Proverbs 31:19

“She layeth her hands to the spindle, etc.] As Penelope and her maidens didf959. Or spinning wheel, more properly, the wheel itself, which is laid hold on by the right hand, and turned round; and her hands hold the distaff; the rock, stick, or staff, about which the wool is wrapped, which is spun, and is held in the left hand; for though hands are mentioned in both clauses, yet it is only with one hand the wheel is turned, and the distaff held with the other. Not only wool and flax were sought by her, (<203113>Proverbs 31:13); but she spins them, and works them up into garments her web is not like the spider’s, spun out of its own bowels, on which it hangs; to which the hope and trust of a…”

“No work, however mean, if honest, is disdained.”

“She layeth - By her own example she provokes her servants to labour. And although in these latter and more delicate times, such mean employments are grown out of fashion among great persons, yet they were not so in former ages, neither in other countries, nor in this land; whence all women unmarried unto this day are called in the language of our law, Spinsters. Proverbs 31:21”

“31:19-21 A virtuous wife is generous to the poor, another characteristic of wise people (11:24-26; 21:13; 22:9, 16, 22-23; 28:27).”

“She takes the spindle in her right hand, by twisting which she twists the thread; while she holds the distaff, on which the wool or flax is rolled, in the guard of the left arm, and draws down the thread with the fingers of the left hand. Exo 35:25, Exo 35:26 Proverbs 31:20”

“19 י She putteth her hand to the rock Spinnrocken; And her fingers lay hold on the spindle. She applies herself to the work of spinning, and performs it with skill. The phrase שׁלּח יד בּ (שׁלח, Job 28:9) signifies to take up an object of work, and תּמך, with obj. accus. (cf. Amo 1:5), the handling of the instrument of work necessary thereto. כּפּים denotes the hands when the subject is skilful, successful work; we accordingly say יגיע כפים, not יגיע ידים; cf. Pro 31:13 and Pro 31:16, Psa 78:72. What פּלך means is shown by the Arab. falakat, which, as distinguished from mighzal, i.e., fuseau (Lat. fusus), is explained by bout arrondi et conique au bas du fuseau, thus: the whorl, i.e., the…”