Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Proverbs » Chapter 30 » Verse 1-33

Proverbs 30:1-33 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 The words H1697 of Agur H94 the son H1121 of Jakeh, H3348 even the prophecy: H4853 the man H1397 spake H5002 unto Ithiel, H384 even unto Ithiel H384 and Ucal, H401

2 Surely I am more brutish H1198 than any man, H376 and have not the understanding H998 of a man. H120

3 I neither learned H3925 wisdom, H2451 nor have H3045 the knowledge H1847 of the holy. H6918

4 Who hath ascended up H5927 into heaven, H8064 or descended? H3381 who hath gathered H622 the wind H7307 in his fists? H2651 who hath bound H6887 the waters H4325 in a garment? H8071 who hath established H6965 all the ends H657 of the earth? H776 what is his name, H8034 and what is his son's H1121 name, H8034 if thou canst tell? H3045

5 Every word H565 of God H433 is pure: H6884 he is a shield H4043 unto them that put their trust H2620 in him.

6 Add H3254 thou not unto his words, H1697 lest he reprove H3198 thee, and thou be found a liar. H3576

7 Two H8147 things have I required H7592 of thee; deny H4513 me them not before I die: H4191

8 Remove far H7368 from me vanity H7723 and lies: H1697 H3577 give H5414 me neither poverty H7389 nor riches; H6239 feed H2963 me with food H3899 convenient H2706 for me:

9 Lest I be full, H7646 and deny H3584 thee, and say, H559 Who is the LORD? H3068 or lest I be poor, H3423 and steal, H1589 and take H8610 the name H8034 of my God H430 in vain.

10 Accuse H3960 not a servant H5650 unto his master, H113 lest he curse H7043 thee, and thou be found guilty. H816

11 There is a generation H1755 that curseth H7043 their father, H1 and doth not bless H1288 their mother. H517

12 There is a generation H1755 that are pure H2889 in their own eyes, H5869 and yet is not washed H7364 from their filthiness. H6675

13 There is a generation, H1755 O how lofty H7311 are their eyes! H5869 and their eyelids H6079 are lifted up. H5375

14 There is a generation, H1755 whose teeth H8127 are as swords, H2719 and their jaw teeth H4973 as knives, H3979 to devour H398 the poor H6041 from off the earth, H776 and the needy H34 from among men. H120

15 The horseleach H5936 hath two H8147 daughters, H1323 crying, Give, H3051 give. H3051 There are three H7969 things that are never satisfied, H7646 yea, four H702 things say H559 not, It is enough: H1952

16 The grave; H7585 and the barren H6115 womb; H7356 the earth H776 that is not filled H7646 with water; H4325 and the fire H784 that saith H559 not, It is enough. H1952

17 The eye H5869 that mocketh H3932 at his father, H1 and despiseth H936 to obey H3349 his mother, H517 the ravens H6158 of the valley H5158 shall pick it out, H5365 and the young H1121 eagles H5404 shall eat H398 it.

18 There be three H7969 things which are too wonderful H6381 for me, yea, four H702 which I know H3045 not:

19 The way H1870 of an eagle H5404 in the air; H8064 the way H1870 of a serpent H5175 upon a rock; H6697 the way H1870 of a ship H591 in the midst H3820 of the sea; H3220 and the way H1870 of a man H1397 with a maid. H5959

20 Such is the way H1870 of an adulterous H5003 woman; H802 she eateth, H398 and wipeth H4229 her mouth, H6310 and saith, H559 I have done H6466 no wickedness. H205

21 For three H7969 things the earth H776 is disquieted, H7264 and for four H702 which it cannot H3201 bear: H5375

22 For a servant H5650 when he reigneth; H4427 and a fool H5036 when he is filled H7646 with meat; H3899

23 For an odious H8130 woman when she is married; H1166 and an handmaid H8198 that is heir H3423 to her mistress. H1404

24 There be four H702 things which are little H6996 upon the earth, H776 but they are exceeding H2449 wise: H2450

25 The ants H5244 are a people H5971 not strong, H5794 yet they prepare H3559 their meat H3899 in the summer; H7019

26 The conies H8227 are but a feeble H6099 folk, H5971 yet make H7760 they their houses H1004 in the rocks; H5553

27 The locusts H697 have no king, H4428 yet go they forth H3318 all of them by bands; H2686

28 The spider H8079 taketh hold H8610 with her hands, H3027 and is in kings' H4428 palaces. H1964

29 There be three H7969 things which go H6806 well, H3190 yea, four H702 are comely H2895 in going: H3212

30 A lion H3918 which is strongest H1368 among beasts, H929 and turneth not away H7725 for H6440 any;

31 A greyhound; H4975 H2223 an he goat H8495 also; H176 and a king, H4428 against whom there is no rising up. H510

32 If thou hast done foolishly H5034 in lifting up H5375 thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, H2161 lay thine hand H3027 upon thy mouth. H6310

33 Surely the churning H4330 of milk H2461 bringeth forth H3318 butter, H2529 and the wringing H4330 of the nose H639 bringeth forth H3318 blood: H1818 so the forcing H4330 of wrath H639 bringeth forth H3318 strife. H7379

Commentary on Proverbs 30 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 30

Pr 30:1-33.

1. This is the title of this chapter (see Introduction).

the prophecy—literally, "the burden" (compare Isa 13:1; Zec 9:1), used for any divine instruction; not necessarily a prediction, which was only a kind of prophecy (1Ch 15:27, "a song"). Prophets were inspired men, who spoke for God to man, or for man to God (Ge 20:7; Ex 7:14, 15, 16). Such, also, were the New Testament prophets. In a general sense, Gad, Nathan, and others were such, who were divine teachers, though we do not learn that they ever predicted.

the man spake—literally, "the saying of the man"; an expression used to denote any solemn and important announcement (compare 2Sa 23:1; Ps 36:1; 110:1; Isa 1:24, &c.). Ithiel and Ucal were perhaps pupils.

2-4. brutish—stupid, a strong term to denote his lowly self-estimation; or he may speak of such as his natural condition, as contrasted with God's all-seeing comprehensive knowledge and almighty power. The questions of this clause emphatically deny the attributes mentioned to be those of any creature, thus impressively strengthening the implied reference of the former to God (compare De 30:12-14; Isa 40:12; Eph 4:8).

5. (Compare Ps 12:6; 119:140).

6. Add … words—implying that his sole reliance was on God's all-sufficient teaching.

reprove thee—or, "convict thee"—and so the falsehood will appear.

7-9. A prayer for exemption from wickedness, and the extremes of poverty and riches, the two things mentioned. Contentment is implied as desired.

8. vanity—all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).

9. be full … deny—that is, puffed up by the pride of prosperity.

take the name … vain—This is not (Hebrew) the form (compare Ex 20:7), but "take" rather denotes laying violent hold on any thing; that is, lest I assail God's name or attributes, as justice, mercy, &c., which the poor are tempted to do.

10. Accuse not—Slander not (Ps 10:7).

curse … guilty—lest, however lowly, he be exasperated to turn on thee, and your guilt be made to appear.

11-14. Four kinds of hateful persons—(1) graceless children, (2) hypocrites, (3) the proud, (4) cruel oppressors (compare on Pr 30:14; Ps 14:4; 52:2)—are now illustrated; (1) Pr 30:15, 16, the insatiability of prodigal children and their fate; (2) Pr 30:17, hypocrisy, or the concealment of real character; (3 and 4) Pr 30:18-20, various examples of pride and oppression.

15, 16. horse leech—supposed by some to be the vampire (a fabulous creature), as being literally insatiable; but the other subjects mentioned must be taken as this, comparatively insatiable. The use of a fabulous creature agreeably to popular notions is not inconsistent with inspiration.

There are three … yea, four—(Compare Pr 6:16).

17. The eye—for the person, with reference to the use of the organ to express mockery and contempt, and also as that by which punishment is received.

the ravens … eagles … eat—either as dying unnaturally, or being left unburied, or both.

18-20. Hypocrisy is illustrated by four examples of the concealment of all methods or traces of action, and a pertinent example of double dealing in actual vice is added, that is, the adulterous woman.

20. she eateth … mouth—that is, she hides the evidences of her shame and professes innocence.

21-23. Pride and cruelty, the undue exaltation of those unfit to hold power, produce those vices which disquiet society (compare Pr 19:10; 28:3).

23. heir … mistress—that is, takes her place as a wife (Ge 16:4).

24-31. These verses provide two classes of apt illustrations of various aspects of the moral world, which the reader is left to apply. By the first (Pr 30:25-28), diligence and providence are commended; the success of these insignificant animals being due to their instinctive sagacity and activity, rather than strength. The other class (Pr 30:30, 31) provides similes for whatever is majestic or comely, uniting efficiency with gracefulness.

26. conies—mountain mice, or rabbits.

28. spider—tolerated, even in palaces, to destroy flies.

taketh … hands—or, uses with activity the limbs provided for taking prey.

32. As none can hope, successfully, to resist such a king, suppress even the thought of an attempt.

lay … hand upon thy mouth—"lay" is well supplied (Jud 18:19; Job 29:9; 40:4).

33. That is, strife—or other ills, as surely arise from devising evil as natural effects from natural causes.