Proverbs 31:17
in Proverbs 31She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.
KJV
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
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This verse in Proverbs 31
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
She is like the merchants’ ships
on Proverbs 31:14-19
She is like the merchants' ships, she bringeth her food from afar states the portrait's scope directly: this is trade reaching beyond the household, not domestic labor kept inside it. She rises while it is yet night to provide for her household and her maidens, considers a field and buys it, and plants a vineyard with the fruit of her own hands, three decisions of ownership and investment the text credits to her judgment alone. Strength girded to her loins and arms and a candle that does not go out by night complete the picture of a woman working past the hours anyone would require of her, spinning at the spindle and distaff before the poem turns outward again.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Valiantly girding her loins, she has braced her arms." Valiant she is indeed. Now we see if she is not also a maidservant. With what devotion she serves, and how readily! To prevent the flapping folds of carnal desires from getting in the way of her work she girds her loins, and so avoids treading on overlong skirts as she hurries about her work. There lies the chastity of this lady, tightly bound by the girdle of the commandment and always ready for good work.
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 5 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
The way of Christ himself is that a man walk purely and with fortitude. "She girded," he says, "her loins with strength."
"She girded her loins with strength," etc. Therefore the Church girded her loins with strength when, intent on the desires of the heavenly, she scorned to succumb to carnal allurements; she strengthened her arm when she prepared herself to perform works of virtue. And it …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
She is one that makes what she does to turn to a good account, by her prudent management of it. She does not toil all night and catch nothing; no, she herself perceives that her merchandise is good (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
She girdeth her loins with strength,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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, "of strength," that is, moral courage (compare Pr 12:4;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
She girdeth her loins with strength - 7. She takes care of her own health and strength, not only by means of useful labor, but by healthy exercise. She avoids what might enervate her body, or soften her mind - she is ever active, and girt ready for every necessary exercise. Her loins are firm, and her arms strong.
The words behind it
5 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| חָֽגְרָ֣ה | chagerah | she girds | H2296 → | |
| בְע֣וֹז | veoz | with strength | H5797 → | 92 times |
| מָתְנֶ֑יהָ | mateneiha | loins her | H4975 → | |
| וַ֝תְּאַמֵּ֗ץ | vateametz | and she strengthened | H553 → | 41 times |
| זְרֹעוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ | zerooteiha | arms her | H2220 → |
חָֽגְרָ֣הshe girds
chagerahH2296 →
בְע֣וֹזwith strength
veozH5797 →92 times
מָתְנֶ֑יהָloins her
mateneihaH4975 →
וַ֝תְּאַמֵּ֗ץand she strengthened
vateametzH553 →41 times
זְרֹעוֹתֶֽיהָ׃arms her
zerooteihaH2220 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- Philippians 4:13
Through
1 Peter 1:13Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
it leads to
- Luke 12:35
Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
- Luke 12:35
Through
Ephesians 6:14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,
it leads to
- Isaiah 59:17
He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.
- Isaiah 59:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Augustine of Hippo, SERMON 37:10; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 5; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.