Proverbs 31:11 — Word Study
WLCבָּ֣טַח בָּ֭הּ לֵ֣ב בַּעְלָ֑הּ וְ֝שָׁלָ֗ל לֹ֣א יֶחְסָֽר׃
BSAThe heartlêb [innermost being, seat of emotions] of her husbandbaʻal [master, leader] trustsbâṭach■ [has complete confidence, faith] and he lackschâçêr▸ nothinglôʼ ◂of valueshâlâl [gain, spoil]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בָּ֣טַח | it trusts | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| בָּ֭הּ | in her | Preposition, suffix |
| לֵ֣ב | [the] heart of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| בַּעְלָ֑הּ | husband her | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וְ֝שָׁלָ֗ל | and gain | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| לֹ֣א | not | Particle |
| יֶחְסָֽר׃ | he lacks | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value. |
| KJV | The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. |
| ASV | The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain. |
| YLT | The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not. |
| WEB | The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain. |
| BBE | The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure. |
The translations agree on the meaning of the key terms without notable differences.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a conjunction and a verb phrase, clearly linking the trust to the outcome of lacking nothing.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבָּטַח
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 31:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Virtuous Wifegenerated
Proverbs 31:11 describes the trust between a husband and wife, highlighting the wife's character as a source of confidence and stability. This passage is part of a larger section that extols the virtues of a noble wife, who is more precious than rubies, as noted in verse 10. The verses surrounding this one illustrate her diligence and the good she brings to her household.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Kings 4:9–10 | Then the woman said to her husband, “Behold, now I know that the one who often comes our way is a holy man of God. |
| 2 | 1 Peter 3:1–7 | Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בָּטַח, Ba.tachgenerated
The verb בָּטַח (ba.tach) means to trust or have confidence. It conveys a sense of security and boldness, reflecting the husband's complete confidence in his wife. The parsing indicates that it is a perfect verb, showing a completed action in the past, emphasizing the established trust in their relationship.
This trust is foundational, as it suggests a deep emotional bond. The husband feels secure in his wife's capabilities, which is further reinforced by the context of the passage that celebrates her character and contributions.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses trusts for בָּטַח.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is בָּטַח, trusts, which governs the subject and the object. The structure emphasizes the relationship between the husband and wife, with the trust established as the central theme.
The sentence is constructed with a noun phrase as the subject (לֵב, the heart) and a prepositional phrase indicating the object of trust (בָּהּ, in her), followed by a clause that details what the husband lacks.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses θαρσεῖ to translate בָּטַח, indicating a sense of boldness or confidence. This choice suggests a similar understanding of trust as a strong emotional assurance.
The Greek word for שָׁלָל is not specified, but it typically conveys the same meaning of gain or spoil, maintaining the thematic elements of the original Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 31:11 tells us that the heart of a husband trusts in his wife, meaning he has complete confidence in her. Because of this trust, he lacks nothing of value. This verse highlights the importance of trust in a marriage and the wife's role in providing for her family.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that he has complete confidence in her abilities and character, which fosters a strong and secure relationship.
The verse illustrates that a virtuous wife is trustworthy and brings value to her husband and family.
This indicates that the husband's needs are met through the wife's contributions, both emotionally and materially.
It emphasizes the importance of trust and mutual respect in a partnership, which are essential for a healthy relationship.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I show trust in my relationships?
- How can I build confidence in my abilities to support those I care about?
- What qualities do I value in a partner that foster trust?
- How can I contribute positively to my family or community like the virtuous wife?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, reflecting on the trust between Christ and the Church, drawing parallels to the relationship between a husband and wife.
"The heart of her husband is confident about her." He certainly is confident, and he has taught us to be confident too. He commissioned the church, you see, to the ends of the earth, among all nations, from sea to sea.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 31 →
"The heart of her husband trusts in her," etc. The husband of the holy Church is her Lord and Redeemer, who also deigned to become her price.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 31 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 31:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,.... Christ her Maker is her husband, who has asked her in marriage, and has betrothed her to himself in righteousness; and of whose chaste love, and
Read John Gill on Proverbs 31 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWho can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The praises of a virtuous woman; forming a Hebrew acrostic. The 22 years begin with the several 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet consecutively; M.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 31 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleDoth safely trust in her, for the prudent and faithful management of all his domestic affairs, which are committed to her care. So that he shall have no need of spoil; the sense is either, 1. He shall want no necessary provisions for his family, which are sometimes called spoil, or prey, as below, . Or, 2. He shall not need to use indirect and unlawful courses to get wealth, by cheating or oppressing his subjects or others, as princes have oft done to maintain the luxury of their wives, and as Solomon himself afterwards did, of which see on ,10,11, because all shall be abundantly supplied to him by her providence.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 31 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.Ver. 11. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her.] He is confident of her love, care, and fidelity. He dare trust her with his soulsecrets, &c.; he doubteth not of her chastity, secrecy, or care to keep his family. So that he shall have no need of spoil,] i.e., Of necessary commodities: for these she will provide as plentifully by her industry as if she had shared in the spoils of a sacked and ransacked city. The Turks, when they took Constantinople, were so enriched, that it is a proverb among them to this day, if any grow suddenly rich, to say, He hath been at the sacking of…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 31 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(11) So that he shall have no need of spoil.—Rather, shall have no lack of gain. His incomings constantly increase from the prudent care of his wife.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 31 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 11. The heart of her husband] 3. She is an unspotted wife. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her - he knows she will take care that a proper provision is made for his household, and will not waste any thing. He has no need for spoil - he is not obliged to go out on predatory excursions, to provide for his family, at the expense of the neighbouring tribes.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 31 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. doth safely trust in her] Or, trusteth in her, R.V. “The very first item in the catalogue of good qualities is the rarest of all: ‘the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her.’ The husband in nine cases out of every ten does not feel very confident that ‘she will do him good and not evil,’ and he sets a jealous watch over her, and places every valuable article under lock and key. His heart trusts more in hired guards and iron locks than in his wife.” Thomson, Land and Book. so that he shall have no need of spoil] Rather: and, as a consequence, shewing that his trust is not misplaced, he shall have no lack of gain, R.V. “Heb.; spoil,” R.V. margin. Comp. “we shall fill our houses…
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 31 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleNo need of spoil - Better, no lack of gain, lack of honest gain.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 31 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
The heart of her husband has confidence in her, and he has no lack of gain.
Tyndale line
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no lack of gain.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
Strictly literal
The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
The heart of her husband has trusted in her, || And he does not lack spoil.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never be poor.
From the Latin
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
Simplified
Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Proverbs 31:11 reads, "בָּ֣טַח בָּ֭הּ לֵ֣ב בַּעְלָ֑הּ וְ֝שָׁלָ֗ל לֹ֣א יֶחְסָֽר׃" which translates to, "The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value." The Septuagint matches the Masoretic Text closely, as all seven words correspond directly, indicating agreement in the essential meaning of the verse. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, suggesting a strong consistency across these ancient witnesses regarding the trust the husband has in his wife and the completeness of his needs.
בָּ֣טַח בָּ֭הּ לֵ֣ב בַּעְלָ֑הּ וְ֝שָׁלָ֗ל לֹ֣א יֶחְסָֽר׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 31:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בָּטַח (batach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to trust or have confidence. It conveys a sense of security and boldness, both in a personal sense and when causing others to feel secure. The entries indicate its use in different forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, covering aspects of trust and confidence.
בָּטַח vb. trust
Qal
trust
be confident
Hiph. cause to trust, make secure
base
H982 בָּטַח trust . trust
. be confident
982 batach baw-takh'
a primitive root; properly, to hie for refuge (but not so
precipitately as 2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident
or sure:--be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one,
woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.
see HEBREW for 02620
בָּטַח (ba.tach) — to trust.
1) to trust
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to trust, trust in
1a2) to have confidence, be confident
1a3) to be bold
1a4) to be secure
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to trust, make secure
2) (TWOT) to feel safe, be careless
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
הָ (ha) — her.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person feminine singular
HR/Sp3fs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3fs
The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.
לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart
seldom of things in the midst of the sea
elsewhere of men
the inner man in contrast with the outer
the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
specific reference to mind
spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
spec. ref. to conscience
[various]
for the man himself
as seat of appetites
as seat of emotions and passions
seat of courage
base
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea
. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer
. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
. specific reference to mind
. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
. spec. ref. to conscience
. [various]
. for the man himself
. as seat of appetites
. as seat of emotions and passions
. seat of courage
H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash
3820 leb labe
a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very
widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;
likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,
consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),
(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X
heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X
themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,
wisdom.
see HEBREW for 03824
לֵב (lev) — heart.
1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
1a) inner part, midst
1a1) midst (of things)
1a2) heart (of man)
1a3) soul, heart (of man)
1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
1a6) conscience
1a7) heart (of moral character)
1a8) as seat of appetites
1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
לֵב (lev) — Leb.
§ Leb- = "heart of"
(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
בַּעַל (ba`al) means owner or lord, and can refer to a husband, citizens, or rulers. It is derived from a root meaning 'to own' and is used in various contexts, including relationships and leadership. The term also appears as a divine name, Baal, in the Old Testament.
בַּעַל 166 n.m. owner, lord
owner
husband
citizens, inhabitants
rulers, lords
n. of relation
Esp. lord, specif. as divine name, Baal.
base
H1167 בַּעַל owner, lord . owner
. husband
. citizens, inhabitants
. rulers, lords
. n. of relation
1167 ba`al bah'-al
from 1166; a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively)
owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this
latter sense):--+ archer, + babbler, + bird, captain, chief
man, + confederate, + have to do, + dreamer, those to whom it
is due, + furious, those that are given to it, great, + hairy,
he that hath it, have, + horseman, husband, lord, man, +
married, master, person, + sworn, they of.
see HEBREW for 01166
בַּעַל (ba.al) — master.
: master/leader
1) owner, husband, lord
1a) owner
1b) a husband
1c) citizens, inhabitants
1d) rulers, lords
1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)
בַּעַל (ba.al) — master: husband.
: husband/groom
1) owner, husband, lord
1a) owner
1b) a husband
1c) citizens, inhabitants
1d) rulers, lords
1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)
בַּעַל (ba.al) — master: men.
: men/comrades
1) owner, husband, lord
1a) owner
1b) a husband
1c) citizens, inhabitants
1d) rulers, lords
1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)
בַּעַל (ba.al) — master: owning.
: owning/having
1) owner, husband, lord
1a) owner
1b) a husband
1c) citizens, inhabitants
1d) rulers, lords
1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)
בַּעַל (ba.al) — master: [master of].
: [master_of](DESCRIPTOR)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3fs
שָׁלָל (shalal) refers to prey, spoil, or plunder, often in the context of war. It is derived from the root word שָׁלַל (H7997). The term encompasses various forms of gain, including private plunder and booty. The entries consistently emphasize its association with spoils of war.
שָׁלָל 75 n.m. prey, spoil, plunder, booty
base
H7998 שָׁלָל prey, spoil, plunder, booty
7998 shalal shaw-lawl'
from 7997; booty:--prey, spoil.
see HEBREW for 07997
שָׁלָל (sha.lal) — spoil.
1) prey, plunder, spoil, booty
1a) prey
1b) booty, spoil, plunder (of war)
1c) plunder (private)
1d) gain (meaning uncertain)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
gan: In the Old Testament the translation of three Hebrew substantives, betsa`, "unjust gain," "any gain" (Jud 5:19; Job 22:3; Pr 1:19; 15:27; Isa 33:15; 56:11; Eze 22:13,17; Mic 4:13); mechir, "price" for which a thing is sold (Da 11:39, the only place where the Hebrew word is translated "gain" in the King James Version, though it occurs in other places translated "price"); tebhu'ah, "produce," "profits," "fruit" (Pr 3:14). It is the translation of one Hebrew…
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
חָסֵר (chacer) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lack or be without. It encompasses various nuances such as diminishing, decreasing, and causing something to be lacking. The entries indicate its use in different forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which reflect its active and causative aspects.
חָסֵר vb. lack, need, be lacking, decrease
Qal
lack
be lacking
diminish, decrease
Pi. cause to lack
Hiph. cause to be lacking, fail
base
H2637 חָסֵר lack, need, be lacking, decrease .. lack
. be lacking
. diminish, decrease
. cause to lack
. cause to be lacking, fail
2637 chacer khaw-sare'
a primitive root; to lack; by implication, to fail, want,
lessen:--be abated, bereave, decrease, (cause to) fail, (have)
lack, make lower, want.
חָסֵר (cha.ser) — to lack.
1) to lack, be without, decrease, be lacking, have a need
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to lack
1a2) to be lacking
1a3) to diminish, decrease
1b) (Piel) to cause to lack
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to be lacking
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms