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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 30:24-28

I. Agur, having specified four things that seem great and yet are really contemptible, here specifies four things that are little and yet are very admirable, great in miniature, in which, as bishop Patrick observes, he teaches us several good lessons; as, 1. Not to admire bodily bulk, or beauty, or strength, nor to value persons or think the better of them for such advantages, but to judge of men by their wisdom and conduct, their industry and application to business, which are characters that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:24

There be four things which are little upon the earth ,.... Small in bulk, that have little bodies, are the lesser sort of animals; but they are exceeding wise ; show a great deal of art and wisdom in what they do; or "but they are wise, made wise" F5 חכמים מחכמים "sapientia, sapientia imbuta"; Heb. "sapientificata", Piscator, Gejerus. by the instinct of nature, by the direction of Providence, by which they do things that are surprising. Some versions, that have no regard to... read more

John Gill

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:1-33

Part VII. FIRST APPENDIX TO THE SECOND COLLECTION , containing "the words of Agur." A short introduction, teaching that the Word of God is the source of wisdom ( Proverbs 30:1-6 ), is followed by apothegms on different subjects ( Proverbs 30:7-33 ). Cornelius a Lapide offers the following opinion concerning this appendix, which no one can hesitate to say is well founded, if he attempts to give it a spiritual interpretation, and to discern mysteries under the literal... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:11-31

contain six groups of four sentences each, each quaternion having a certain connection in language and concinnity of idea. First ( Proverbs 30:11-14 ) come four generations that are evil—four being taken as the symbol of universality. The sins herein specified had become so general that they affected the whole generation. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24

There be four things which are little upon the earth , in contrast with the intolerable pretensions of the last group. The Vulgate has minima ; but the original is not superlative, which would not be true of some of the creatures named. But they are exceeding wise; "quick of wit, wise," the participle מְחֻכִּמִים meaning "rendered wise, cunning" (Delitzsch). The Septuagint and Vulgate translate in the comparatives. "These are wiser than the wise," the instincts of these animals... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24-28

Four weak things, and the greatness of them The four little creatures that are here mentioned all illustrate the wonderful way in which the disadvantages of weakness may be overcome by some countervailing quality. In the spiritual world Christianity teaches us to look for the triumph of weakness—the weak things of the world confounding the things which are mighty ( 1 Corinthians 1:27 ). Now, we have illustrations from nature for the same principle. Each of the four creatures teaches us... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24-28

The significance of little things I. EXAMPLES . 1 . The ant ( Proverbs 30:25 ); tiny in frame, yet full of providence, making wise provision against the rainy day. 2 . The hedgehog ("coney," Proverbs 30:26 ); though feeble, finds compensation in the strength of the dwelling it selects. 3 . The locust ( Proverbs 30:27 ); a creature, as an individual, easily crushed, yet gaining immense force by union with others. Joel 4 . The lizard (verse 28); another tender... read more

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