Proverbs 30

Proverbs 30

The big picture

Proverbs 30 opens in verse 1 with “The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 17 with “The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the…”, and closes in verse 33 with “Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth…” Repeated or prominent terms include earth, generation, lest, bringeth, name. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.

Scripture beside the summary

Proverbs · King James Version · 33

Proverbs 30:1-7

1–7: The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake…

Proverbs 30:1–7 opens with “The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto…” and reaches “Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Agur observing small creatures, human limits, and the created patterns that teach humility, with particular weight carried by Ithiel, name, words.

Context that brings the passage to life

This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.

“The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,” Naming Ithiel and Agur keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

Proverbs 30:1-7

King James Version

1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

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

3I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

4Who 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?

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

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

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

Proverbs 30:8-14

8–14: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches…

Proverbs 30:8–14 opens with “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food…” and reaches “There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Agur observing small creatures, human limits, and the created patterns that teach humility, with particular weight carried by generation, lest, eyes.

Context that brings the passage to life

This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.

“Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:” Naming Remove keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

Proverbs 30:8-14

King James Version

8Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

9Lest 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.

10Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

11There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

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

13There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

14There 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.

Proverbs 30:15-21

15–21: The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three…

Proverbs 30:15–21 opens with “The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never…” and reaches “For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Agur observing small creatures, human limits, and the created patterns that teach humility, with particular weight carried by earth, enough, adulterous.

Context that brings the passage to life

“The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.” The line’s distinctive content terms include barren, earth, enough. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

Proverbs 30:15-21

King James Version

15The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

16The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

17The 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.

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

19The 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.

20Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

21For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

Proverbs 30:22-28

22–28: For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

Proverbs 30:22–28 opens with “For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;” and reaches “The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Agur observing small creatures, human limits, and the created patterns that teach humility, with particular weight carried by meat, ants, bands.

Context that brings the passage to life

“For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

Proverbs 30:22-28

King James Version

22For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

23For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

24There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

25The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

26The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

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

28The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

Proverbs 30:29-33

29–33: There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

Proverbs 30:29–33 opens with “There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:” and reaches “Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Agur observing small creatures, human limits, and the created patterns that teach humility, with particular weight carried by bringeth, beasts, blood.

Context that brings the passage to life

“There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

Proverbs 30:29-33

King James Version

29There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

30A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

31A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

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

33Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

Details worth noticing

33verses in this reading
5major movements
1verses with speech
2questions in the KJV text

The opening image

Proverbs 30:1 begins with “The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,”

Where the chapter turns

Proverbs 30:9 forms a natural hinge: “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.”

The final note

Proverbs 30:33 leaves the reader with “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.”

A word trail through the chapter

The words earth, generation, lest, bringeth, name, deny help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.

Who receives too little attention in a simplified family tree?

Bilhah and Zilpah, named women whose children are counted in Jacob's family.

How does the narrator explain Rachel's conception?

God remembers and hears her in verse 22, rather than attributing the result to the mandrakes.

KJV words made clear

unto
to
thee
you
thou
you
thy
your
hath
has

Text first

Where readers differ

The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.

The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.

Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.