Proverbs 30:18-31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:25

The ants are a people not strong ,.... Far from it; what is weaker than an ant? a multitude of them may be destroyed at once, with the crush of a foot. Pliny calls it "minimum animal", the least animal; and the Arabians use it as a proverb, to call a weak man one weaker than an ant: and there is one sort of ants called "dsar", so small that one hundred of them will not weigh more than a barley corn F7 Bochart. Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 4. c. 22. col. 598. : they are called a people,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:26

The coneys are but a feeble folk ,.... Or "rabbits"; though some think these creatures are not intended, because they are not so little as those with which they are ranked, the ant, the locust, and spider; and because of the places in which they burrow and make their houses, which though in holes and caverns of the earth, yet not in rocky but sandy places; rather therefore it is thought that the mountain mouse, or bear mouse F15 שפנים οι χοιρογρυλλιοι , Sept. "choerogryllii",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:27

The locusts have no king ,.... These are small creatures also, yet very devouring ones; and consume the fruits of the earth, wherever they come and light; see Exodus 10:13 ; they are very numerous, and move in large bodies, and yet with great regularity and order; which shows the wisdom there is in them by natural instinct, though they have no king to command, guide, and direct them: in this the mystical locusts differ from them, who have a king, whose name is Abaddon, Revelation 9:11 ; ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:28

The spider taketh hold with her hands ,.... On the thread she spins, or on the flies and bees she catches in her web. This is a small creature, yet very wise; what a curious thread does she spin! what a fine web does she weave! with what exactness and proportion is it framed! as if she understood the rules of mathematics and architecture; and is in kings' palaces ; as well as in the houses of poor people, and in temples also; we read F25 Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 12. c. 57. of one in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:29

There be three things which go well ,.... In a very orderly and composed manner; with constancy and cheerfulness, with great stateliness and majesty, intrepidly, and without fear; yea, four are comely in going ; very beautiful and lovely to look at as they walk. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:30

A lion, which is strongest among beasts ,.... For what is stronger than a lion, or more courageous and undaunted? it walks with great majesty, very slowly, step by step, the left foot first; shaking its shoulders as it goes, as the philosopher F8 Aristot. Hist. Animal. l. 2. c. 1. & Physog. c. 5. describes its going, and as here intended, and this without fear; and turneth not away for any ; it does not go out of its way for any creature it meets with; nor does it hasten its... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:31

A greyhound ,.... So Gersom interprets the word; but Jarchi owns he does not know what is meant; and Aben Ezra only says, it is the name of a living creature, but does not say what; but observes, that some interpret it of the "bee", and others of the "eagle". The words of the original text only describe something "girt about the loins" F15 זרזיר מחנים "accinctus lumbis equus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cartwright, Glassius, Bochart, Buxtorf; "infibulatus lumbos equus",... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 30:19

The way of an eagle - I borrow, with thanks, the very sensible note of the Rev. Mr. Holden on this passage. "The particle כן ken plainly shows that Proverbs 30:19 ; and Proverbs 30:20 ; are to be taken in connection; consequently, it is a comparison between the way of an adulterous woman, and the way of the things here described. "The adulterous woman goes about in search of her deluded victim, like as the eagle takes its flight into the air to spy out its prey. She uses every... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 30:21

For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear - This is another enigma. Four things insupportable to men. 1. A slave, when he becomes ruler. 2. An overfed fool. 3. An ill-tempered woman, when mistress of a family. And, 4. A servant maid, when the rule of the house is committed to her. A slave, when he comes to bear rule, is an unprincipled tyrant. It has been often observed both in America and in the West Indies, when it was judged necessary to arm some of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 30:24

There be four things - Of which it is said, they are very little but very wise. 1. The ants. 2. The rabbits. 3. The locusts. 4. The spider. The ants show their wisdom by preparing their meat in the summer, seeking for it and storing it when it may be had; not for winter consumption, for they sleep all that time; but for autumn and spring. See the note on Proverbs 6:6 ; (note). The ants are a people; they have their houses, towns, cities, public roads, etc. I have seen several of these,... read more

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