FocusHuman limits and ordered observations
Proverbs 30:4
KJVWho hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
Agur's words combine confession of limited understanding, prayer, and numerical sayings about the world and human conduct.
- 30:1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
- 30:2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
- 30:3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
- 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
- 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
- 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
- 30:7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
- 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
- 30:9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
- 30:10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
- 30:11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
- 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
- 30:13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
- 30:14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
- 30:15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
- 30:16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
- 30:17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
- 30:18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
- 30:19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
- 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
- 30:21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
- 30:22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
- 30:23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
- 30:24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
- 30:25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
- 30:26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
- 30:27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
- 30:28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
- 30:29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
- 30:30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
- 30:31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
- 30:32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
- 30:33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Solomon is the principal named contributor, with additional sayings of the wise, Agur, and King Lemuel's mother's instruction. Hezekiah's men are credited with copying a collection of Solomon's proverbs. Biblical references: Proverbs 1:1; Proverbs 22:17; Proverbs 25:1; Proverbs 30:1; Proverbs 31:1. stated in the text
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Proverbs 30:1–30:33): Agur's words address the named hearers and the wisdom audience, using observations, prayer, and numerical sayings. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? Learners seeking wisdom, especially the young and inexperienced, as well as wise readers seeking further understanding. The repeated son-address presents parental or teacherly instruction. Biblical references: Proverbs 1:4; Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 1:8. stated in the text
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? The Words of Agur. Read Proverbs 30:1 through Proverbs 30:33 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? Agur's words combine confession of limited understanding, prayer, and numerical sayings about the world and human conduct. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? The book identifies more than one collection, including proverbs copied by Hezekiah's men. It does not give a date for the origin of every individual saying. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? The instruction draws on household, workplace, city gate, court, and other everyday settings. Many sayings describe a general situation rather than one dated incident. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in The Words of Agur (Proverbs 30:1 to Proverbs 30:33). Start reading at Proverbs 30:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? The New Testament identifies Christ with the wisdom of God. Relating wisdom instruction to Him is a canonical connection; the personification of wisdom should not automatically be treated as a literal description of Christ's origin. See Proverbs 25:1, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Corinthians 1:30. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Practice truthful speech, teachability, justice, diligence, and self-control. Read proverbial generalizations with their genre in view rather than as guarantees that ignore circumstance or the book's other sayings. interpretation
Cited: Proverbs 30:1, Proverbs 30:33, Proverbs 25:1, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Corinthians 1:30
Who wrote it, and how we know
Related passages
- Who hath ascended Deut 30:12 John 3:13 Rom 10:6 Eph 4:9-10
- who hath gathered Job 38:4-41 Ps 104:2-35 Isa 40:12-31 Isa 53:8
- what is his name Exod 3:13-15 Exod 6:3 Exod 34:5-7 Deut 28:58
- and what Gen 32:29 Judg 13:18 Ps 2:7 Isa 7:14 Isa 9:6 Jer 23:6 Matt 1:21-23 Matt 11:27
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Proverbs 30
Proverbs 1:1 Proverbs 10:1 Proverbs 25:1 Proverbs 30:1 Proverbs 31:1
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Proverbs
Proverbs 1:1 Proverbs 10:1 Proverbs 25:1 Proverbs 30:1 Proverbs 31:1
Instruction and wisdom's call
Proverbs 1:1–9:18FocusThe fear of the LORD and the choice of a path
The proverbs of Solomon
Proverbs 10:1–22:16FocusWise and foolish conduct
Words of the wise
Proverbs 22:17–24:34FocusInstruction, justice, and disciplined conduct
Further proverbs of Solomon
Proverbs 25:1–29:27FocusCollected wisdom for life and rule
FocusHuman limits and ordered observations
The words of Lemuel and the capable woman
Proverbs 31:1–31FocusJust rule and faithful work
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.