←Proverbs 30→BSB

In This Chapter 4 people 59 terms 1 resource

People

Ithiel (Proverbs 30:1) 5 Jakeh 4 Agur 2 Ucal

Key Terms

Knowledge 5 Seek Safety 5 Guilty (Responsible) 5 Pure 5 Holy 4 Decree 4 Be Poor 4 Shield 3 Utterance 2 Understanding 2 Understanding (Awareness) Intention (Evil) Be Holy Holy (Pure) Holy Thing Most Holy Place Holiness Holy (Devout) Hallow Sanctuary Seek Refugue Fixed Allowance Fixed Quota To Sin Sin Guilt (State) Transgression Sin (Act) Sin (Incur Guilt) Guilt (Consequence) Guiltiness Trespass (Sin) Sinful Sin (Offense) To Stand Guilty Sin (Guilty) Sin (Wrongdoing) Guilty Considered Guilty Guilty Of Sin Previously Sin Against Bless (Approval) Blessing (Act) Bless (Favor) Blessing (Content) Blessed Bless (Request Favor) Pure (State) Purity (Ceremonial) Pure (No Defect) Purification To Purify Purity Pure (Sincere) Pure (Genuine) Purge Out Pure (No Evil) Mischief

Resources

Agur Articles

The Words of Agur

ⓘ Agur admits he does not know everything (compare...

Agur admits he does not know everything (compare Psalm 73:22, where the psalmist calls himself senseless). The first step toward wisdom is admitting our ignorance.

1These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel:

“I am weary, O God,and worn out.†2Surely I am the most ignorant of men,and I lack the understanding of a man.3I have not learned wisdom,and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
ⓘ Unlike Agur's lack of knowledge and power, God's...

Unlike Agur's lack of knowledge and power, God's strength and wisdom are evident (compare Psalm 18:30). This is encouraging to Agur, as he knows God protects everyone who seeks Him.
4Who has ascended to heaven and come down?Who has gathered the wind in His hands?Who has bound up the waters in His cloak?Who has established all the ends of the earth?What is His name, and what is the name of His Son—surely you know!5Every word of God is flawless;He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.6Do not add to His words,lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.
ⓘ Agur asks God for two things: Help to...

Agur asks God for two things:

  1. Help to avoid lying (compare Proverbs 6:16–19; 14:5, 25; 25:18; 26:18–19)

  2. To not have too much or too little

Being rich (Proverbs 3:9–10, 15–16; 10:15, 22) or poor (3:27; 11:24; 28:27; 29:7, 14) is not sinful, but Agur wisely wants to avoid the problems of both.
7Two things I ask of You—do not refuse me before I die:8Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me.Give me neither poverty nor riches;feed me with the bread that is my portion.9Otherwise, I may have too muchand deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’Or I may become poor and steal,profaning the name of my God.
10Do not slander a servant to his master,or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.
ⓘ These verses describe traits that wise people dislike....

These verses describe traits that wise people dislike. Fools:

11There is a generation of those who curse their fathersand do not bless their mothers.12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyesand yet unwashed of their filth.13There is a generation—how haughty are their eyesand pretentious are their glances—14there is a generation whose teeth are swordsand whose jaws are knives,devouring the oppressed from the earthand the needy from among men.
ⓘ The number parallelism (three...four) is a method to...

  • The number parallelism (three...four) is a method to list poetic examples. This list shows powers that are never satisfied and often dangerous. See also Proverbs 30:18–19, 21–23, 29–31.

  • The grave, representing death, never seems to have enough—people keep dying (Proverbs 27:20).

  • barren womb: Women unable to have children often long for them, like Sarah before Isaac, Rebekah before Esau and Jacob, and Hannah before Samuel.

  • The thirsty desert and a fire consume everything in their path.
15The leech has two daughters:Give and Give.

There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:

16Sheol,
the barren womb,
land never satisfied with water,
and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’

17As for the eye that mocks a fatherand scorns obedience to a mother,may the ravens of the valley pluck it outand young vultures devour it.
ⓘ The writer is amazed at how one thing...

The writer is amazed at how one thing affects another.

18There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:

19the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship at sea,
and the way of a man with a maiden.

20This is the way of an adulteress:She eats and wipes her mouthand says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
ⓘ This proverb lists four things that make the...

  • This proverb lists four things that make the earth tremble because they disrupt the natural order.

  • who is filled with food: In the ancient Near East, as in many non-industrialized parts of the world today, having enough food was a sign of prosperity.

21Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:

22a servant who becomes king,
a fool who is filled with food,

23an unloved woman who marries,
and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.

ⓘ Here is another example of number parallelism: small,...

Here is another example of number parallelism: small, seemingly insignificant animals can be surprisingly powerful and resourceful.

24Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:

25The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

26the rock badgers† are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;

27the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;

28and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.

29There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:

30a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;

31a strutting rooster;
a he-goat;
and a king with his army around him.†

32If you have foolishly exalted yourselfor if you have plotted evil,put your hand over your mouth.33For as the churning of milk yields butter,and the twisting of the nose draws blood,so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”