How does Proverbs 31:24 connect with the Proverbs 31 woman's overall character? Text of Proverbs 31:24 “She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.” Enterprise in Action • The verb “makes” shows she personally oversees the work—hands-on, not merely supervisory (cf. v. 13). • “Sells” and “delivers” reveal legitimate commercial exchange; she engages the wider marketplace with integrity, matching v. 18: “Her merchandise is profitable.” • Fine linen and sashes were luxury items (cf. Ezekiel 27:7); her craftsmanship meets high standards, displaying excellence commanded in Colossians 3:23. Industrious Consistency • Verse 24 is no isolated snapshot. It echoes earlier lines: – v. 13, 17: She “works with eager hands… strengthens her arms.” – v. 15: Rises “while it is still night” to provide food. • The rhythm of diligence saturates the poem; verse 24 simply portrays that diligence moving beyond household walls. Blessing That Extends Beyond Home • By selling garments, she brings income that undergirds v. 21’s preparedness and v. 27’s “watching over the ways of her household.” • Her commerce funds generosity: v. 20, she “extends her hand to the poor.” Ephesians 4:28 pairs honest labor with giving, and she models both. Wisdom and Discretion in Business • Engaging merchants implies negotiation skills governed by righteousness (Proverbs 11:1). • She honors modesty, never compromising virtue for profit (Titus 2:5). • Like Joseph (Genesis 41:46-49), her stewardship turns resourcefulness into blessing for many. Integration with Fear of the LORD • The poem climaxes in v. 30: “a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” • Verse 24’s enterprise is an outflow of that reverent heart. Her work is worship—echoing 1 Corinthians 10:31. Cumulative Portrait Verse 24 threads together the themes of: • Diligent labor • Entrepreneurial wisdom • Generous stewardship • God-centered motivation Taken literally, the verse shows tangible evidence of the character described throughout the chapter. Her hands craft, her mind plans, and her heart reveres the Lord—seamlessly woven into one virtuous life. |
    |