The words of Agur
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| The background of these words of Agur is unknown. He and others in verse 1 are also unknown although an Ithiel is seen in Nehemiah ne1107. Some believe Solomon is writing of himself as Agur. This would have a little logic since Solomon has written (or compiled) most of the rest of this book pr2501. | |
| 1 ¶ The words of Agur
the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto
Ithiel and Ucal,
2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. 3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. .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? 5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. .6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. |
2 -
Not understanding This does not sound like Solomon but in the allegory
of parable, he could be realizing his insignificance in comparison to God.
4 - Ascended Knowing God v3 as we may someday requires being in heaven 1jo0302, 1co1312. Compare jn0118, jn0313. 5,6 - Word of God Good advice. See verses 3 and 4 and de0402, re2218f. |
| 7 ¶ Two things have I
required
of thee; deny me them not before I die:
.8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 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. |
9 - Lest I be full Wealth causes us to feel more self-sufficient and to not depend on God. jb2113ff, ps07312. |
| 10 ¶ Accuse not a servant
unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. 13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. .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. |
10 -
Accuse not How important it is to show respect to common people
remembering that Jesus died for them.
11 - A generation The warning is for us, too. 12 - Own eyes See Christ's words mt2325, lu1809. 14 - Teeth The greedy take advantage of the poor am0804. |
| 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:
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. 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. |
16
- Perhaps the three things are shown as attributes of the greedy
ones.
17 - Mocketh See ex2012. |
| 18 ¶ There be three things
which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
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. 20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. 21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: 22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; 23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. |
19
- The way The mysterious behaviors and paths are like the man with
the young woman and like the adulterous woman who claims no guilt.
20 - Done no wickedness But transgressions will be remembered in judgment. mt1236, 2co0510. 22 - Servant One of several unreasonable behaviors. pr1910. |
| 24 ¶ There be four things
which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; .26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces. |
24
- Four things ... little They take care of themselves.
25 - Ants Reproof for laziness in pr0606. 28 - Spider Hebrew 'semamith The word occurs only this once. Translators guessed. The Lizard is also a possibility with a slightly different vowel marking. The vowels were added to the Hebrew writings much later. Then we would have "The lizard is taken with hands." |
| 29 ¶ There be three things
which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; 31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. .32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. 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. |
29
- Four are comely in going Or "four things that move with stately
bearing." NIV.
31 - Greyhound Meaning of the Hebrew word is unknown. 33 - Churning Or "squeezing." |
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