I've been thinking about this for a couple of years now and I still haven't come to a conclusion. Maybe you can help me figure it out:
Proverbs 31:21 says, " She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet." Why is she not afraid of the snow? Because her family is clothed with scarlet. To fully understand this verse you need to know the significance of scarlet. Is this speaking symbolically of something? Did scarlet have another meaning when this was written? Possibly referring to a certain type of fabric, not just the color. The one that I've been wondering about is the scientific reason. Does the color scarlet have certain properties that make it retain heat better? And there's always the possibility that "the snow" isn't referring to the cold at all, but to the color. Maybe she just wants her family to be easily seen! ;)
If this were written in any other book, I wouldn't give it much thought. But, since these words were inspired by God, they make me want to look into them deeper. We already know of other scientific facts that the Bible speaks of such as, ocean currents in II Sam. 22:16, the best time for circumcision-Lev. 12:3, the patterns of weather in Eccl. 1:6, and many more. So it's completely possible that there are more scientific truths in the Word of God that we just haven't discovered yet. I wish I had the resources and knowledge to be able to do a study of this theory from Prov 31:21. If any of you have any information or thoughts on the subject, I would like to hear them. I would really like to learn the full meaning behind this verse.
In the mean time, it's funny how many winter clothes I've purchased in the color red!
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Okay, I found one link so far that has some interesting info:
http://www.biblebasics.info/colours/col8.htm
Scroll down to the bottom of this page and you'll see that ancient scarlet dyes were made from dried insects! Interesting...
hmmm....as a lover of the color red...it is in my kitchen and livingroom...I would like to say...color....and of course my husbands favorite perfume for me to wear is Giorgio RED...which doesn't sound very spiritual at all....so I will interested to see what answers come up ....
I always thought..that it meant..she planned ahead...and was prepared...
Deby
Exactly Deby...
If you read the context of the other verses prior and after..ie: 19/22 clothing is mentioned. She is not afraid because she was prepared for snow (harsh weather). She as a virtous woman cared for the "need" beforehand..she was prepared and looked in advance for her families needs. As with the other verses..she looketh well to the ways of her household etc.
If you wanted to spiritualize the verses...you can say that WHITE is a picture of our purity in Christ..though your SINS be as scarlet they shall be WHITE as SNOW. And there is now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus Romaans 8. No fear. Now here scarlet shows sin. Sin is strong..so perhaps the scarlet as Pam said..was a different calliber of fiber then and very strong to withstand the cold.
Hope this helps...
very interesting post Pam!!
Pam,
I apologize in advance for such a LONG comment.... I love to dig and search out info and was so intrigued by the whole passage and your question...Here is what I found - hope this helps and let me know what you think.....
I found another link that expounds on the scarlet definition: [2] 31:21 scarlet: or, double garments, which would make sense of tghe snow was literal snow. http://www.christnotes.org/bible.php?q=Proverbs+31#f2
This is from Studylight.org
Verse 21. She is not afraid of the snow
12. She is not anxious relative to the health and comfort of her family in the winter season, having provided clothes sufficient for each in the cold weather, in addition to those which they wore in the warm season.
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Not scarlet, for the colour can avail nothing in keeping off the cold; nor would it be a proper colour for the bogs and dirt of winter. But shanim, from shanah, to iterate, to double, signifies not only scarlet, so called from being twice or doubly dyed, but also double garments, not only the ordinary coat but the surtout or great-coat also, or a cloak to cover all. But most probably double garments, or twofold to what they were accustomed to wear, are here intended. If the general clothing be intended, scarlet cannot be the meaning, nor did our translators entirely rely on it; and therefore put double garments, the true meaning, in the margin, from which it cannot be too speedily transferred to the text. The Vulgate has "duplicibus." And my old MS. very properly, Alle forsoth hir hoomli men, ben clothid with double. And Coverdale, with equal propriety, "For all hir householde folkes are duble clothed." But if her husband and children alone are referred to, scarlet, which in the general meaning of the term, may be proper enough; as even in these countries of ours, scarlet, as being a lively bright colour, is used in the winter dresses.
Scarlet was a type of fine and expensive woolen cloth common in mediaeval England.
The name derives from the latin scarlata, and that again from the persian saqirlat. The weaving technique also had its origin in central asia, and made the cloth elastic by twisting the yarn. Because of this property, it was often used for stockings and tights.
Scarlet cloth was produced in red, white, blue, green, and brown colors, among others. The most common color was carmine red, though, which resulted in the double meaning of the word as a color designation.
Lauren, long comments are better than NO comments! ;o)
I LOVE what you found.....thank you so much for finding it and sharing it! Double garments, and/or the scarlet cloth would definitely explain this verse.
My mind feels more at rest already!
I'm a Matthew Henry fan ;) His comment is..."She needs not fear the cold of the most pinching winter, for she and her family are well provided with clothes, sufficient to keep out cold, which is the end chiefly to be aimed at in clothing: All her household are clothed in scarlet, strong cloth and fit for winter, and yet rich and making a good appearance. They are all double clothed (so some read it), have change of raiment, a winter suit and a summer suit." :) I have also read somewhere something about dying wool scarlet? :)
Scarlet-or,purple, by reason of the dyes used, (from rare shells: Murex brandaris and Murex trunculus from which small amount was extractable) were the best fabrics; available usually as a sign of prosperity. Purple/scarlet was the vestment colour for senators, kings and emperors both in Rome and elsewhere. These colours were also prized for priestly vestments in Israel's tradition as scripture has many references to scarlet usually together with blue and purple:
(this was from my Pastor's Wife)
Thank you, everyone! You've all given such wonderful answers. What a blessing to know there are so many people out there interested in studying their Bible!
Wow! This was a very interestin Bible study of sorts. I just always took it to mean that she was well prepared, but had wondered about the significance of scarlet too. Thanks for posting.
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