*We must learn as much as we can. I think we can safely assume that the “virtuous woman” was willing to learn more. Sometimes a few questions directed at the right person might help us to do better in certain areas. Do you have questions about cooking, or cleaning? Maybe you want to learn how to sew or plant a garden? Ask someone who knows or read a “how-to” book on the subject. Ask for help. Do what it takes to get your jobs done to the best of your ability.
I Thessalonians 4:11 ~ And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands….
*Do your best with what you have! Be creative! If you don’t have a way to make money at home, the least you can do is save money! I’ve saved hundreds of dollars by making my own laundry detergents, dryer sheets, fabric softeners, dish washing detergents, and plenty of other things. It’s so much cheaper and healthier to make your own cleaning supplies! Gardening and canning save me money every year too, as well as making my own bread. There are other things that save money too. I’m looking into raising chickens and bee keeping right now too. I don’t really have the money for such things, but I’d sure like to give them a try and I know God will provide them for me if it’s His will.
I Corinthians 4:2 ~ Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
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THANK you Angela. We must indeed prepare ourselves both physically and spiritually for the tasks ahead of us each day. May we each take the time to to seek God about ways to strengthen our bodies and spirits so that we can fully and effectively take care of our families. Please visit Angela at
to read her fun, encouraging posts about being a treasure hidden in Christ.
by tascha
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Proverbs 31:19
I suppose we all know that spindles and distaffs have to do with the spinning of wool or cotton into thread and then the weaving of fabric from said thread; and quite frankly, I am so very glad that [in general] this is not a chore modern women have, though I have learned how it works and once even saw an old fashioned spindle and loom in action-very cool.
But I am still glad that factories can do that for me now.
Of course, you could get into clothing-laundry-issue—{{ouch}}. I am not sure I’m ready for that one.
Do I clean my family’s clothing? [of course].
Does it get folded? [um. most of the time].
Does it get put away? [stumbling. but it’s clean!].
Are my husband’s dress shirts ironed and hung? [I’ll get up and iron one in the morning. after I strangle my alarm clock.]
{but that is just one thought… you could go other places, too:
such as clothing preparedness, wardrobe appropriateness, etc.}
And then we get down to what this implies about the heart of a virtuous woman- what I desire my own heart to be.
The fabric [so to speak] of their lives is my responsibility. With God as guide, following my husband’s lead as head of our home, this wife and mommy has such a solemn responsibility, to train and care for my children; to obey my husband, with a Godly attitude [my feet are stumbling, again… as I speak].
{I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on this verse}.
But my prayer for us is that these truths would more than click in our head [the easy part] but that they would click and TAKE ROOT in our hearts [the hard part].
…and that my laundry would learn to take itself to the proper drawers.
