Proverbs 30

The following table shows the Hebrew text^[6][7] of Proverbs 30 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).^[8]

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$ ^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$ ^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$ ^A; 5th century).^[9]

Michael Fox,an American biblical scholar, divides this chapter into sections:^[10]

• Proverbs 30:1–9 = The Words of Agur
• Proverbs 30:10–33 = Epigrams and Aphorisms
  • Proverbs 30:10 = Aphorism a – Denouncing a Slave
  • Proverbs 30:11–14 = Epigrams i – The Wicked Generation
  • Proverbs 30:15a = Aphorism b – The Epitome of Greed
  • Proverbs 30:15b–16 = Epigrams ii – Four Greedy Things
  • Proverbs 30:17 = Aphorism c – Contempt for Parents
  • Proverbs 30:18–20 = Epigrams iii – Four Wondrous Ways-and One More
  • Proverbs 30:21–23 = Epigrams iv – Four Things That Shake the Earth
  • Proverbs 30:24–28 = Epigrams v – Four Creatures Small but Wise
  • Proverbs 30:29–31 = Epigrams vi – Four Creatures with a Stately Gait
  • Proverbs 30:32–33 = Epigrams vii – Churning Up Quarrels

This collection is ascribed to an unknown non-Israelite sage (cf. also 31:1).^[4] Fox suggests that it could have been appended to Proverbs because of its valuable cautionary comments and the exaltation of the Torah.^[11] The closeness 'in word and spirit' to Psalm 73 is noted as Agur, like the psalmist, combines confession of ignorance with a profession of faith and exultation in the insight that comes from God alone, while urging people to turn directly to God as a safeguard against temptation.^[11]

Aberdeen theologian Kenneth Aitken notes that Agur's sayings may not extend beyond verse 14, as the first 14 verses are separate from verses 15 onwards in the Septuagint, but also comments that "opinion is divided on whether they end before verse 14" (possible at verses 4, 6, or 9).^[4] The editors of the New American Bible, Revised Edition, suggest that the "original literary unit" probably consisted of verses 1 to 6.^[12]

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle.

The man declares to Ithiel,

to Ithiel and Ukal:^[13]

• "The oracle" translates the Hebrew word massa, which could describe the sayings as a prophetic type 'revelation' (cf. Habakkuk 1:1), but here may designate 'the tribe or place of Massa in northern Arabia' (Genesis 25:14) to which Agur could belong (RSV).^[4]
• "To Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ukal" (KJV: "unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal"; ESV: "I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out") : these names can presumably be Agur's sons or disciples.^[4]

Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.^[14]

• "Brutish" (בַ֣עַר, ḇa-‘ar) this Hebrew word is also used in Psalm 73:22 and translated as "foolish".^[11]

Who has ascended up into heaven, or descended?

Who has gathered the wind in his fists?

Who has bound the waters in a garment?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is His name, and what is the name of His son,

if you know?^[15]

Like those in Job 38–41, these rhetorical questions emphasize "the inscrutability of God's ways".^[16]

Every word of God is tested;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Add nothing to his words,
lest he reprimand you, and you be proved a liar.^[17]

The editors of the New American Bible, Revised Edition, suggest that the original Agur text probably ended with these verses, because the first six verses reflect a single contrast between human fragility (and ignorance) and divine power (and knowledge).^[12]

This part contains various epigrams and three short aphorisms in the midst. Most of the epigrams (similar to 6:1–19) take the form of lists. Epigrams i and vii contain unnumbered lists whose items are grouped by theme and anaphora (each line starts with the same word). Epigram v is a single-number list with four items. Epigrams ii, iii, iv, and vi are numerical proverbs, in the form "Three things … and four".^[11] The final item in the series is usually the climax and focal point.^[18]

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.^[19]

• "Knives": from Hebrew: ma'akhelet, "meat-cleavers", also used in the story of the Binding of Isaac, are 'not ordinary knives but the kind used to butcher meat'.^[20]

The leech has two daughters,
crying, "Give, give."
There are three things that are never satisfied,
indeed, four things never say, "It is enough".^[21]

• "The leech has two daughters": implying a greedy person, or likely 'a greedy woman', because the Hebrew word for "leech" is a feminine noun. The "two daughters" is seen as 'a reference to the two suckers of the leech'.^[20]
• "Three things...four": Compare to Amos 1:3: "For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof."^[20]
• The whole verse 15 can be translated differently. The Hebrew word for leach is "Aluka", can also be a person name, which wrote at least the two verses 15-16 and verse 15 will be translated so: "Aluka is saying: Two daughters (says) give give The third never satisfied, The fourth never say it is enough" If so, verse 16 is explain for verse 15 (details about the daughters)

the grave, the barren womb,
the earth that is not filled with water,
and the fire that never says, “It is enough.”^[22]

• "The grave": or "Sheol" is 'never sated with the dead, always wanting more' (cf. 1:12); is placed in a parallelism (in an ironic antithesis) with a blocked womb, which is 'never satisfied with its condition of barrenness, always hungry to produce life'^[20] (cf. Genesis 3:1)^[23] also like the desire of the earth for water, and the fire for fuel (cf. Amos 7:4).^[16]

A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.^[24]

• "A greyhound": or "strutting rooster" (NKJV); is literally 'one girt of loins' or 'girded of waist',^[25] i.e. 'the strutter', usually taken with the LXX as referring to the cock, though other animals such as the warhorse have been proposed.^[16]
• "A king against whom there is no uprising": according to a Jewish tradition, or "a king whose troops are with him" in NKJV.^[26]

• Ant
• Locust

• Related Bible parts: Job 38, Job 39, Job 40, Job 41, Psalm 73, Amos 1

• Aitken, K. T. (2007). "19. Proverbs". In Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.). The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 405–422. ISBN 978-0199277186. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
• Alter, Robert (2010). The Wisdom Books: Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes: A Translation with Commentary. W.W. Norton & Co. ISBN 978-0393080735.
• Coogan, Michael David (2007). Coogan, Michael David; Brettler, Marc Zvi; Newsom, Carol Ann; Perkins, Pheme (eds.). The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 (Augmented 3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195288810.
• Fox, Michael V. (2009). Proverbs 10-31: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300155563.
• Halley, Henry H. (1965). Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary (24th (revised) ed.). Zondervan Publishing House. ISBN 0-310-25720-4.
• Würthwein, Ernst (1995). The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. Retrieved January 26, 2019.

• Jewish translations:
  • Mishlei - Proverbs - Chapter 30 (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• Book of Proverbs Chapter 30 King James Version
•   Book of Proverbs public domain audiobook at LibriVox Various versions