PROV 31:11 Interlinear View

1. Hebrew word
2. Hebrew lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. Gloss
8. CAPS codes
9. OET tags
10. OET word #
1. בָּטַח
2. 398555
3. It trusts
4. trusts
5. 982
6. V-Vqp3ms
7. it_trusts
8. S
9. Y-700
10. 278208
1. בָּ,הּ
2. 398556,398557
3. in her
4. ≈in
6. S-R,Sp3fs
7. in,her
8. -
9. Y-700
10. 278209
1. לֵב
2. 398558
3. the heart of
4. -
6. S-Ncmsc
7. the_heart_of
8. -
9. Y-700
10. 278210
1. בַּעְלָ,הּ
2. 398559,398560
3. her husband of her
4. Her husband her
5. 1167
6. S-Ncmsc,Sp3fs
7. her_husband_of,her
8. -
9. Y-700
10. 278211
1. וְ,שָׁלָל
2. 398561,398562
3. and gain
4. -
5. 7998
6. SO-C,Ncmsa
7. and,gain
8. -
9. Y-700
10. 278212
1. לֹא
2. 398563
3. not
4. -
5. 3808
6. S-Tn
7. not
8. -
9. Y-700
10. 278213
1. יֶחְסָר
2. 398564
3. he lacks
4. -
5. 2637
6. V-Vqi3ms
7. he_lacks
8. -
9. Y-700
10. 278214
2. 398565
3. -
4. -
6. -x-sof-pasuq
8. -
9. -
10. 278215

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 31:10–31: This poem describes a capable wife who has good character

In Hebrew, this section is arranged in the form of an acrostic poem. Each of its twenty-two verses begins with a different letter, following the normal order of the Hebrew alphabet. The poem praises the character and abilities of an ideal wife. After an introduction that describes her value (vv. 10–12), the poem describes her activities and achievements in various areas (vv. 13–27). It concludes with praise by her family (vv. 28–29) and all the people (vv. 30–31). The last two verses also serve as the poet’s final conclusion. They summarize what is truly important in an ideal wife.Waltke (page 515) says that the final two verses are praise “by all.” Murphy (page 245) agrees that the “praise” in the final two verses is the “goal or purpose of the poem.”

Some other headings for this section are:

A good wife with many abilities

Description of a Worthy Woman (NASB)

A truly good wife (CEV)

Paragraph 31:10–12

This introductory paragraph describes the value of the ideal wife in two ways:

She is a woman who is both capable and good. Such a woman is hard to find and is extremely valuable (v. 10).
She benefits her husband in many ways (vv. 11–12).

31:11a

The heart of her husband trusts in her,

Her husband has complete/great confidence in her abilities,
Her husband trusts her to manage the wealth of their family.

31:11b

and he lacks nothing of value.

and because of her, he owns many valuable things.
Due to her skill, he has much wealth that was not the result of his own work.

31:11

One way that the ideal wife benefits her husband is that he trusts her skill in managing the household finances (v. 11a). Due to her efforts, he will have all the good things that he needs (v. 11b)

^11aThe heart of her husband trusts in her,

^11band he lacks nothing of value.

The heart of her husband trusts in her: This line is a figure of speech in which one part (The heart) represents the husband as a whole. In the context of the next line and the following verses, it refers mainly to the husband’s trust or confidence in her abilities to supply the needs of the household.Ross (page 1130), Cohen (page 211), UBS (page 650).

and he lacks nothing of value: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as value usually refers to “plunder” taken from a defeated enemy or in a robbery. In this context, it probably implies that the husband now owns many valuable things that he did not work for himself. He gained them through the efforts of his wife.Whybray (page 426), UBS (page 654), Fox (pages 892–893). Some other ways to translate this line are:

from her he will derive no little profit (NJB)

and he will never be poor (GNT)

With her, he has everything he needs. NCV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

לֵ֣ב בַּעְלָ֑⁠הּ

heart_of her_husband_of,her

Here, heart refers to the whole person. See how you translated the same use of heart in [14:10](../14/10.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ֝⁠שָׁלָ֗ל

and,gain

Although the word translated as spoil usually refers to wealth that soldiers seize after winning a battle or that thieves steal, here it refers to the valuable things that this husband gains because of his wife. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and great wealth from her”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

לֹ֣א יֶחְסָֽר

not have_~_lack

Lemuel’s mother is using a figure of speech here that expresses a strongly positive meaning by using a negative word, not, together with an expression that is the opposite of the intended meaning. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the positive meaning. Alternate translation: “he will always have”

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.