Proverbs 31:14

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

She was like the merchant ships; she would bring in her food from afar.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הָ֭יְתָה כָּאֳנִיּ֣וֹת סוֹחֵ֑ר מִ֝מֶּרְחָ֗ק תָּבִ֥יא לַחְמָֽהּ

Transliteration

hāyĕtāh kāʾŏniyyôt sôḥēr mimmerḥāq tābîʾ laḥmāh

Grammar Details

• *hāyĕtāh*: verb, Qal perfect 3rd feminine singular - she is/was
• *kāʾŏniyyôt*: preposition *kĕ* + noun, feminine plural construct - like ships of
• *sôḥēr*: noun, masculine singular - merchant/trader
• *mimmerḥāq*: preposition *min* + noun, masculine singular - from afar/distance
• *tābîʾ*: verb, Hiphil imperfect 3rd feminine singular - she brings
• *laḥmāh*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd feminine singular suffix - her food/bread

Word Meanings

• *hāyĕtāh*: she is/was/becomes
• *ʾŏniyyôt*: ships/vessels/merchant ships
• *sôḥēr*: merchant/trader
• *merḥāq*: distance/far place/far country
• *tābîʾ*: she brings/imports/fetches
• *laḥmāh*: her food/bread/nourishment/provisions

Referenced Verses

• 1 Kgs 9:26-28 : 26 King Solomon also built ships in Ezion Geber, which is located near Elat in the land of Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. 27 Hiram sent his fleet and some of his sailors, who were well acquainted with the sea, to serve with Solomon’s men. 28 They sailed to Ophir, took from there 420 talents of gold, and then brought them to King Solomon.
• 2 Chr 9:10 : 10 (Huram’s servants, aided by Solomon’s servants, brought gold from Ophir, as well as fine timber and precious gems.
• Prov 31:24 : 24 She made linen garments then sold them, and traded belts to the merchants;
• Ezek 27:3-9 : 3 Say to Tyre, who sits at the entrance of the sea, merchant to the peoples on many coasts,‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:“‘O Tyre, you have said,“I am perfectly beautiful.” 4 Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders have perfected your beauty. 5 They crafted all your planks out of fir trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make your mast. 6 They made your oars from oaks of Bashan; they made your deck with cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus. 7 Fine linen from Egypt, woven with patterns, was used for your sail to serve as your banner; blue and purple from the coastlands of Elishah was used for your deck’s awning. 8 The leaders of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers; your skilled men, O Tyre, were your captains. 9 The elders of Gebal and her skilled men were within you, mending cracks; all the ships of the sea and their mariners were within you to trade for your merchandise. 10 Men of Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army, men of war. They hung shield and helmet on you; they gave you your splendor. 11 The Arvadites joined your army on your walls all around, and the Gammadites were in your towers. They hung their quivers on your walls all around; they perfected your beauty. 12 “‘Tarshish was your trade partner because of your abundant wealth; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your products. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your clients; they exchanged slaves and bronze items for your merchandise. 14 Beth Togarmah exchanged horses, chargers, and mules for your products. 15 The Dedanites were your clients. Many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony. 16 Edom was your trade partner because of the abundance of your goods; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your products. 17 Judah and the land of Israel were your clients; they traded wheat from Minnith, millet, honey, olive oil, and balm for your merchandise. 18 Damascus was your trade partner because of the abundance of your goods and of all your wealth: wine from Helbon, white wool from Zahar, 19 and casks of wine from Izal they exchanged for your products. Wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane were among your merchandise. 20 Dedan was your client in saddlecloths for riding. 21 Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your trade partners; for lambs, rams, and goats they traded with you. 22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah engaged in trade with you; they traded the best kinds of spices along with precious stones and gold for your products. 23 Haran, Kanneh, Eden, merchants from Sheba, Asshur, and Kilmad were your clients. 24 They traded with you choice garments, purple clothes and embroidered work, and multicolored carpets, bound and reinforced with cords; these were among your merchandise. 25 The ships of Tarshish were the transports for your merchandise.“‘So you were filled and weighed down in the heart of the seas. 26 Your rowers have brought you into surging waters. The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas. 27 Your wealth, products, and merchandise, your sailors and captains, your ship’s carpenters, your merchants, and all your fighting men within you, along with all your crew who are in you, will fall into the heart of the seas on the day of your downfall. 28 At the sound of your captains’ cry the waves will surge; 29 They will descend from their ships– all who handle the oar, the sailors and all the sea captains– they will stand on the land. 30 They will lament loudly over you and cry bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads and roll in the ashes; 31 they will tear out their hair because of you and put on sackcloth, and they will weep bitterly over you with intense mourning. 32 As they wail they will lament over you, chanting:“Who was like Tyre, like a tower in the midst of the sea?” 33 When your products went out from the seas, you satisfied many peoples; with the abundance of your wealth and merchandise you enriched the kings of the earth. 34 Now you are wrecked by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and all your company have sunk along with you. 35 All the inhabitants of the coastlands are shocked at you, and their kings are horribly afraid– their faces are troubled. 36 The traders among the peoples hiss at you; you have become a horror, and will be no more.’”