She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
The verse pictures the capable woman laying her hands to the spindle and holding the distaff to prepare yarn that can be woven into cloth. That same diligent spinning is illustrated by a young shepherdess who tends sheep while making yarn. It defines the true sphere of woman as skillful work with her own hands to meet the wants of her household. It upholds the importance of women learning useful practical skills such as making garments.
That hands-on work includes cutting, making, and mending clothing. It includes preparing food in a wholesome and palatable manner, and doing washing, sweeping, dusting, and kitchen and garden duties. This is to be learned from childhood, with girls of nine or ten years taking a regular, responsible share of household labor. They are thus trained to improve time and fitted to become wives and mothers, heads of families, and useful members of society.
Such training enables her to preside as queen in her own domain, to guide and instruct children, and to direct servants. If need requires she can minister with her own hands. For this she understands the human body and the principles of hygiene, diet and dress, labor and recreation, and the best methods of treating disease so she can care for her children in sickness. Thorough knowledge of every department of domestic labor is beyond price and essential to the happiness and proper regulation of the family. It is more important than ornamental learning such as painting, fancy work, music, and rhetoric.
The verse pictures the capable woman laying her hands to the spindle and holding the distaff to prepare yarn that can be woven into cloth. That same diligent spinning is illustrated by a young shepherdess who tends sheep while making yarn. It defines the true sphere of woman as skillful work with her own hands to meet the wants of her household. It upholds the importance of women learning useful practical skills such as making garments.
That hands-on work includes cutting, making, and mending clothing. It includes preparing food in a wholesome and palatable manner, and doing washing, sweeping, dusting, and kitchen and garden duties. This is to be learned from childhood, with girls of nine or ten years taking a regular, responsible share of household labor. They are thus trained to improve time and fitted to become wives and mothers, heads of families, and useful members of society.
Such training enables her to preside as queen in her own domain, to guide and instruct children, and to direct servants. If need requires she can minister with her own hands. For this she understands the human body and the principles of hygiene, diet and dress, labor and recreation, and the best methods of treating disease so she can care for her children in sickness. Thorough knowledge of every department of domestic labor is beyond price and essential to the happiness and proper regulation of the family. It is more important than ornamental learning such as painting, fancy work, music, and rhetoric.