Proverbs 30:5-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 30:1-6

Some make Agur to be not the name of this author, but his character; he was a collector (so it signifies), a gatherer, one that did not compose things himself, but collected the wise sayings and observations of others, made abstracts of the writings of others, which some think is the reason why he says (Prov. 30:3), ?I have not learned wisdom myself, but have been a scribe, or amanuensis, to other wise and learned men.? Note, We must not bury our talent, though it be but one, but, as we have... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 30:7-9

After Agur's confession and creed, here follows his litany, where we may observe, I. The preface to his prayer: Two things have I required (that is, requested) of thee, O God! Before we go to pray it is good to consider what we need, and what the things are which we have to ask of God.?What does our case require? What do our hearts desire? What would we that God should do for us?--that we may not have to seek for our petition and request when we should be presenting it. He begs, Deny me not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:5

Every word of God is pure ,.... The whole word of God. "All Scripture", given by inspiration of God, to which Agur directs, as giving the best account of God, of his name, nature, and perfections; of his Son, person, offices, and grace; being pure, very pure, "purified" F26 צרופה "purgatus", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Gejerus; "purgatissimus", Junius & Tremellius; Heb. "conflatus", Piscator, Mercerus, Cocceius, Schultens. like silver, purified in a furnace of earth.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:6

Add thou not unto his words ,.... To the words of God; as the Jews did, by joining their oral law, or the traditions of the elders, to the written word, and preferring them before it; and as the Papists, by making their unwritten traditions, and the sense and determinations of their church, equal to the Scriptures; and as all enthusiasts do, who set up their pretended dreams, visions, revelations, and prophecies, upon a foot with the word of God, or as superior to it; whereas that is, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:7

Two things have I required of thee ,.... Or, "have asked of thee F1 שאלתי מאתך "postulavi a te", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Mercerus, Gejerus; "peto ab te", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "petii a te", Cocceius, Michaelis, Schultens. , O God"; as may be supplied, for the words are addressed to him. The following is a prayer made unto him, which contains the two requests here referred to; his requests are not many, his words are few; he did not make long prayers, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:8

Remove far from me vanity and lies ,.... This is the "first" request, to be preserved from sin, in general; which is a vain, lying, and deceitful thing; promising pleasure, profit, liberty, and impunity, which it does not give. Agur desires to have vain thoughts removed out of his mind, vain words from his mouth, and vain actions from his life and conversation; to have his eyes turned from beholding vanity, and his feet from walking in it; and his affections taken off from the vain things of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:9

Lest I be full, and deny thee ,.... This is the dangerous consequence of riches, and the temptation they expose men unto; who, being full of the things of this world, are tempted to deny the Lord; not his being and perfections directly, but chiefly his providence; to deny that what they have, they have received of him, but attribute it to their own care, diligence, and industry; and now think they can live without him, without any dependence on his providence, having a large affluence of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 30:5

Every word of God is pure - צרופה אלוה אמרת כל col imrath eloah tseruphah , "Every oracle of God is purified." A metaphor taken from the purifying of metals. Every thing that God has pronounced, every inspiration which the prophets have received, is pure, without mixture of error, without dross. Whatever trials it may be exposed to, it is always like gold: it bears the fire, and comes out with the same lustre, the same purity, and the same weight. He is a shield unto them - And this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 30:6

Add not thou unto his words - You can no more increase their value by any addition, than you can that of gold by adding any other metal to it. Take care that you do not any thing that this word forbids, nor leave undone any thing that it commands: for this is adding and diminishing in Scripture phrase. Lest he reprove thee - Lest he try thy word by fire, as his has been tried; and it appear that, far from abiding the test, the fire shows thine to be reprobate silver; and so thou be found... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 30:7

Two things have I required of thee - These two petitions are mentioned in the next verse; and he wishes to have them answered before he should die. That is, he wishes the answer now, that he may live the rest of his life in the state he describes. read more

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