What does Proverbs 31:19 mean?

This famous passage depicts the traits of a rare, godly, valuable wife (Proverbs 31:10). Some of those traits, such as business sense (Proverbs 31:18) and strength (Proverbs 31:17), are stereotypically considered "masculine," yet are applied here to females. These are positive traits for all people, but they are especially relevant for a godly wife. This verse is another reference to productivity and hard work (Proverbs 31:15).

An earlier verse mentioned spinning flax and wool (Proverbs 31:13). The "distaff" is a tool used to hold unspun fibers. The "spindle" is where the material is stretched and rotated into thread.

The New Testament depicts a woman who exhibits this aspect of the "excellent wife:" Dorcas, a resident of Joppa. The book of Acts notes "she was full of good works and acts of charity" (Acts 9:36). When she died, the believers prepared her body and laid it in an upper room. When they heard the apostle Peter was in town, two of the men took him to the upper room, where all the widows were weeping. They showed Peter tunics and other garments that Dorcas had made for them. Peter put everyone outside, raised Dorcas from the dead, and then called the saints and widows to see her (Acts 9:37–41).