31:13–15
This paragraph describes what the wife does to provide for the needs of everyone in the house. She provides clothes (31:13) and food (31:14–15).
31:13
This verse summarizes the wife’s work in making clothes from wool and flax.
13a She selects wool and flax
13b and works with eager hands.
31:13a
She selects wool and flax: This line means that she chooses the raw materials that are used to make clothes. She probably buys them from the public market.
wool: The word wool refers to the hair of sheep. Women first spin the wool to make thread. The thread is then woven into woolen cloth to make warm clothes for cold weather.
flax: The word flax refers to a plant that resembles tall grass. Women spin fibers from this plant to make thread. The thread is then woven into linen cloth to make cool clothes for warm weather. Some other ways to translate this line are:
She obtains wool and flax (NET Bible)
-or-
she selects ⌊the finest⌋ wool and flax ⌊for spinning⌋ (The Voice)
If people in your area are not familiar with wool and flax, you may use more general terms. For example:
She gets what she needs to make clothes for the cold season and for the hot season.
31:13b
and works: The word works refers to the many steps that are involved in making clothes. It includes spinning the wool and flax into thread, weaving the thread into cloth, and sewing the cloth to make clothes. If possible, use a general word or phrase that summarizes these tasks.
with eager hands: This phrase is a figure of speech. It means that the woman works willingly, skillfully, diligently, and cheerfully. In some languages, it may be natural to specify that the woman does these tasks with her hands. In other languages, it may be more natural to leave this detail implied.
Some other ways to translate this line are:
and she is pleased to work with her hands (NET Bible)
-or-
She enjoys making clothes and she works industriously and skillfully
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