Proverbs 30:23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 30:18-23

Here is, I. An account of four things that are unsearchable, too wonderful to be fully known. And here, 1. The first three are natural things, and are only designed as comparisons for the illustration of the last. We cannot trace, (1.) An eagle in the air. Which way she has flown cannot be discovered either by the footstep or by the scent, as the way of a beast may upon ground; nor can we account for the wonderful swiftness of her flight, how soon she has gone beyond our ken. (2.) A serpent... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:23

For an odious woman , when she is married ,.... Odious for her person, her ugliness, and the deformity of her body; or rather for the ill qualities of her mind, which, while single, she endeavours to conceal, but, being married, hides them no longer; but becomes imperious, proud, scornful, and malicious, and behaves in an ill natured way to her husband and all about her, to such a degree, that there is no bearing the place where she is; and an handmaid, that is heir to her mistress ;... 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 30:21-23

Then follows a proverb concerning four things which are intolerable, examples of incongruous associations or positions—two in the case of men, two in the case of women. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:21-23

Intolerable things I. THE EXAMPLES . 1 . The slave in authority . ( Proverbs 30:22 .) The inversion of objects is intolerable to the trained eye; things standing upside down, etc. So in social relations and in political Government belongs to the wise and the strong; the feeble in mind and the narrow in heart are emphatically the wrong men in the wrong place, in seats of power. 2 . The self-satisfied fool . His fatuous smile is a satire upon himself and upon the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:23

For an odious woman when she is married; or, under an unloved woman when she is married . The sentence does not refer to an unbeloved wife, a Leah, becoming the favourite, a Rachel; the expression, "when she is married," can hardly have this sense; but the gnome speaks of a woman who has passed much of her life without love, having nothing about her attractive either in looks, attainments, or manner, and is consequently soured and ill-tempered. If such a one does at last win a husband,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 30:21-23

Proverbs 30:21-23. For three things the earth That is, the inhabitants of the earth; is disquieted By their insolence and impudence they cause great disturbances in the places where they live; for four it cannot rest They are intolerable in human societies. For a servant when he reigneth When he is advanced to great power and dignity; for such a one is ignorant and unfit for his place, and therefore commits many errors; he is poor, and therefore insatiable; he is proud and imperious,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:10-33

The wise sayings of Agur (30:10-33)It is wise not to be hasty in reporting a person for a supposed wrongdoing. Such action could rebound with harm to the talebearer if the person is innocent (10). The arrogant despise those whom they should respect, while considering that they themselves are not only blameless, but superior to their fellows. They are merciless in their treatment of those whom they should rather help (11-14).The expression ‘three things . . . and four’ in the proverbs that... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 30:23

is heirto = has dispossessed, or become heiress to. read more

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