31:11

One way that the ideal wife benefits her husband is that he trusts her skill in managing the household finances (v. 11a). Due to her efforts, he will have all the good things that he needs (v. 11b)

11a The heart of her husband trusts in her,

11b and he lacks nothing of value.

The heart of her husband trusts in her: This line is a figure of speech in which one part (The heart) represents the husband as a whole. In the context of the next line and the following verses, it refers mainly to the husband’s trust or confidence in her abilities to supply the needs of the household.

and he lacks nothing of value: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as value usually refers to “plunder” taken from a defeated enemy or in a robbery. In this context, it probably implies that the husband now owns many valuable things that he did not work for himself. He gained them through the efforts of his wife. Some other ways to translate this line are:

from her he will derive no little profit (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
and he will never be poor (Good News Translation)
-or-
With her, he has everything he needs. New Century Version)

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