Proverbs 31:22
in Proverbs 31She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
KJV
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
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This verse in Proverbs 31
Commentary
10 notes on this verseShe maketh herself coverings of tapestry - 13. She is not regardless either of her own person, or of the decent, proper appearance of her presses and wardrobe. She has coverings or carpeting for her guests to sit upon; she has also tapestry, מרבדים marbaddim, either tapestry, carpeting, or quilted work for her beds; and her own clothing is שש shesh, fine flax, or linen cloth, and purple; probably for a cloak or mantle. The fine linen or cotton cloth of Egypt is probably intended.
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
She makes coverings for her bed
Adam Clarke reads the coverings as carpeting or quilted work, and her fine linen as the linen or cotton cloth of Egypt. Purple, he suggests, served for a cloak or mantle. She cares for her own appearance as well as her household's.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
Ambrose of MilanExposition of the Christian Faith 2, INTRODUCTION 11 · Written before 397.
proposed
The beauty of a good thing pleases the more, if it be shown under various aspects. For those are good things, whereof the texture of the priestly robe was the token, that is to say, either the Law or the church, which latter has made two garments for her spouse, as it is written—the one of action, the other of spirit, weaving together the threads of faith and works.
The Medieval Church1 voice
She made herself a striped garment, etc. A striped garment, which is usually made very strong by varied weaving, signifies the strong works of the Church and her diverse ornaments of virtues. Of which the prophet, in the praise of the supreme king, namely that …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
): She makes herself coverings of tapestry to hang her rooms, and she may be allowed to use them when they are of her own making. Her own clothing is rich and fine: it is silk and purple, according to her place and rank.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
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 maketh herself coverings of tapestry,.... For the furniture and ornament of her house, or for her bed; which may signify the ordinances of the Gospel, and the decent, orderly, and beautiful administration of them, wherein the church has communion with her Lord; see Son 1:
2 more voices on this verse
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
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Silk - Better, fine linen, the byssus of Egypt.
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מַרְבַדִּ֥ים | marvadim | coverings | H4765 → | |
| עָֽשְׂתָה־ | ʾasetah- | she makes | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| לָּ֑הּ | lah | for herself | ||
| שֵׁ֖שׁ | shesh | [is] fine linen | H8336 → | |
| וְאַרְגָּמָ֣ן | veargaman | and purple | H713 → | |
| לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃ | levushah | clothing her | H3830 → | 33 times |
מַרְבַדִּ֥יםcoverings
marvadimH4765 →
עָֽשְׂתָה־she makes
ʾasetah-H6213 →2628 times
לָּ֑הּfor herself
lah
שֵׁ֖שׁ[is] fine linen
sheshH8336 →
וְאַרְגָּמָ֣ןand purple
veargamanH713 →
לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃clothing her
levushahH3830 →33 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
Revelation 19:8She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.
it leads to
- Isaiah 61:10
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom…
- Revelation 7:13–14
Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”
- Psalms 132:9
May Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and Your saints shout for joy.
- Ephesians 5:26–27
to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
- Mark 9:3
His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them.
- Isaiah 61:10
Through
Genesis 41:42Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck.
it leads to
- Daniel 5:29
Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
- Daniel 5:7
The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be…
- Daniel 5:29
Through
Esther 8:15Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted…
it leads to
- Luke 16:19
Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor.
- Luke 16:19
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); Ambrose of Milan, Exposition of the Christian Faith 2, INTRODUCTION 11; 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) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.