The Meaning of Proverbs 30:1 Explained

Proverbs 30:1

KJV: The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

YLT: Words of a Gatherer, son of an obedient one, the declaration, an affirmation of the man: -- I have wearied myself for God, I have wearied myself for God, and am consumed.

Darby: The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the prophecy uttered by the man unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal:

ASV: The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; The oracle. The man saith unto Ithiel, unto Ithiel and Ucal:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The words  of Agur  the son  of Jakeh,  [even] the prophecy:  the man  spake  unto Ithiel,  even unto Ithiel  and Ucal, 

What does Proverbs 30:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Scripture does not refer to either Agur or his father (or ancestor) Jakeh elsewhere. At least one writer felt he may have been a contemporary of Solomon. [1] An "oracle" is a weighty message from God (cf. Zechariah 9:1), and the Hebrew word, massa, may refer to a place. [2] Ithiel and Ucal may have been Agur"s sons.

Context Summary

Proverbs 30:1-17 - The Advice Of A Shrewd Observer
This chapter contains a collection of sayings of one person, Agur, of whom we know nothing further. It is supposed that he lived after the return from the Exile. The opening verses of the chapter may be thus rendered: "The utterance of the man who has questioned and thought." I have wearied after God, I have wearied after God, and am faint; for I am too stupid for a man, and am without reason, and I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the All-Holy."
Agur answers his complaint in Proverbs 30:5-9. You cannot know God by your own discovery, but He will make Himself known to you through the written Word, to which no addition may be made, Proverbs 30:15-16,53. See also John 1:18, which shows our clearest revelation of Him. But there are two conditions: We must put away vanity and lies; and we must be satisfied with God's arrangement of our daily food. Notice the following quatrain, Proverbs 30:11-14, which is descriptive of four kinds of evil men: the unfilial, the self-righteous, the haughty, and the rapacious. The next quatrain, 1711702888_9 treats of "the insatiable;" and this is followed by a further description of the doom of the disobedient: strong, wise, shrewd, and sanctified sense. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 30

1  Agur's confession of his faith
7  The two points of his prayer
10  The meanest are not to be wronged
11  Four wicked generations
15  Four things insatiable
24  four things exceeding wise
29  Four things stately
32  Wrath is to be prevented

What do the individual words in Proverbs 30:1 mean?

The words of Agur son of Jakeh [his] utterance Declared the man to Ithiel to Ithiel and Ucal
דִּבְרֵ֤י ׀ אָג֥וּר בִּן־ יָקֶ֗ה הַמַּ֫שָּׂ֥א נְאֻ֣ם הַ֭גֶּבֶר לְאִֽיתִיאֵ֑ל לְאִ֖יתִיאֵ֣ל וְאֻכָֽל

דִּבְרֵ֤י ׀  The  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
אָג֥וּר  of  Agur 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָגוּר  
Sense: son of Jakeh, an author or compiler of Provs 30.
בִּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יָקֶ֗ה  of  Jakeh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָקֶה  
Sense: father of Agur the sage.
הַמַּ֫שָּׂ֥א  [his]  utterance 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַשָּׂא 
Sense: load, bearing, tribute, burden, lifting.
נְאֻ֣ם  Declared 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
הַ֭גֶּבֶר  the  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֶּבֶר  
Sense: man, strong man, warrior (emphasising strength or ability to fight).
לְאִֽיתִיאֵ֑ל  to  Ithiel 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִיתִיאֵל  
Sense: the disciple to whom Agur gave proverbs.
לְאִ֖יתִיאֵ֣ל  to  Ithiel 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִיתִיאֵל  
Sense: the disciple to whom Agur gave proverbs.
וְאֻכָֽל  and  Ucal 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֻכָל  
Sense: student or disciple of Agur.

What are the major concepts related to Proverbs 30:1?

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