Posted by Jeff Short on September 27, 2022 · Leave a Comment
For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
– Proverbs 30:21
Verses 21-23 give another numerical saying where all the items are parallel to illustrate the wisdom point, which in this case is given at the beginning in verse 21. The list gives four unbearable circumstances. Where these occur, the
earth is disquieted. The word literally means to tremble, quake, or shake. When used of people it can refer to fear, panic, or anger. When used with the earth, as here, it can refer to the literal quaking of the earth. Here the term is used in a common idiomatic way of referring to the upsetting of the usual order of the world. We experience the upsetting of the social order like the chaotic upheaval caused in a city by an earthquake. This saying fits well with the book of Ecclesiastes.
Posted by Jeff Short on August 24, 2022 · Leave a Comment
Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
– Proverbs 30:20
Verse 20 is the conclusion the sage was driving at with the list of incomprehensible things. There’s no need to puzzle long over the list and seek mysterious meanings. Each operates in a natural, ordered, and designed way—the eagle in the air, the serpent on a rock, the ship in the sea, and the man and woman in marriage. The wonder is the hardness of the “adulterous woman.” Descriptions and warnings about her have abounded in the wisdom sayings (Proverbs 2:16-19; 5:1-14, 20-23; 7:1-27; 9:17; 22:14; 23:27-28). The point of the wisdom sayings is not that women are the main ones guilty of sexual sins, or are worse than men. We must remember that wisdom sayings are given in the form of fatherly or motherly instructions to a young man and a part of wisdom is understanding the application of wisdom to various people and situations.
Just as the eagle and the serpent move naturally in their habitat, the adulteress is at home in her adulteries. Sexual sin is just as normal and natural as eating and drinking. She sees no spiritual or moral value at stake, “I have done no wickedness.” God designed and ordered one man, one woman marriage and all sexual activity outside that order is sin of various descriptions in Scripture.
Posted by Jeff Short on August 18, 2022 · Leave a Comment
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.
– Proverbs 30:19
This verse gives the three and four list. Commentators are widely varied on the significance of this list and each item. Taken on its own, its puzzling. Verse 18 describes the list as things that are mysteriously incomprehensible and verse 20 draws a comparative conclusion. So, the list itself is not communicating something to us in some sort of code. Each item is connected by the word for
way, which means habit or manner of conduct. The list presents four things in the natural way, or even instinctive way. The point then becomes clear from the rest of the saying in verse 20.
Posted by Jeff Short on August 16, 2022 · Leave a Comment
There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
– Proverbs 30:18
Verses 18-20 give another numerical list saying where the list items are related in some way. This list is in the common form of three and four. It is unique in that verse 20 seems to give a fifth item, but it isn’t a fifth item. Verse 20 is a conclusion that explains the reason and function of the list in verse 19.
The word for wonderful means causing wonder and the sense is being too difficult to understand, which is further highlighted by the indication of not knowing at the end of the verse. The point of the list is the observance of things beyond the comprehension of the ponderer.
Posted by Jeff Short on July 28, 2022 · Leave a Comment
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.
– Proverbs 30:17
This saying continues the theme of the proud and rebellious generation in this collection. The image is vivid and grotesque. The eye is personified as an arrogant disrespectful youth being plucked and eaten by ravens and vultures. The Torah promised long life to those who honor their parents (Exodus 20:12), and here the curse is being cut off and fulfills the “eye for eye” justice demand of the old covenant law (Exodus 21:24). Being food for the carrion birds likely assumes the penalty for incorrigible children has been carried out (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).
Posted by Jeff Short on March 31, 2022 · Leave a Comment
The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
– Proverbs 30:16
Verse 16 lists the four mentioned in the previous verse that are never satisfied. The common link is insatiability, or persistent hunger that is never satisfied. The
grave refers to the place of the dead, which never turns a corpse away because it is full (Proverbs 27:20; Isaiah 5:14; Habakkuk 2:5). The
barren womb cannot be satisfied apart from bearing children, which it cannot do (Genesis 30:1). In a dry land, the rain is never enough, and
fire will burn as long as it has any fuel at all.
The saying forms a warning against uncontrolled appetites, echoing the many wisdom warnings in the book (Proverbs 11:28; 15:27; 20:21; 28:22, 25). The connection with verse 15 and the previous generation sayings also gives the warning to reject the greed of the previous generation. This sort of warning is echoed in the prophets in their warnings to Israel and Judah (Ezekiel 16:44-45).
Posted by Jeff Short on March 30, 2022 · Leave a Comment
The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
– Proverbs 30:15
Verses 15-16 return to the numerical sayings of this collection, with five of the six sayings contained in verses 15-31. These sayings present mostly in the form of three, then three plus one, or four. This numerical device is a compositional structure that gives a representative rather than exhaustive list. The listed items may seem to be unrelated, but they share some important connection.
The saying opens with a figure of the leech, or particularly the horseleach, that has two daughters. The precise meaning of this figure has been debated for centuries. Why two daughters? Does two indicate twins? Is Give, give the names of the daughters or what they say, since there is no word for crying in the underlying Hebrew Masoretic text? Sometimes, wisdom sayings work by ambiguities and trying to button up every detail could miss the point.
The second part of the saying makes the point of the figure clear. The point is to illustrate never being satisfied, never having enough. The leech is a parasite that consumes insatiably and does not produce. We also see a subtle connection to the generation sayings previous to this one, because the figure is not just a leech, but the daughters of a leech. The sayings prior to this have condemned pride and greed within generations, and here the warning goes both ways. We can be quick to point out the faults of the younger generations to us, but wisdom bids us remember that the older generations produced the younger, and so they are a reflection. To the younger generation, the warning is to be aware and careful not to repeat the follies of the older generations.
Posted by Jeff Short on December 31, 2021 · Leave a Comment
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.
– Proverbs 30:14
The final saying of this group continues to build off the root sin of pride. The
teeth of this
generation are as weapons, which is a common figure for oppressive speech. These weapons are set against the
poor and
needy to devour them and cut them off from the land (Proverbs 22:28; 23:10). The image of eating up the
poor is a common charge in the prophets and even in the Psalms (Psalm 14:1-4). Proverbs consistently warns against oppressing the
poor and
needy (Proverbs 14:31; 22:16), as does the law and the prophets.
Verses 11-14, with the repeated use of generation, reveal the common struggle of every generation that faces prevailing sins of their time. Wisdom recognizes the current of the times flowing around them and the particular sins that hold sway. These four verses have shown a culture of arrogance, disrespect, rebelliousness, self righteousness, and disdain and disregard for others. The sayings form a warning for every generation to discern the prevailing worldview of the day and go rather in the way of wisdom, righteousness, and life.
Posted by Jeff Short on August 31, 2021 · Leave a Comment
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.
– Proverbs 30:13
This saying continues the general denunciation of pride in this group of sayings. The
eyes and
eyelids of a proud generation are high, meaning they despise, or look down on others around them. Such pride is the first item listed of what God hates (Proverbs 6:16-17). Of course, it is a sin, an affront against God (Proverbs 21:4).
Next Page »
Proverbs 30:21
Posted by Jeff Short on September 27, 2022 · Leave a Comment
For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
Verses 21-23 give another numerical saying where all the items are parallel to illustrate the wisdom point, which in this case is given at the beginning in verse 21. The list gives four unbearable circumstances. Where these occur, the earth is disquieted. The word literally means to tremble, quake, or shake. When used of people it can refer to fear, panic, or anger. When used with the earth, as here, it can refer to the literal quaking of the earth. Here the term is used in a common idiomatic way of referring to the upsetting of the usual order of the world. We experience the upsetting of the social order like the chaotic upheaval caused in a city by an earthquake. This saying fits well with the book of Ecclesiastes.– Proverbs 30:21
Share this:
Filed under 30, Proverbs · Tagged with Commentary, Proverbs, Wisdom