Add thou not, &c. A solemn warning based on Deuteronomy 4:2 ; Deuteronomy 12:32 . Compare Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:8 , Galatians 1:9 . Revelation 22:18 , Revelation 22:19 . reprove thee. Emphatic = send a special reproof unto thee. read more
Proverbs 30:6. Add thou not unto his words— That is, "Do not any thing contrary to what he commands." See Deuteronomy 4:2-32, &c. read more
6. Add . . . words—implying that his sole reliance was on God's all-sufficient teaching. reprove thee—or, "convict thee"—and so the falsehood will appear. read more
VI. COLLECTION 6: THE WISDOM OF AGUR CH. 30Chapters 30 and 31 form a distinct section in Proverbs, because neither Solomon (Proverbs 1:1 to Proverbs 22:16; chs. 25-29), nor the unnamed sages (Proverbs 22:17 to Proverbs 24:34), wrote them. Two other wise men, whose names the text records, did. Some expositors speculate that because these men’s discourses occur at the end of the book, the writers probably lived later than the men of Hezekiah. [Note: E.g., Toy, p. 517.] Nevertheless who Agur and... read more
B. Wisdom about God 30:2-9Agur began with three declarations. The subject of each is God. read more
Agur treasured the revelation that God had given. "Tested" means "smelted," purified (cf. Psalms 12:6). It was trustworthy. Agur correctly regarded the aim of revelation to be the promotion of trust in God, not just knowledge (Proverbs 30:5 b). Agur warned against adding to God’s revelation because that is a serious offense (Proverbs 30:6; cf. Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18). read more
The Words of AgurThe simplest way of treating the title is to read as follows: ’The words of Agur, son of Yakeh, of Massa.’ Then we may proceed, with RM, ’The man saith, I have wearied myself, O God; I have wearied myself, O God, and am consumed; for I am too stupid to be a man.’ Nothing is known of Agur or Yakeh, and we can only say of these proverbs that they are unlike any that have preceded, and are evidently of later date. The grouping of objects in twos, threes, and fours reminds us of... read more
(6) Lest he reprove thee.—Or, convict thee of thy falsehood. read more
God's Riddle Proverbs 30:4 'What is His name? and what is His Son's name? Canst thou tell?' It is God Almighty's great conundrum spoken out of eternity into time; it is the riddle propounded by the Supreme Intelligence to the heart and reason of every man born into the world. I. 'Canst thou tell?' The history of humanity is little else than one long wrestle with God's infinite conundrum. And there are noble souls and able thinkers who never guess the riddle here, though who can dare to doubt... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:1-9
30:1-31:31 OTHER COLLECTIONS OF WISE SAYINGSThe personal testimony of Agur (30:1-9)Agur, some of whose sayings are collected here, was apparently a well known wisdom teacher in the Palestine region. He begins his instruction with a confession that though he longs to know God he cannot, because he is merely a man. No human being can do the great works God has done. Agur challenges his hearers to tell him the name of any person (or the name of that person’s son, if they prefer) who has been to... read more