Proverbs 31:21
in Proverbs 31When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
KJV
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
⋯
This verse in Proverbs 31
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Scarlet - Probably some well-known articles of dress, at once conspicuous for their color, or, as some think, for their double texture and warmth.
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
When it snows, she has no fear
Barnes takes scarlet as clothing known for its color or, as some think, for its double thickness and warmth. When it snows, her household is clothed for it. She has no fear for them.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
She shall not fear for her household from the snows. The cold of snow is the hearts of the reprobate, rigid with the numbness of their own treachery. Of whom the Lord says, "And because iniquity has abounded, the charity of many will grow cold" …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 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
Not afraid - Of any injuries of the weather. Are clothed - She hath provided enough, not only for their necessity, but also for their delight and ornament.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
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
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
She is not afraid of the snow - 12. She is not anxious relative to the health and comfort of her family in the winter season, having provided clothes sufficient for each in the cold weather, in addition to those which they wore in the warm season. For all her household are clothed with scarlet - Not scarlet, for the color can avail nothing in keeping off the cold; nor would it be a proper color for the bogs and dirt of winter. But שנים shanim, from שנה shanah, to iterate, to double, signifies not only scarlet, so called from being twice or doubly dyed, but also double garments, not only the ordinary coat but the surtout or great-coat also, or a cloak to cover all. But most probably double garments, or twofold to what they were accustomed to wear, are here intended. If the general clothing be intended, scarlet cannot be the meaning, nor did our translators entirely rely on it; and therefore put double garments, the true meaning, in the margin, from which it cannot be too speedily transferred to the text. The Vulgate has “duplicibus.” And my old MS. very properly, Alle forsoth hir hoomli men, ben clothid with double. And Coverdale, with equal propriety, “For all hir householde folkes are duble clothed.” But if her husband and children alone are referred to, scarlet, which in the general meaning of the term, may be proper enough; as even in these countries of ours, scarlet, as being a lively bright color, is used in the winter dresses.
The words behind it
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לֹא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| תִירָ֣א | tira' | she is afraid | H3372 → | 315 times |
| לְבֵיתָ֣הּ | leveitah | for household her | H1004 → | 2046 times |
| מִשָּׁ֑לֶג | mishaleg | from snow | H7950 → | 20 times |
| כִּ֥י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| כָל־ | khol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| בֵּ֝יתָ֗הּ | beitah | household her | H1004 → | 2046 times |
| לָבֻ֥שׁ | lavush | [is] clothed | H3847 → | |
| שָׁנִֽים׃ | shanim | scarlet<s> | H8144 → |
לֹא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
תִירָ֣אshe is afraid
tira'H3372 →315 times
לְבֵיתָ֣הּfor household her
leveitahH1004 →2046 times
מִשָּׁ֑לֶגfrom snow
mishalegH7950 →20 times
כִּ֥יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
כָל־all
khol-H3605 →5413 times
בֵּ֝יתָ֗הּhousehold her
beitahH1004 →2046 times
לָבֻ֥שׁ[is] clothed
lavushH3847 →
שָׁנִֽים׃scarlet<s>
shanimH8144 →
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 25:20Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
it leads to
- Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
- Ecclesiastes 3:4
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
- Deuteronomy 24:12–17
If he is a poor man, you must not go to sleep with the security in your possession;
- Romans 12:15
Through
Genesis 45:22He gave new garments to each of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes.
it leads to
- Genesis 43:34
When the portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times larger than any of the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph.
- 2 Kings 5:5
“Go now,” said the king of Aram, “and I will send you with a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman departed, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of…
- Judges 14:12
“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets…
- Genesis 43:34
Through
2 Samuel 1:24O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, who decked your garments with ornaments of gold.
it leads to
- Judges 5:30
‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil—a girl or two for each warrior, a plunder of dyed garments for Sisera, the spoil of embroidered garments for the neck of the looter?’
- 1 Timothy 2:9–10
Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,
- Judges 5:30
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
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; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.