Proverbs 30:6

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

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:1-6

Agur's sayings: God's Word the fountain of all wisdom These are the words, probably, of a believer in Jehovah who was a stranger in a foreign land. Among the sworn foes of Israel and her faith, we have in him an example of Puritan rectitude, of unflinching fidelity to conscience, that is highly instructive. The purity of God's eternal truth, and the safety of all believers in him ( Proverbs 30:5 ),—this is his simple and sublime leading theme. I. THE BEING OF GOD AN ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:1-6

Reverence and docility Whoever Agur may have been, it is certain that he was a sage who could express his thoughts in strong and trenchant language. If, as seems probable, these opening words had reference to the compliments or the questions of his disciples, we may glean, before we proceed further, three lessons by the way. 1 . That rightful acknowledgment too easily passes into adulation. 2 . That it is a very easy thing for the uninstructed to ask questions which the most... 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 30:5-6

The following tetrastich is connected with what has preceded in this way: As the light of nature and metaphysical speculation are of no avail in obtaining the perfect knowledge of God which the seeker craves, he must be all the more thankful for the revealed Word of God, which teaches him as much as he is capable of learning. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:5-6

The purity of God's words I. THE REFUGE FROM VAIN SPECULATION IS PRACTICAL REVELATION . The search for God in thought and nature has ended in weariness. But Agur does not subside into agnosticism, much less does he renounce all higher thinking as "vanity of vanities," and plunge into Sadducean worldliness and Epicurean materialism. On the contrary, though he gives up his ambitious quest with a sigh of disappointment, he learns to take a humbler path, on which he finds that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:6

Add thou not unto his words. God's will, as announced in revelation, is to be simply accepted and acted upon, not watered down, not overstrained. This injunction had already been given in the old Law ( Deuteronomy 4:2 ; Deuteronomy 12:32 ); it is repeated in the New Testament with awful emphasis ( Revelation 22:18 , Revelation 22:19 ). No human speculations or traditions may be mingled with God's words; the glosses and explanations and definitions, affixed by rabbinical ingenuity to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 30:6

Proverbs 30:6. Add thou not unto his words As the word of God is pure, do not thou corrupt it, by adding to it thine own or other men’s inventions, or opinions; lest he reprove thee By words or deeds; by discovering thy folly, and bringing thee to deserved shame and punishment; and thou be found a liar Delivering thy own fancies and notions in the name, and as the truths of God, and thus being guilty of the worst of forgeries. read more

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