Proverbs chapter 30
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh.
Like this chapter of the Bible, our comments are sexually explicit.
THE WORDS OF AGUR
VERSE 1. The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
Agur the son of Jakeh. The identity of Agur is unknown.
the revelation. The Hebrew word is massa. It means weighty message. It is often translated as “oracle.”
VERSE 2. “Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding.
I am the most ignorant man. The wisest of people are aware of how little they actually know.
Agur reminds us of wise Socrates, who said:
I know that I know nothing.
VERSE 3. I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
VERSE 4. Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know?
Who has. In this verse, Agur asks five questions. The only possible answer is God Almighty.
VERSE 5. “Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Every word of God is flawless. The Scripture texts have a human author. But that human author was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Read more »
VERSE 6. Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
The Bible has severe warnings against adding to it. And against subtracting from it. Yet we do those things all the time. Read more »
VERSE 7. “Two things I have asked of you; don’t deny me before I die:
Two things I have asked. Agur asks for God’s help in two areas:
VERSE 8. Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me;
Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Agur asks for protection from liars.
Give me neither poverty nor riches. Agur asks for a moderate income.
VERSE 9. lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
VERSE 10. “Don’t slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
VERSE 11. There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t bless their mother.
curses their father. Do not be disrespectful.
VERSE 12. There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness.
pure in their own eyes. Do not be hypocritical.
VERSE 13. There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.
lofty. Do not be arrogant.
VERSE 14. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
teeth are like swords. Do not oppress other people.
VERSE 15. “The leach has two daughters: ‘Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don’t say, ‘Enough:’
Give, give. Do not be greedy.
VERSE 16. Sheol, the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water; and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘Enough.’
VERSE 17. “The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother: the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
eye that mocks at his father. Agur decries disrespect for one’s parents.
However, some parents abuse their children. They are not worthy of respect.
VERSE 18. “There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don’t understand:
VERSE 19. The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent on a rock; the way of a ship in the middle of the sea; and the way of a man with a maiden.
VERSE 20. “So is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
an adulterous woman. Here, as in many other places in the Book of Proverbs, Agur places the blame for adultery solely on the shoulders of the woman. That is cowardly.
A man should take full responsibility for his own actions, instead of blaming a woman.
The Book of Proverbs often reveals a deeply negative view of women. That probably reflects a misogynistic personality on the part of the men who wrote the book. Read more »
she eats and wipes her mouth. This probably alludes to the woman having given the man fellatio.
VERSE 21. “For three things the earth trembles, and under four, it can’t bear up:
the earth trembles. Agur is using hyperbole.
VERSE 22. For a servant when he is king; a fool when he is filled with food;
a fool. The Hebrew word is naval. It means one who lacks spiritual perception and sensitivity.
VERSE 23. for an unloved woman when she is married; and a servant who is heir to her mistress.
VERSE 24. “There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:
little … wise. Wisdom triumphs over strength.
VERSE 25. the ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.
VERSE 26. The hyraxes are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.
hyraxes. That is, rock badger.
VERSE 27. The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.
VERSE 28. You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.
VERSE 29. “There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:
VERSE 30. The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn’t turn away for any;
VERSE 31. the greyhound, the male goat also; and the king against whom there is no rising up.
VERSE 32. “If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.
VERSE 33. For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood; so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”
PROVERBS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Sluggard, Tree of Life, Misogynism
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