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Proverbs 31:13 — Word Study

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WLCדָּ֭רְשָׁה צֶ֣מֶר וּפִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַ֝תַּ֗עַשׂ בְּחֵ֣פֶץ כַּפֶּֽיהָ׃

BSAShe selectsdârash [seeks, finds] wooltsemer [white, pure material] and flaxpishteh [plant used for linen] and worksʻâsâh [makes, labors] with eagerchêphets [delighted, willing] handskaph [palms, skilled fingers]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 31
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 13 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ka.Pei.ha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 31:13quick helps
In a sentenceThe woman actively seeks quality materials and works diligently with her hands.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs describes a capable and industrious woman.
Where we areThis verse is part of a passage that praises the virtues of a noble wife.
The hard wordדָּ֭רְשָׁה
Take awayHer diligence and skill in work are highlighted.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbדָּרַשׁ The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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 31:13

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 Womangenerated

12She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.

Proverbs 31:13 is part of a larger passage that describes the qualities of a virtuous woman. This woman is portrayed as industrious and resourceful, taking care of her household and contributing to her family's well-being. The verses surrounding this one emphasize her value and the good she brings to her family, contrasting with the lazy or unproductive person.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Genesis 18:6–8So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.”
2Genesis 24:13–14Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
3Genesis 29:9–10While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
4Exodus 2:16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock.
5Ruth 2:2–3And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.” “Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied.

The Key Word דָּ֭רְשָׁה, Da.re.shahgenerated

The verb דָּרַשׁ (darash) means to seek or inquire, often with a sense of diligence or thoroughness. It is used in various contexts, including seeking knowledge or worshiping God. In this verse, it indicates her active engagement in finding quality materials.

The parsing as a perfect third person feminine singular verb shows that the action is completed — she has sought out these materials. The emphasis is on her initiative and capability, revealing her as a proactive figure in her household.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, the verse is read in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses selects for דָּ֭רְשָׁה.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb תַּ֗עַשׂ (and she worked) governs the structure, indicating her action. The sentence is built around her actions of seeking and working, with the objects of her labor following.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on her actions first, highlighting her proactive nature before detailing what she selects and works with.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates דָּ֭רְשָׁה as μηρυομένη, which carries the connotation of being engaged in a task or pursuit, emphasizing her active role in seeking materials.

This choice reflects a slight interpretative shift, focusing on her ongoing involvement rather than a completed action.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 31:13 describes a woman who actively seeks out wool and flax to work with. She uses her hands eagerly, showing her dedication and skill in providing for her family.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that she seeks wool and flax?

It means she is actively looking for quality materials to work with, demonstrating her industrious nature.

Why is the woman's work highlighted in this verse?

Her work is highlighted to show the value and contributions she makes to her household.

How does this verse reflect the character of the virtuous woman?

It reflects her diligence, resourcefulness, and commitment to her family's well-being.

What can we learn from this woman's actions?

We can learn the importance of being proactive and diligent in our responsibilities.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I be more proactive in my own responsibilities?
  2. How can I apply the qualities of diligence and resourcefulness in my daily life?
  3. What materials or resources do I seek to improve my work or contributions?
  4. How can I encourage others to be industrious like the woman described in this verse?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early Church Fathers comment on this verse, interpreting the wool and flax as symbols of spiritual and physical virtues.

Augustine of HippoSERMON 37:6 354–430
The sacred text describes this housewife as a weaver of woolens and linen. But what we want to find out is what wool represents and what linen does. I think wool means something of the flesh, linen something of the spirit.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 31 →
Caesarius of ArlesSERMON 139:2 c. 470–542
The sacred word describes that woman as working in wool and linen. Perhaps you will ask us what the wool and linen are. The wool signifies something carnal; the linen, what is spiritual.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 31 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
"She seeks wool and flax," etc. The beginning of this verse, the strong woman, that is the holy Church, customarily takes and observes even according to the letter;
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 31 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 31:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

She seeketh wool and flax,.... To get them, in order to spin them, and work them up into garments; she stays not till they are brought to her, and she is pressed to take them; but she seeks after

Read John Gill on Proverbs 31 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Who 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 Bible

She seeketh wool and flax, that she may find employment for her servants, and not suffer them to spend all their time unprofitably in ease and idleness. Worketh willingly with her hands; she encourageth them to work by her example; which was a common practice among princesses in those first and purest ages of the world. Not that it is the duty of kings and queens to use manual or mechanical operations, but that it is the duty of all persons, the greatest not excepted, to improve all their talents, and particularly their time, which is one of the noblest of them, one way or other to the service of that God to whom they must give an account, and to the good of that community to which they are…

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 31 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.Ver. 13. She seeketh wool and flax.] This was held no shame for Solomon’ s wife. Augustus Caesar taught his daughters to spin and card; he wore no garments but what his wife and daughters made him. The like is reported of Charles the Great. Spinster, they say, is a term given the greatest women in our law. Rebecca was a dainty cook; so was Tamar, David’ s daughter. By Mohammed’ s law, the grand Turk himself must be of some trade. And worketh willingly with her hands.] As if her hands did desire to do what she put them to do, for so the original soundeth: "She worketh with the will of her hands." The Vulgate…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 31 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) And worketh willingly with her hands.—Literally, with the pleasure or willingness of her hands; they, as it were, catch her willing spirit.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 31 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 13. She seeketh wood and flax, and worketh willingly, c.] II. This is the second part of her character, giving the particulars of which it is composed. 1. She did not buy ready woven cloth: she procured the raw material, if wool, most probably from her own flocks if flax, most probably from her own fields. 2. Here she manufactured; for she worketh willingly with her hands. And all her labour is a cheerful service; her will, her heart, is in it. It needs no arguments to prove that women, even of the highest ranks, among the Greeks, Romans, and Israelites, worked with their hands at every kind of occupation necessary for the support of the family. This kind of employment was not…

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 31 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. seeketh] Some would render, applies herself to, busies herself about. The LXX. have draws out; μηρυομένη.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 31 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Worketh willingly with her hands - Or, worketh with willing hands. The stress laid upon the industrial habits of Israelite matrons may perhaps belong to a time when, as under the monarchy of Judah, those habits were passing away.

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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

NETBNew English Translation2006

She obtains wool and flax, and she is pleased to work with her hands.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.

RVARevised Version, American1894

She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

She has sought wool and flax, || And with delight she works [with] her hands.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

She selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.

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.

clauseverbדָּ֭רְשָׁהshe.seeksnoun phrase · objectצֶ֣מֶרwoolוּandפִשְׁתִּ֑יםflax(es)וַ֝andclauseverbתַּ֗עַשׂshe.workedprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseחֵ֣פֶץthe.delightnoun phraseכַּפֶּֽיher.handsהָher

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all six words matching in the Hebrew and Greek texts, indicating a consistent understanding of the woman's actions.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

דָּ֭רְשָׁה צֶ֣מֶר וּפִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַ֝תַּ֗עַשׂ בְּחֵ֣פֶץ כַּפֶּֽיהָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
דָּ֭רְשָׁהμηρυομένηצֶ֣מֶרἔριαוּפִשְׁתִּ֑יםλίνονוַ֝תַּ֗עַשׂἐποίησενבְּחֵ֣פֶץεὔξρηστονכַּפֶּֽיהָ׃ταῖς

6 of the 6 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.

Proverbs 31:13דָּרַשׁshe seeksshe seeksדָּרַשׁצֶ֫מֶרwoolwoolצֶ֫מֶרפֵּ֫שֶׁתand flaxand flaxפֵּ֫שֶׁתעָשָׂהand she worand she workedעָשָׂהחֵ֫פֶץin [the] dein [the] delighחֵ֫פֶץכַּףhands herhands herכַּףחָפֵץto delightto delight inחָפֵץכָּפַףto bendto bendכָּפַףפַּשׁfollyfollyפַּשׁבַּעַלבַּעַללֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבפֵּ֫שֶׁתflaxflaxפֵּ֫שֶׁתעֵ֫רֶבracial-mixracial-mixעֵ֫רֶבצֶ֫מֶרwoolwoolצֶ֫מֶרשְׁתִיwarpwarpשְׁתִימְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהשְׁבָאShebaShebaשְׁבָאשָׁאַלto askto askשָׁאַלפָּרַשׂto spreadto spreadפָּרַשׂרֶ֫גֶלfootfootרֶ֫גֶל
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 31:13

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.

she seeks wool and flax and she worked in [the] delight of hands her
דָּ֭רְשָׁהDa.re.shah she seeks H1875 Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
164× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To seek or ask is the meaning of this Hebrew word, often used to describe seeking God or worshiping him. It can also mean to investigate or enquire about something.
Amplified meaning
seeks, finds
Tyndale gloss
to seek
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּרַשׁ (darash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or inquire. It encompasses a range of actions from frequenting a place to consulting deities in prayer and worship. The word can imply a diligent search or demand, and it appears in both Qal and Niphal forms, indicating various nuances of seeking and being sought. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּרַשׁ 162 vb. resort to, seek

Qal

(tread a place,) resort to, frequent

seek, consult, inquire of

seek deity in prayer and worship

seek, with idea of demanding, require

inquire, investigate (a matter)

ask for, require, demand

seek with application, study, follow, practise

seek with care, care for

Niph.

let oneself be inquired of, consulted, only of God

be sought out

be required, of blood

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1875 דָּרַשׁ resort to, seek

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1875 darash daw-rash'

a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to

follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or

ask; specifically to worship:--ask, X at all, care for, X

diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-)mancer,

question, require, search, seek (for, out), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּרַשׁ (da.rash) — to seek.

1) to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to resort to, frequent (a place), (tread a place)

1a2) to consult, enquire of, seek

1a2a) of God

1a2b) of heathen gods, necromancers

1a3) to seek deity in prayer and worship

1a3a) God

1a3b) heathen deities

1a4) to seek (with a demand), demand, require

1a5) to investigate, enquire

1a6) to ask for, require, demand

1a7) to practice, study, follow, seek with application

1a8) to seek with care, care for

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to allow oneself to be enquired of, consulted (only of God)

1b2) to be sought, be sought out

1b3) to be required (of blood)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVqp3fs
she seeks wool and flax and she worked in [the] delight of hands her
צֶ֣מֶרTze.mer wool H6785 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to wool, like the kind used to make warm clothing, and is also used to describe something white or woolly.
Amplified meaning
white, pure material
Tyndale gloss
wool
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צֶ֫מֶר (tsemer) means 'wool' and is likely derived from a root meaning to be shaggy. It covers the literal sense of wool and can also refer to whiteness metaphorically. The term appears in contexts related to garments. There is an Aramaic equivalent, עֲמַר (amar), which also means 'wool.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צֶ֫מֶר n.m. wool

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6785 צֶ֫מֶר wool

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6785 tsemer tseh'-mer

from an unused root probably meaning to be shaggy;

wool:--wool(-len).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צֶ֫מֶר (tse.mer) — wool.

1) wool

1a) wool

1b) whiteness (metaph.)

1c) wool (in garments)

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (עֲמַר "wool" H6015)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wool (tsemer; erion): Wool and flax were the fibers most used by the ancient weavers. Wool was used principally for the outside garments (Le 13:48 ff; Pr 31:13; Eze 34:3; Ho 2:5,9). Syrian wool is found on the world's markets today, but it is not rated as first quality, partly because it is so contaminated with thorns, straw and other foreign matter which become entangled with the wool while the sheep are wandering over the barren, rocky mountain sides in search of food. Extensive pastures are almost unknown.

Two kinds of wool are sold:

(1) That obtained by shearing. This is removed from the animal as far as possible in one piece or fleece usually without previous washing.…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wool

One of the first material used for making woven cloth (Lev. 13:47, 48, 52, 59; 19:19). The first-fruit of wool was to be offered to the priests (Deut. 18:4). The law prohibiting the wearing of a garment “of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together” (Deut. 22:11) may, like some other laws of a similar character, have been intended to express symbolically the separateness and simplicity of God’s covenant people. The wool of Damascus, famous for its whiteness, was of great repute in the Tyrian market (Ezek. 27:18).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

was an article of the highest value among the Jews, as the staple material for the manufacture of clothing. (Leviticus 13:47; 22:11; Job 31:20; Proverbs 31:13; Ezekiel 34:3; Hosea 2:5) The importance of wool is incidentally shown by the notice that Mesha’s tribute was paid in a certain number of rams "with the wool." (2 Kings 3:1) The wool of Damascus was highly prized in the mart of Tyre. (Ezekiel 27:18)

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Used for clothing Le 13:47-52,59; Pr 31:13; Eze 34:3; 44:17

→ Prohibited in the priest' s temple dress Eze 44:17

→ Mixing of, with other fabrics forbidden Le 19:19; De 22:11

→ Fleece of Jud 6:37

→ First fleece of, belonged to the priests De 18:4

she seeks wool and flax and she worked in [the] delight of hands her
וּפִשְׁתִּ֑יםu.fish.Tim and flax H6593 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to flax, a plant used to make linen thread. It is mentioned in Exodus 9 as part of the plague of hail that damaged the flax crops in Egypt. The word is about a natural resource used for clothing.
Amplified meaning
plant used for linen
Tyndale gloss
flax
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֵּ֫שֶׁת (pishteh) refers to flax and linen, specifically the fiber used for making garments. It is derived from a root meaning to comminute, indicating its processed form. The entries consistently emphasize its use as a textile material.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פֵּ֫שֶׁת] n.[m.] flax, linen

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6593 [פֵּ֫שֶׁת] flax, linen

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6593 pishteh pish-teh'

from the same as 6580 as in the sense of comminuting; linen

(i.e. the thread, as carded):--flax, linen.

see HEBREW for 06580

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֵּ֫שֶׁת (pish.teh) — flax.

1) flax, linen

1a) fibre used as material for garments

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
HC/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

flaks pesheth, also pishtah; linon (Mt 12:20)): The above Hebrew words are applied

(1) to the plant: "The flax was in bloom" (the King James Version "bolled"; Ex 9:31);

(2) the "stalks of flax," literally, "flax of the tree," put on the roof to dry (Jos 2:6);

(3) to the fine fibers used for lighting: the King James Version "tow," "flax," the Revised Version (British and American). "A dimly burning wick will he not quench" (Isa 42:3); "They are quenched as a wick" (Isa 43:17). The thought is perhaps of a scarcely lighted wick just kindled with difficulty from a spark.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Flax

(Heb. pishtah, i.e., “peeled”, in allusion to the fact that the stalks of flax when dried were first split or peeled before being steeped in water for the purpose of destroying the pulp). This plant was cultivated from earliest times. The flax of Egypt was destroyed by the plague of hail when it “was bolled”, i.e., was forming pods for seed (Ex. 9:31). It was extensively cultivated both in Egypt and Palestine. Reference is made in Josh. 2:6 to the custom of drying flax-stalks by exposing them to the sun on the flat roofs of houses. It was much used in forming articles of clothing such as girdles, also cords and bands (Lev. 13:48, 52, 59; Deut. 22:11). (See…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

a well-known plant with yellowish stem and bright-blue flowers. Its fibres are employed in the manufacture of linen. The root contains an oil, and after the oil is expressed is sued as a food for cattle. Egypt was celebrated for the culture of flax and the manufacture of linen. The spinning was anciently done by women of noble birth. It seems probable that the cultivation of flax for the purpose of the manufacture of linen was by no means confined to Egypt, but that, originating in India, it spread over Asia at a very early period of antiquity. That it was grown in Palestine even before the conquest of that country by the Israelites appears from (Joshua 2:6) The various processes employed in preparing the flax for manufacture into cloth are indicated: The drying process. The peeling of the stalks and separation of the fibres. The…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A well-known plant, upon which the industry of mankind has been exercised with the greatest success and utility, Jos 2:6 Pr 1:13.

Moses speaks of the flax in Egypt, Ex 9:31, which country has been celebrated, from time immemorial, for its production and manufacture. The "fine linen of Egypt," which was manufactured from this article, is spoken of for its superior excellence, in Scripture, Pr 7:16 Eze 27:7. It is however, probable that fine cotton is sometimes to be understood when the Byssus is spoken of. Most of the linen found wrapped around Egyptian mummies will hardly compare with our common sheetings. But some…

she seeks wool and flax and she worked in [the] delight of hands her
וַ֝תַּ֗עַשׂva.Ta.'as and she worked H6213 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Amplified meaning
makes, labors
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vqw3fs
she seeks wool and flax and she worked in [the] delight of hands her
בְּחֵ֣פֶץbe.Che.fetz in [the] delight of H2656 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
39× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to pleasure or delight, often describing something that brings joy or happiness. In the Bible, it can also mean a valuable thing or a desire, like in Psalm 1.
Amplified meaning
delighted, willing
Tyndale gloss
pleasure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חֵ֫פֶץ (*chephets*) primarily means delight or pleasure. It encompasses concepts of desire and longing, as well as the good pleasure or purpose of Yahweh. The word can also refer to something valuable or a matter of interest. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֵ֫פֶץ n.m. delight, pleasure

delight

desire, longing

the good pleasure, will, purpose, of Yahweh

that in which one takes delight, his business (late), or matter

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2656 חֵ֫פֶץ delight, pleasure

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2656 chephets khay'-fets

from 2654; pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a

valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in

mind):--acceptable, delight(-some), desire, things desired,

matter, pleasant(-ure), purpose, willingly.

see HEBREW for 02654

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֵ֫פֶץ (che.phets) — pleasure.

1) delight, pleasure

1a) delight

1b) desire, longing

1c) the good pleasure

1d) that in which one takes delight

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

she seeks wool and flax and she worked in [the] delight of hands her
כַּפֶּֽיהָ׃ka.Pei.ha hands her H3709 Noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
193× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to the palm of the hand, like in Exodus 29 where it describes the priest's hands being filled with offerings. It can also symbolize power or strength, like in Psalm 16. It's about the hand or its shape.
Amplified meaning
palms, skilled fingers
Tyndale gloss
palm
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כַּף (kaph) refers to the hollow or flat part of the hand, including the palm and the sole of the foot. It can also denote power and is used to describe various hollow objects, such as bowls or handles. The word encompasses a range of meanings related to the shape and function of hands and feet, as well as items that are hand-shaped.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כַּף 192 n.f. hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, hand

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3709 כַּף hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, hand

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3709 kaph kaf

from 3721; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an

animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling,

the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree);

figuratively, power:--branch, + foot, hand((-ful), -dle,

(-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.

see HEBREW for 03721

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כַּף (kaph) — palm.

: palm/hand

1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand

1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand

1b) power

1c) sole (of the foot)

1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects

1d1) of thigh-joint

1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow)

1d3) hollow (of sling)

1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees)

1d5) handles (as bent)

כַּף (kaph) — palm: sole.

: sole/paw

1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand

1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand

1b) power

1c) sole (of the foot)

1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects

1d1) of thigh-joint

1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow)

1d3) hollow (of sling)

1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees)

1d5) handles (as bent)

כַּף (kaph) — palm: dish.

: dish/socket

1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand

1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand

1b) power

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fd | Suff — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HNcfdc/Sp3fs
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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