Amsal 31:25

31:25 She is clothed ¹  with strength ²  and honor, ³ 

and she can laugh ⁴  at the time ⁵  to come.

[31:25]  ¹ sn The idea of clothing and being clothed is a favorite figure in Hebrew. It makes a comparison between wearing clothes and having strength and honor. Just as clothes immediately indicate something of the nature and circumstances of the person, so do these virtues.

[31:25]  ² tn The first word of the sixteenth line begins with ע (ayin), the sixteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

[31:25]  ³ sn This word appears in Ps 111:3 which says that the Lord’s work is honorable, and here the woman is clothed with strength and honor.

[31:25]  ⁴ sn Here “laugh” is either a metonymy of adjunct or effect. The point is that she is confident for the future because of all her industry and planning.

[31:25]  ⁵ tn Heb “day.” This word is a metonymy of subject meaning any events that take place on the day or in the time to come.