Proverbs 31:23
in Proverbs 31Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land.
KJV
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
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This verse in Proverbs 31
Commentary
9 notes on this verseHer husband is known in the gates,.... Of the city, where courts of justice were kept, and causes heard and tried by the judges, the elders of the land, later mentioned; among whom the husband of the virtuous woman was, where he was known, taken notice of, and celebrated; not so much for the beautiful garments she made him, as Jarchi; but rather for his wisdom, as Gersom, and for being the husband of such a woman; who, taking such care of his domestic affairs, he was more at leisure to attend public business, and transact it with reputation.
This site's exposition
She opens her arms to the poor
on Proverbs 31:20-24
"She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy" sets her wealth toward charity. Her coverings, "fine linen and purple," are real luxury, the fruit of the labor already described. Her husband is known at the city gate among the elders.
This site's exposition
Her husband is known at the city gate
John Gill places the husband in the gates where courts sat and the elders judged. He is known there for his wisdom and for such a wife, whose care at home leaves him free for public business. Matthew Henry sees her care in his neat dress.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
Her husband is known in the gates, etc. The husband of the holy Church, the Lord, is the husband of every faithful soul. He who seemed ignoble when he stood before the governor's tribunal, when he accepted reproaches, scourges, spit, and even the death of …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Nay, by his appearing clean and neat in his dress, every thing about him decent and handsome, yet not gaudy, one may know he has a good wife at home, that takes care of his clothes. She is one that takes pains in the duty of her place and takes pleasure in it. This part of her character is much enlarged upon here.
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
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
Her husband is known in the gates - 14. She is a loving wife, and feels for the respectability and honor of her husband. He is an elder among his people, and he sits as a magistrate in the gate. He is respected not only on account of the neatness and cleanliness of his person and dress, but because he is the husband of a woman who is justly held in universal esteem. And her complete management of household affairs gives him full leisure to devote himself to the civil interests of the community.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The industry of the wife leaves the husband free to take his place among the elders that sit in councils.
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| נוֹדָ֣ע | noda' | [is] known | H3045 → | 945 times |
| בַּשְּׁעָרִ֣ים | bashearim | in the gates | H8179 → | 374 times |
| בַּעְלָ֑הּ | ba'lah | husband her | H1167 → | 84 times |
| בְּ֝שִׁבְתּ֗וֹ | beshivto | when sits he | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| עִם־ | ʾim- | with | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| זִקְנֵי־ | ziknei- | [the] elders of | H2205 → | 178 times |
| אָֽרֶץ׃ | ʾaretz | [the] land | H776 → | 2504 times |
נוֹדָ֣ע[is] known
noda'H3045 →945 times
בַּשְּׁעָרִ֣יםin the gates
bashearimH8179 →374 times
בַּעְלָ֑הּhusband her
ba'lahH1167 →84 times
בְּ֝שִׁבְתּ֗וֹwhen sits he
beshivtoH3427 →1079 times
עִם־with
ʾim-H5973 →1050 times
זִקְנֵי־[the] elders of
ziknei-H2205 →178 times
אָֽרֶץ׃[the] land
ʾaretzH776 →2504 times
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
Proverbs 12:4A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.
it leads to
- Proverbs 31:10–25
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
- Proverbs 14:30
A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
- Proverbs 14:1
Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
- Proverbs 21:9
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
- 1 Corinthians 11:11
In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.
- Proverbs 31:10–25
Through
Ruth 4:1Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 25:7
But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ruth 3:12
Yes, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than I.
- Deuteronomy 25:7
Through
Job 29:7When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 16:18
You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 16:18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.