She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.
She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
She layeth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
She layeth her hands to the spindle -
10. She gives an example of skill and industry to her household. She takes the distaff, that on which the wool or flax was rolled; and the spindle, that by twisting of which she twisted the thread with the right hand, while she held the distaff in the guard of the left arm, and drew down the thread with the fingers of the left hand. Allowing that spindle and distaff are proper translations of כישור kishor, and פלך pelech, this was their use, and the way in which they were used. The spindle and distaff are the most ancient of all the instruments used for spinning, or making thread. The spinning-wheel superseded them in these countries; but still they were in considerable use till spinning machinery superseded both them and the spinning-wheels in general.
31:19 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.